UTMB World Series Finals · Chamonix, France
UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix
The UTMB World Series Finals are held every year in Chamonix, France, during the UTMB Mont-Blanc race week at the end of August. The Majors lead here: three Finals races, the UTMB, the CCC and the OCC, run through France, Italy and Switzerland and finish in Chamonix.
- Where
- Chamonix, France
- Month
- August
- Region
- Europe
- Longest race
- UTMB (100 mile Final), about 174 km, about 10,000 m of climbing
- Conditions
- High alpine, two nights for most UTMB runners, hot valleys and cold, snowy passes.
- Official site
- utmb.world/finals
Dates, distances and qualification rules change every year, so confirm on the official site before you plan.
What is the UTMB Finals, Chamonix course like?
The UTMB is a full circuit of the Mont-Blanc massif that starts and finishes in Chamonix. The CCC starts in Courmayeur, Italy, and passes through Champex-Lac in Switzerland. The OCC starts in Orsières, Switzerland. All three finish in Chamonix. These are high alpine courses with long climbs and descents, and weather that can change fast in late summer.
What are the UTMB Finals, Chamonix distances?
| Race | Distance | Climbing | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTMB (100 mile Final) | about 174 km | about 10,000 m | Chamonix to Chamonix |
| CCC (100K Final) | about 101 km | about 6,050 m | Courmayeur to Chamonix |
| OCC (50K Final) | about 57 km | about 3,500 m | Orsières to Chamonix |
How do you fuel the UTMB Finals, Chamonix?
High alpine, two nights for most UTMB runners, hot valleys and cold, snowy passes.
- Plan in sections, not hours. On the UTMB the big aid stations are far apart. Work out what each long section needs, then carry it.
- Plan both nights. Most UTMB runners run through two nights. Appetite and body temperature drop in the dark, so plan warm, easy foods.
- Plan for hot and cold. Late August can be hot in the valleys and cold, windy and even snowy on the high passes. Fluids and sodium go up in the heat.
- Use your drop bags. The race allows drop bags at set stations. Check the runner guide, then pack your food, socks and warm layers.
- Practise the plan. A UTMB-length plan has to work for 20 hours or more. Train your gut on long mountain days before you go.
Work out your numbers
- Ultra fuel plan calculator: A whole race plan: per hour, hour by hour, race totals and a rough fuel budget.
- Aid station and drop bag planner: What to carry between aid stations and what to pack in each drop bag.
- Race-week nutrition planner: Carb loading, a caffeine plan within safe limits and recovery after the finish.
- Night ultra nutrition
- The ultra drop bag packing list
- Gut training for ultras
How do you get into the UTMB World Series Finals?
- The lottery: you need at least 1 Running Stone, earned at any World Series event or Major, and a valid UTMB Index in the matching distance category. The draw is in January. Double stones from a Major improve your odds.
- Direct entry: the top 10 men and top 10 women in the 50K, 100K or 100 mile race at a Major get guaranteed entry to that same distance at the Finals.
- Timing: Majors held from September onward, such as Wildstrubel, Kodiak and Chiang Mai, count towards the following year's Finals.
What does the Finals entry cost?
Based on recent prices, the UTMB was 479 euros, the CCC 310 euros and the OCC 199 euros. Prices include VAT and membership of the Friends of UTMB association. Expect extra for administration fees of about 8 percent, optional cancellation insurance and a carbon contribution that depends on how far you travel. The new prices come out when pre-registration opens in January.
How did the UTMB start?
The first Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc was held in August 2003, a circuit of the massif through France, Italy and Switzerland. More than 700 runners started, and cold, hail and rain meant only 67 finished. The CCC was added in 2006, a qualifying points system followed in 2008, and the Chamonix races became the UTMB World Series Finals in 2023.
Frequently asked questions
When are the UTMB World Series Finals?
Race week is at the end of August in Chamonix.
Which races are the Finals?
The UTMB (100 miles), the CCC (100K) and the OCC (50K). Other races in the festival week, such as the TDS and the PTL, are not Finals.
How do I get in?
Through the January lottery with Running Stones and a UTMB Index, or by finishing in the top 10 at a Major in the same distance.
The other races
- HOKA Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB (April)
- HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB (May)
- HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB (July)
- Wildstrubel by UTMB (September)
- HOKA Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB (October)
- HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB (November)
General information, not medical or dietary advice.