The race of races in trail territory. The Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB Mont-Blanc) is already underway, and it is the trail running competition that every mountain-loving runner dreams to compete in. On this occasion, the 2023 edition will go down in history as one of the toughest competitions due to the high level of its participants. There are many, and very qualified, trail runners who aspire to the podium of the UTMB. Get to know them!
Of course, at RUNNEA we put the spotlight on the favourites to win the UTMB 2023, but delving into the gear that elite trail runners use. More specifically, we care about their trail running shoes.
Why Is the UTMB the Most Popular Mountain Race?
The legend of the UTMB began to be written in 2003. Since then, this mythical mountain race has grown in prestige. That's why the best international athletes seek to leave their mark on the race. Notable names include Lizzy Hawker, Courtney Dauwalter or Krissy Moehl, in the women's category; Kilian Jornet, François D'Haene or Xavier Thévenard, in the men's category, among others.
However, a few privileged recreational runners will also be able to earn a bib for the race and live this unique experience, a dream come true.
The Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc is a challenge with a distance of 171 kilometres and a total elevation gain of around 10,000 meters, which is the complete leap around the iconic summit of the Mont-Blanc. An unprecedented route that means that this mountain race is the only one that crosses three countries: Italy, Switzerland and France.
On the other hand, the sporting program is not only focused on the ultra-distance race, as the UTMB has a total of 8 competitive races of different distances, which are contested from August 28th to September 3rd 2023:
- UTMB (100M): 171 km. Positive elevation gain 9,963 metres. Chamonix (01/09/2023)
- CCC (100K): 100 km. Positive elevation gain 6,156 metres. Courmayeur (01/09/2023)
- OCC (50K): 55 km. Positive elevation gain 3,425 metres. Orsières (31/08/2023)
- TDS: 145 km. Positive elevation gain 9,156 metres. Courmayeur (28/08/2023)
- MCC: 40 km. Positive elevation gain 2300 metres. Martigny-Combe (28/08/2023)
- PTL: 300 km. Positive elevation gain 25,000 metres. Chamonix (28/08/2023)
- ETC (20K): 15 km. Positive elevation gain 1200 metres. Courmayeur (29/08/2023)
- YCC: 14 km. Positive elevation gain 1,100 metres. Courmayeur (29/08/2023)
In addition, this year, the 100M category puts the finishing touch to the UTMB World Series Finals circuit. So that's one more incentive to put on your trail running shoes and push your personal limits.
The Female Contenders: Who Will Lead the Race?
Courtney Dauwalter
Ultra running superstar Courtney Dauwalter is the big surprise of this edition. Her participation in Western, Hard Rock and now UTMB is an unprecedented milestone in the world of ultra running. Will Dauwalter be able to add another title to her already impressive record? The American athlete already knows what it means to taste the sweetness of success at the UTMB twice in the 2019 and 2021 editions.
Possible shoes: Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 v2
Developed with the feedback of the elite mountain runners of the Salomon Team and the most advanced S/Lab know-how, these Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 v2 stand out for offering maximum performance over long distances.This model is a lightweight, precise and reactive trail running shoe, ready and willing to achieve peak performance.
Ruth Croft
After missing the last two editions due to injury, Ruth Croft returns with a solid preparation. Although she has been competing in shorter distances, her performance in these races suggests she is ready for the UTMB challenge. The New Zealand runner was the previous winner of another legendary race, the Western States 100.
Possible shoes: adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra
The adidas Terrex section of the German brand has already announced that all the members of the adidas Terrex Trail Running Team will run with the prototype of the new adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra. In Croft's case, this model helped her cross the finish line of the Western States 100 in first place. The winning combination of this adidas model lies in the inclusion of its dual-density Lightstrike Pro foam and innovative propulsive shafts, as well as the Continental rubber compound. Adding to its lightweight design, this model boats a high performance in cushioning, responsiveness, support and grip to run without worries in all types of terrain, at maximum speed and with great reliability, bringing out the best version of the trail runner.
Blandine D'Hirondel
She is one of the newcomers to the UTMB 100-mile distance, but Blandine D'Hirondel will be another strong contender. Her impressive track record in the OCC and CCC races speaks for itself. The Evadict Official Team runner is a strong candidate to shock us in this edition, because we must remember that this French athlete is a two-time trail running world champion.
Possible shoes: Evadict MT Cushion 2
Decathlon's exclusive brand has been able to sneak in and compete on a level playing field with the big names in the running world. The Evadict MT Cushion 2 stand out for being a lightweight shoe, but which also supports and protects the foot, offering a comfortable and pleasant cushioning sensation. Designed for long distances, that is where they perform best.
Eszter Csillag
After her third place in Western States, Hungarian trail runner Eszter Csillag is another favourite. Her ability to adapt to different distances makes her a force to be reckoned with.
Possible shoes: HOKA Tecton X 2
Redesigned to maximise weight efficiency, the HOKA Tecton X 2 is now a lighter, more breathable and responsive trail running shoe, but one that offers enough confidence to tackle different types of mountain terrain. Its carbon fibre parallel plates have been a revolution, making it is one of the most sought-after models by the most demanding trail runners.
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Go to the Shoe FinderSabrina Stanley
Sabrina Stanley is another UTMB debutante. Fully recovered from a long-term injury, another of the outstanding trail runners of the adidas Terrex team comes to this edition in a spectacular form, after finishing second in the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 100 Mile in 2023. Stanley won the Diagonale des Fous in 2019 and the Hardrock 100 twice, in 2021 and 2018. A name that will surely be the source of much talk.
