THE NEW UTMB SYSTEM IN SUMMARY
Did you understand the new UTMB system? Is participating in UTMB (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc) races a dream of yours?
We have prepared for you a summary of the new qualification criteria and what you need to do if you want to increase your chances of entering the starting list even if you are not an elite for which there is a separate privileged system.
Get comfortable! Here’s how you need to do it
- OBTAIN A VALID UTMB PERFORMANCE INDEX
The long-awaited ITRA points that you have been chasing for years are no longer considered a valid criterion to be able to register for UTMB races starting and / or finishing in Chamonix. The UTMB organization has developed its access requirements accrual system: the UTMB performance Index.
The UTMB performance Index is obtained only by participating in the 3 categories of races that carry the UTMB brand: UTMB World Series Qualifier, UTMB World Series Event, UTMB World Series Major.
You must, therefore, be sure that the race you have chosen has one of these marks clearly visible on its website.
But that’s not all! The index you acquire is in relation to the race distance you run. The race categories are 20 km, 50 km, 100 km and 100 miles (170km).
If you aspire to participate in the UTMB 170 Km you will have to acquire a corresponding valid index, that is, relative to the 100 Miles by running a race of that distance. The good thing is that you only need to run one race to activate it.
You can check your UTMB performance Index: https://utmb.world/it
- OBTAIN AT LEAST 1 RUNNING STONE
But is it enough to have a valid UTMB performance Index in the corresponding category? The answer is no!
You will need to have earned at least 1 running stone in the previous 2 years to be eligible for the draw to enter the Chamonix finals: UTMB, TDS, CCC, OCC, MCC.
The running stones are obtained only by running the races that attribute them, those of the categories UTMB World Series Event (1 x 20 Km, 2 x 50 Km, 3 x 100 Km, 4 x 100 Miles) and UTMB World Series Major. The Majors award double running stones for each category!
Each running stone corresponds to a chance to be drawn, the max you can accumulate is 30. For example, if you have 9 running stones, you will have 9 chances of being drawn.
- IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY TO BE ABLE TO GUARANTEE MY PARTICIPATION?
Of course! The first 3 male and female athletes of the UTMB World Series Events and the first 10 male athletes and the first 10 female athletes of the UTMB World Series Major races obtain the right to participate in the UTMB competitions. Obviously, as you can imagine it is not an easy achievement. Lastly, since the age group categories have been better defined, and there are awarded, it is held so that in the creation of the starting list, after drawing lots, there is a fair balance.
Now you just have to take a squared sheet of paper, probability calculation in hand, and write down your strategy in black and white, a bit like it was done some time ago with the loyalty points of the most famous brands.
Good luck, and write to us if you have any doubts. Where? Here: info@trailrunningmovement.com
Enjoy your races!
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