UTMB World Series set to break new ground in Africa with 2023 Mountain Ultra-Trail by UTMB

For the first time ever, the UTMB® World Series will head to Africa in 2023, with the confirmation that Mountain Ultra-Trail (MUT) by UTMB in the Western Cape of South Africa will join the circuit.

There are now 30 events across Africa, Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and Asia confirmed for the 2023 UTMB World Series, with further event announcements to come in the following weeks, as the organizers UTMB Group and The IRONMAN Group look to expand the offering to runners from all over the world and support their quest to the UTMB World Series Finals.

At the heart of the Garden Route National Park is the city of George and a 200km stretch along the southern coast of South Africa, providing the perfect backdrop for the MUT by UTMB, with true wild mountains that boast some of the country’s best trails right on the urban edge.

Considered a mountain trail paradise, runners at MUT by UTMB will have the chance to traverse the Outeniqua Mountain Range which towers high above the garden city of George. The race will take place on 26 – 28 May 2023, and entries will open here on 16th November 2022.

For the first time the event will host a 100-mile race, alongside the established MUT 100km which has 4,500m+ of elevation gain, and the MUT 60km (3,054m+) – both of which offer runners everything from big climbs, rocky trails, technical downhills, and spectacular views of the Outeniqua Mountain Range to keep the endorphins going and distract from the burn in the legs.

The MUT Marathon 42km offers many of the highlights of the longer distances without some of the bigger climbs, however runners can still expect this course to be a challenge, and straight from the start runners will take on the biggest climb of the route, the Cradock Pass.

The MUT Challenge 25km (910m+) and the MUT Lite 10km (475m+) are all also once again on the menu giving runners of all abilities the chance to take part in the fifth edition of the event, one of the country’s fastest growing races.

Race Director Zane Schmahl said: “We are excited to be joining the biggest series in trail running and to be the first event on the African continent to form part of the UTMB World Series. It is a dream come true for our event and we are hard at work for the MUT by UTMB to live up to the expectations of one of the most premiere events in the world.”

In 2022, 52 South African runners toed the startline of the UTMB Mont-Blanc, and now more runners will have the chance to qualify for the UTMB World Series Finals on their home turf. All finishers of races in the 100M, 100K, 50K and 20K categories at MUT by UTMB will be awarded Running Stones which can be used to enter the lottery for the Finals in 2023. Those who complete the MUT 100 Miler will be awarded 4; 3 are on offer for the MUT 100km; 2 for both the MUT 60km and the MUT Marathon 42km; and 1 for the MUT Challenge 25km.

UTMB World Series 2023 confirmed events as of 10th November 2022: 

• Tarawera™ Ultramarathon by UTMB® (New Zealand), 11-12 February   
• Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB (Thailand), 17-19 February 
• Istria 100 by UTMB® (Croatia), 13-16 April  
• Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB® (USA), 28-29 April  
• Transvulcania by UTMB® (Spain), 4-6 May 
• Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB® (Australia), 11-14 May 
• Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB® (Wales), 12-14 May 
• Valhöll Argentina by UTMB® (Argentina), 12-14 May 
• Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB® (France), 18-21 May  
• Mountain Ultra-Trail by UTMB® (South Africa), 27 May
• Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB® (France), 3-4 June  
• mozart 100™ by UTMB® (Austria), 17-18 June  
• La Sportiva® Lavaredo Ultra-Trail® by UTMB® (Italy), 22-25 June  
• Trail 100 Andorra™ by UTMB® (Andorra), 24-25 June  
• Western States® 100-Mile Endurance Run (USA), 24-25 June  
• Val d’Aran by UTMB® (Spain), 6-9 July  
• Restonica Trail by UTMB® (France), 6-8 July  
• Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB® (Switzerland), 7-9 July  
• Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB® (Switzerland), 12-16 July  
• Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB® (USA), 21-22 July   
• UTMB® World Series Finals; UTMB® Mont-Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland), 28 August – 3 September 
• Wildstrubel by UTMB® (Switzerland), 15-17 September 
• Paraty Brazil by UTMB® (Brazil), 22-24 September 
• Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB® (Slovenia), September  
• Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB® (France), 28 September - 1 October
• Kullamannen by UTMB® (Sweden), 3-4 November
• Puerto Vallarta México by UTMB® (Mexico), 3 – 5 November   
• TransLantau™ by UTMB® (Hong Kong), November  
• Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB® (Thailand), 9-11 December 
• Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB® (Australia), December

MUT by UTMB®

The Mountain Ultra Trail or MUT by UTMB is a festival of trail running in the garden city of George, on South Africa’s east coast. The Outeniqua Mountains rise from the urban edge and provide a spectacular adventure seeker’s playground, with hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails criss-crossing the peaks, which reach up to 1,578 meters above sea level, and verdant valleys. Fynbos, one of the world’s most biodiverse floral kingdoms, and old growth indigenous forests line the trails, while the high points along the MUT by UTMB route provide breath-taking views over the Indian Ocean to the south and across the arid Karoo to the north. Alongside the 100-mile, 100km, 65km, 42km, 25km and 10km race distances the event also boasts a Vertical Kilometer Challenge and a social run with the George Trail Running club, who are responsible for much of the trail building and maintenance on the MUT by UTMB route.

UTMB® World Series 

UTMB® World Series is the world’s ultimate trail-running circuit that unites the sport’s biggest stars and passionate runners through the best, leading international events in the most stunning locations.  Built on a passion for the mountains with sustainability at its heart, UTMB® World Series gives all trail runners the chance to experience the UTMB® adventure across the world, with events taking place across Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas. It is the only place where runners can begin their quest to UTMB® Mont-Blanc, France, where the prestigious UTMB® World Series Finals will be held. For more information, visit www.utmb.world.  

   About UTMB Group

Over the last 18 years, and since the creation of UTMB® Mont-Blanc in 2003 by a group of passionate friends, UTMB Group has been the driving force behind the development of trail running. The UTMB® Mont-Blanc is the sports pinnacle event, and every year, 10,000 runners earn their place on the start line. UTMB Group also pioneered the LiveTrail® technology, an innovative digital service that supports the management of endurance races. Revered by hundreds of thousands of athletes, UTMB® has become a global, premium, and leading brand. In May 2021, UTMB Group partnered with The IRONMAN Group to launch the UTMB® World Series, which brings together many of the best international events on the planet to provide exclusive access to the sport’s pinnacle event, UTMB® Mont-Blanc. The UTMB® World Series is built on the founding principles of UTMB® Mont-Blanc: surpassing oneself; fair-play; respect for people and the environment; and solidarity. Find out more at www.utmb.world.   

   ** About The IRONMAN Group**    

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf®, UTMB® World Series events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events including Haute Route®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.