Possible shoes: adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra
As we said, all members of the adidas trail team will opt for the new model of the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra, and Sabrina Stanley's case will be no exception. However, we know that one of the American trail runner's favorite shoes is the adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra, which stands out for its successful combination of comfort and dynamism. Its combination of Boost and Lighstrike PROFLY+ in the midsole ensures the energy return, lightness and stability needed in the most demanding trails. The Pebax plate bolsters protection without adding weight, and the Continental rubber outsole is a safe bet on all types of terrain.
Manon Bohard Cailler
Manon Bohard Cailler has won the individual bronze medal and team gold at the 2023 World Trail Running Championships over the 80K distance, a relevant result in her preparation for the UTMB. In addition, the French runner already has outstanding participations in Chamonix, as she was the winner in the TDS in 2021. Her victory in the Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 2023 also postulates her as a tough rival to beat for the final victory.
Possible shoes: HOKA Mafate Speed 4
This is HOKA's most technical trail running shoe, which is why the HOKA Mafate Speed 4 stands out for its comfort, cushioning and stability to offer a high level of protection. But it is also a model capable of offering the lightness and dynamism you need to move in mountain terrain. It responds perfectly with one of the best midsoles on the market (combination of PROFLY+ foam and compressed EVA), and offers great versatility.
The Male Contenders: Who Will Lead the Race?
Mathieu Blanchard
Second in the 2022 UTMB, second only to the "ultraterrestrial" Kilian Jornet, we have the runner Mathieu Blanchard, who in the 2021 edition also climbed to the third step of the final podium. His results in 2023 with a sixth place in the Western States 100 and third in the Sables Marathon make it clear that this French runner is very "hungry" for Chamonix, that he is not satisfied, and that he wants even more: a victory in the UTMB 2023.
Possible shoes: Salomon S/Lab Genesis
The Salomon S/Lab Genesis is a racing shoe to meet any trail running challenge, ensuring high-performance grip, protection, durability and superior comfort. All of it thanks to the most advanced technologies by the renowned French brand.
Tom Evans
Tom Evans is one of the most relevant and important names in the universe of mountain running worldwide. One of the most outstanding milestones of this British trail runner is that he is one of the few athletes on the planet who can say that he has a double win in a race as demanding as the Western States 100. The last win was in the 2023 edition. In the 2022 edition of the UTMB he occupied the third step of the podium in the iconic ultra-distance race in Chamonix. So it is clear that Evans is aiming for the top spot, and of course, will put on a great show during the 171-kilometre course of the 2023 UMTB.
Possible shoes: adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra
It is true that Tom Evans is the "prototype man" of the adidas Terrex pro team, along with Pablo Vila, so the British trail runner will run this edition of the UTMB with the new adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra prototype, the latest from the brand with the three stripes for trail running. But we must remember that the figure of Evans is closely linked to the launch of the adidas Terrex Speed Ultra, which ensures high performance in long-distance competition.
Jim Wamsley
Fourth-place finisher of the UTMB 2022, American runner Jim Wamsley was the winner of Les Templiers 2022 and the 100 Miles of Istria 2023. But Walmsely also holds the current record for the Western States 100. That's all there is to it, and it speaks to the fact that this athlete from Arizona is aiming for the top spot in Chamonix.
Possible shoes: HOKA Tecton X 2
There is no shoe like the HOKA Tecton X 2 that fits Jim Wamsley's level of demand better. Everything we've said about this model in Hungarian Eszter Csillag's space fits Wamsley like a glove to show his full potential in the demanding Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc.
Zach Miller
Fifth place in the overall UTMB 2022 standings for Zach Miller, the American runner is another of those names with a great track record in the UTMB, with top ten results in 2016 and 2017. He arrives at the Chamonix start after a victory in the Tarawera 100 Mile Ultra 2023 and finishing eighth in the 80K distance of the World Trail Running Championships.
Possible shoes: The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro
The development of these The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro is designed for the most demanding long-distance competitions, carbon plate included. That is, it's designed exclusively to compete in ultras like the UTMB. Its advanced technology ensures an efficient, responsive, cushioned, and stable running experience for the trail runner.
Thibaut Garrivier
Another experienced trail runner who copped one of the top 10 overall places in the 2022 UTMB. Frenchman Thibaut Garrivier also has an outstanding track record of UTMB Mont Blanc participations, including a victory in the 2021 CCC. Winner of the Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 85K, he is positioned as another big name who can fight for the top spot in Chamonix.
Possible shoes: HOKA Tecton X 2
What we told you when talking about the specific cases of HOKA runners Jim Wamsley and Eszter Csillag also applies here.
Pau Capell
In the inkwell we have left many illustrious names such as Hannes Namberger, Ludovic Pommeret or Petter Engdahl, but we close this list of possible candidates for victory in the UTMB 2023 with the name of Pau Capell. Let's remember that the Catalan runner won the 2019 UTMB. In addition, Capell arrives in Chamonix after outstanding results such as third place in the Trail Andorra 100K and fifth place in the Transgrancanaria Classic 128K during 2023.
Possible shoes: The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro
Like his teammate Zach Miller, the Catalan ultra runner Pau Capell will bet on the high performance offered by The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro trail running shoe, which will help him to achieve the goal of "breaking20" in Chamonix, and aspire to get a good result to get rid of the thorn in his side after he had to abandon the 2022 edition of the ultimate mountain race.
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