What do the numbers say? A 34% increase in registrations for UTMB®, CCC®, and OCC®. Demand is 2 to 3 times greater than the race capacities. There were 7,200 pre-registrations for UTMB®, 5,400 for CCC, and 6,400 for OCC. These are staggering numbers...

The reasons? We’ve described them countless times, and those who haven't been in Chamonix during those days can’t fully grasp it. Chamonix alone is the Mecca of mountain sports worldwide. Walking its streets, you feel "at home." Seeing someone with skis on their shoulder, another with crampons and an ice axe, someone else running in shorts, and dozens of paragliders flying above you is an everyday sight. It's a destination every mountain sports enthusiast must visit—regardless of the UTMB®. But during those days, the atmosphere is something else. The support from the crowd along every kilometer of the routes is spine-tingling. The human, headlamp-lit train climbing up to the stars as you ascend Col du Bonhomme is an image you’ll never forget. Ridges, gorges, rushing rivers, beautiful villages, and mountain huts everywhere. The view of the glaciers—while they last—on the impressive surrounding peaks, and of Mont Blanc’s summit itself, takes your breath away. The same goes for the steep climbs that, though tough, lead to magical, rewarding views, making every drop of sweat more than worth it. After all, you’re circumnavigating Mont Blanc in less than two days!

The races:

UTMB®, the coveted goal race for thousands of ultra-trail runners from around the world. Its biggest asset is the main ingredient of any race: the course itself. The TMB (Trail du Mont-Blanc), the trail that encircles Mont Blanc, is perhaps the most frequently walked in the world. Covering a distance of 170 kilometers with 10,000 meters of positive elevation gain, the race takes runners through enchanting valleys, picturesque villages, wind-swept peaks, and crosses three countries—all while offering breathtaking views of Mont Blanc's snow-covered summit, the steep surrounding peaks, and the ever-moving glaciers. These, combined with the incredible atmosphere created by the local residents, contribute to an extraordinary racing—and beyond—experience for the athletes.

Second in popularity among participants is the CCC® (Courmayeur – Champex – Chamonix), a 101-kilometer race with 6,000 meters of elevation gain that almost entirely follows the second half of the UTMB® course. It has become a fast race due to the top-tier athletes competing, with finish times dropping below 10 hours for men and 12 hours for women!

In 2014, the organizers hit the jackpot! To increase the total number of participants, they decided to create a shorter race on the classic course. Thus, the OCC® (Orsières – Champex – Chamonix) debuted that year and has since remained a major draw, being the easiest race of the event (57 km, 3,500 m D+).

Fourth in demand but second in difficulty is the TDS®, which had lived in the shadow of the CCC® in terms of popularity. The full name, "Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie," now follows a new route, exploring the Beaufortain valley, and since 2019, it has increased in both distance and elevation, reaching 148 kilometers with 9,300 meters of elevation gain!

A recent addition to the event lineup is a race of "special interest." This is the MCC (Martigny - Combe - Chamonix), a 40 km race with 2,300 m D+ where priority is given to local athletes from the surrounding communities and volunteers!

The latest addition is the ETC (Experience Trail Courmayeur), an introductory race of 15 km with 1,300 m elevation gain in the heart of the Italian Alps.

Finally, there's the YCC, the "Benjamin" of the races for the "Benjamins" of mountain running. This race is exclusively for young athletes aged 14–22, consisting of three separate courses based on their age category.

The big favorites

The Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc races have always been a target for dozens of top runners from around the world, with the main event in particular often resembling a true world championship of ultra mountain running, as it is the most competitive race of its kind. This year is no exception!

UTMB® - Women

The absence of the incredible Courtney Dauwalter (3-time winner and record holder) and last year's runner-up Katharina Hartmuth leaves the race wide open, ensuring a thrilling battle for the podium. Katie Schide, the 2022 champion and winner of this year's Western States, is now the favorite, but not an undisputed one. She will face strong competition from Blandine L’Hirondel, who finished 3rd last year, as they vie for the top spot on the podium. Ruth Croft, coming off a strong season (winner of the 2023 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k, 2024 Tarawera Ultramarathon 100k, and 2024 Transvulcania Ultramarathon), will be in the mix as well.

