UTMB by the Numbers

Each August, the UTMB World Series Finals transforms Chamonix, France, into the epicenter of trail and ultrarunning. Otherwise known as UTMB Mont-Blanc, the event—held this year from August 24 to 30—attracts thousands of athletes and even more fans for a weeklong festival of running, featuring eight races of varying lengths and terrain.

The crown jewel? Simply called Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), this flagship event is one of the most demanding and prestigious endurance races on the planet. First held in 2003 with only a few hundred competitors, UTMB has grown into a must-watch (and for many, a must-race) event, drawing millions of viewers as athletes tackle more than 100 miles of technical trails and nearly 10,000 meters (33,000 feet) of elevation gain.

A Look at the Iconic UTMB Race by the Numbers

5:45: The time of evening UTMB kicks off on August 28.

23: Years the race has been in existence, first launched in August 2003.

64: Qualifying events leading up to the World Series Finals throughout the year; spread across Oceania, Europe, Africa, North America, and South America.

1: UTMB series race required to complete in order to gain a “Running Stone,” also known as single entry into the lottery for a place in UTMB.

25: Percent chance one has of gaining entry to UTMB through the lottery (down from 32% in 2025)

2,492: Number of runners who crossed the start line of UTMB in 2025.

1,665: Number of runners who made it to the finish line in 2025. (That’s a 66% finishing rate.)

67: Finishers of the inaugural race in 2003, which was run through a cold rain with hailstones. (Some 722 started.)

121: Nations anticipated to be represented in 2026, across all races and distances.

176.2: Distance in kilometers (109 miles) of the 2026 course.

9,900: Meters of positive elevation on the course.

3: Countries traversed along the course—France, Italy, and Switzerland.

69°F /20°C: Predicted high in Chamonix in late August based on historical data. (The predicted low? 47°F or 8°C in town, and much colder at the high points at night along the course.)

46 hours and 45 minutes: Cut-off time for all participants.

19 hours, 37 minutes, and 43 seconds: Men’s course record, set by American Jim Walmsley in 2023.

22 hours, nine minutes, and 31 seconds: Women’s course record, set by USA’s Katie Schide in 2024, eclipsing the previous mark by more than 21 minutes.

5: Most UTMB wins by any individual in event history, set by Lizzy Hawker of the UK (2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012).

4: Most wins by a male runner: François D’Haene (France, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021) and Kilian Jornet (Spain, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2022). D’Haene is back again this year to try and make it five.

7: Men who have finished the UTMB loop in under 20 hours: Tom Evans, Ben Dhiman, Vincent Bouillard, Kilian Jornet, Mathieu Blanchard, Zach Miller, and Jim Walmsley.

10: Number of times an American woman has won UTMB: Krissy Moehl (2003, 2009), Nikki Kimball (2007), Rory Bosio (2013, 2014), Courtney Dauwalter (2019, 2021, 2023), and Katie Schide (2022, 2024).

20: The age of Jornet when he won his first title in 2008 as the youngest entrant in the field.

58: Age of the oldest winner of UTMB, Marco Olmo (Italy) in 2006.

7: Women who finished the inaugural UTMB in 2003.

24%: Of participants in all UTMB events were women in 2025, up from 22% in 2023 and 2024, and 20% in 2022.

70,000: Hikers completed the Tour du Mont-Blanc between June 10 and September 30, 2025.

3: Bib number for American Courtney Dauwalter, former course record holder and major contender on the women’s side.

€20,000 (~$23,200 USD): Prize money awarded to the male and female winners.

0: Single-use plastic bottles used at events.

50,000: Estimated spectators and supporters in Chamonix during UTMB week.

2,000: Volunteers from 15 different countries, plus 18 French, Italian, and Swiss municipalities of the Mont Blanc region.

23 million: Livestream views in 2025 across 13 events, with over 248 hours of coverage.