Ultra running's most prestigious event, UTMB in 2025, has Jim Walmsley in the running, but who else is joining? And which notable names are absent from the list?
The UTMB finals, a 100-mile race around Mont Blanc, are fast approaching in August. Among the confirmed top competitors for the men's division is Jim Walmsley, who will be making a comeback after dealing with a knee injury that kept him out of the Western States starting list this spring.
Walmsley is not the only notable runner in the race. Arno Segue Maul from Spain and Lat from France are also set to challenge Walmsley. Segue Maul placed around fourth, while Lat secured seventh position in the 100-miler at another major race last year.
Other frontrunners in the men's division include Courtney Dauwalter, who is aiming to regain her title. Besides these runners, the full list of starters for the UTMB finals can be viewed on a specific website.
In the women's division, Ida Nilsson from Sweden, Emily Hawgood from Zimbabwe, Eszter Csillag, Heather Jackson, and Ruth Croft from New Zealand are all set to compete. Croft took second place last year and is looking to improve her position this year.
Notably, Fuzhao Xiang, who placed second at this year's Western States, will not be participating in the UTMB finals. Katie Schide is also absent from the starting list this year.
The race will be live-streamed on live.utmb.world in seven languages, providing fans worldwide the opportunity to follow their favourite runners. Interestingly, Walmsley will be wearing Hoka Tecton X 3s during the race.
Vincent Bouillard, a Hoka engineer who surprised everyone by winning the UTMB finals last year, will also be competing. Other notable runners include Ludo Pommeret, Germain Grangier, Francois D'Haane, Jeff Mogavero, Tom Evans, Rod Farvard, Hayden Hawks, and Marianne Hogan, a Canadian trail runner.
The UTMB finals have a rich history, with Walmsley previously setting a course record of 19:37 at the event in 2023. This year promises to be just as exciting, with a host of talented runners ready to push their limits around Mont Blanc.
Jim Walmsley, wearing Hoka Tecton X 3s, will be challenged by Arno Segue Maul from Spain and Lat from France, as well as other notable competitors like Courtney Dauwalter in the men's division of the UTMB finals. In the women's division, Ida Nilsson from Sweden, Emily Hawgood from Zimbabwe, Eszter Csillag, Heather Jackson, and Ruth Croft from New Zealand are all set to compete, with Croft aiming to improve her second-place finish from last year.