Challenging for the remaining podium spots will be Marianne Hogan (2nd in 2022), Fu-Zhao Xiang with her 5 years of experience and a 2nd place finish at this year’s Western States, along with Eszter Csillag, Ida Nilsson, and others.

You can check the list of top female athletes based on their ITRA scores: [List with ITRA scores] (link to the relevant list).

UTMB® - Men

Jim Walmsley's participation this year leaves little room for doubt. It may have taken him years (5th place in 2017, two DNFs in 2018 and 2021, and 4th place in 2022), but last year, he not only claimed the long-awaited victory but did so with an astonishing record time of 19:37. This year, he continues his relentless momentum following his win at the Western States. In fact, he has won every ultra race since 2021 (except for the two UTMB® events mentioned above)! This year, he’ll only lose if he makes a mistake. So, let’s consider who might fill the other spots in the top ten...

We can’t forget Mathieu Blanchard's unforgettable race in 2022, where he battled it out with Kilian Jornet and eventually finished 2nd. While it's uncertain if he can do the same against Walmsley this year, he's definitely podium material and has proven it. Germain Grangier surpassed himself last year with a 3rd-place finish; why not again this year? German runner Hannes Namberger is on the rise, and his win at this year’s Lavaredo places him among the favorites for the top ten. British runner Tom Evans deserves his spot among the top contenders after finishing 3rd at Transvulcania and 2nd at Lavaredo.

Then there's the incredible and beloved Ludovic Pommeret, who certainly deserves the same recognition after his record-breaking win at Hardrock. The question is whether he will have recovered sufficiently to be in the top form required. He will surely be battling with his compatriot Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz for a top-ten finish. Beyond that, it's worth mentioning Dmitry Mityaev, Thibaut Baronian, Thibaut Garrivier, and Jiasheng Shen. Lastly, we’d love to see the veteran Miguel Heras finish high in the rankings. Old favorites are never forgotten! Last year, he didn’t manage it in his big comeback, but we hope this year will be different—especially after his impressive 2nd-place finish at this year's Transgrancanaria in a highly competitive field!

Of course, the list of contenders is endless, as you can see here: 

CCC - Women

How could we not include German runner Rosanna Buchauer among the favorites for the win, given her victories at this year's Grossglockner Ultra-Trail® and Lavaredo Ultra Trail? She's undoubtedly a strong contender. Last year's OCC winner, Toni McCann from South Africa, also poses a serious threat to the competition. Experienced runner Azara Garcia will certainly be in the mix for the win if she performs as she did in her victory at this year’s Chianti Ultra Trail. Canadian Jazmine Lowther, who finished 4th in the CCC last year, is another runner to watch, especially after her win at Speedgoat this year. Keep an eye on her!

CCC - Men

The men's podium is expected to be fiercely contested among several top athletes. Leading the charge is Petter Engdahl, the 2022 race winner and course record holder. He'll face stiff competition from Adam Peterman, winner of the 2022 Western States, and Manuel Merillas, who claimed victories in both the OCC and Zegama in 2022. Hayden Hawks, who finished 3rd at this year’s Western States, and Daniel Jones, who took 4th place at the same event, are also strong contenders. Andreas Reiterer, who won the Eiger Ultra Trail and Chianti Ultra Trail this year, along with the popular Dakota Jones, who finished 3rd in last year’s CCC, will also be vying for the top spots.

A special mention goes to Greece's own Konstantinos Paradeisopoulos, who finished 21st in the OCC in both 2021 and 2023. This year, he's stepping up to the CCC, hoping to replicate those performances. We wholeheartedly wish him the best of luck!

The Greeks

Nikos Kalofyris on the CCC podium in 2010...

Greek athletes have a long and successful tradition in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB®) races, with many excelling in various events over the years. Pioneers Lazaros Rigos and Dimitris Venetikeidis were the first to pave the way in 2005, participating in these races and inspiring many others to follow. Since then, numerous Greek athletes have traveled annually to the Alps to experience the atmosphere and magic of the world's biggest mountain race festival.

The most significant achievement for Greek athletes so far is Nikos Kalofyris's 2nd place finish in the CCC® in 2009 with a time of 12:12:35, as well as his 3rd place finishes in the CCC® in 2010 and 2011 with times of 12:03:48 and 10:50:17, respectively.

Another notable performance was by Nikos Petropoulos in 2014, who finished the UTMB® in 26:47:21, securing 53rd place overall—one of the most impressive results in Greek mountain running history. Additionally, Konstantinos Paradeisopoulos’s 21st place overall and 1st in his category at the OCC in 2021, a feat he repeated in 2023 with an even better performance, is also worth mentioning.

This year, there are 29 Greek participants:

• UTMB®: 7
• CCC: 13
• OCC: 1
• TDS: 4
• MCC: 2
• ETC: 2

This number is notably higher than expected, given that only races abroad now offer "Running Stones," which are necessary for entering the lottery for the three most popular races: UTMB®, CCC, and OCC. Unfortunately, we cannot provide a detailed list of participants, as the organization only reveals names of those with a UTMB® Index of 500 or higher. This practice, filtering the lists this way, seems elitist and disrespectful to the athletes.

Follow all UTMB® races

Here’s the schedule for all the UTMB® races, listed by date and start time:

• PTL®: August 26, 9:00 AM. Distance: 305 km, Elevation gain: +24,765 meters, Time limit: 152:30 hours, 78 teams.
• MCC: August 26, 10:00 AM. Distance: 40 km, Elevation gain: +2,300 meters, Time limit: 10 hours, 1,000 participants.
• TDS®: August 27, 12:50 AM. Distance: 148 km, Elevation gain: +9,300 meters, Time limit: 44 hours, 1,600 participants.
• ETC: August 27, 3:00 PM. Distance: 15 km, Elevation gain: +1,300 meters, Time limit: 4 hours.
• OCC: August 29, 9:15 AM. Distance: 55 km, Elevation gain: +3,500 meters, Time limit: 14.5 hours, 1,200 participants.
• CCC®: August 30, 10:00 AM. Distance: 101 km, Elevation gain: +6,100 meters, Time limit: 26:30 hours, 1,900 participants.
• UTMB®: August 30, 19:00, 170K, +10,000 meters, 46:30 hour time limit, for 2,300 athletes.

Once again, there will be many options to follow the athletes’ progress live during the UTMB® races:

• Live Coverage: Continuous live streaming of all races will be available at https://live.utmb.world/utmb/2024. This platform is considered one of the best for live coverage of mountain races worldwide, thanks to significant investments made in recent years.
• Track Athletes Live: By visiting https://live.utmb.world/utmb/2024, you can track the progress of any athlete by entering their BIB number or name in the search field. A great feature is the ability to add athletes to your "Favorites" on the platform for easier tracking
• Advendure Tip! For those who enjoyed the old Livetrail interface (like this nostalgic writer), here is the link: https://UTMB®.livetrail.net/teteCourse.php
• LiveTrail App: Through the LiveTrail app (available on Android and iOS), you can receive updates on an athlete’s progress via Facebook or Twitter.
• Twitter Updates: Follow the race via the iRunFar Twitter feed, which consistently provides detailed updates during the event.
• Advendure Commentary: There will be commentary throughout the week on Advendure’s social media channels, staying closely connected with Chamonix and all the races.

The biggest mountain running showdown has arrived! We wish the best of luck to all the Greek runners traveling to Chamonix to experience this unique adventure!