17-04-2019 - News
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Why has the current system reached its limits?
In the last few years, the UTMB® Mont-Blanc has become more successful than ever: applications have increased by 68% in just 3 years (despite more stringent entry regulations). In 2016, 15,000 runners entered the lottery; in 2019 the organisation received more than 26,000 applications for only 10,000 places (on all races) available. An undeniable success that is the result of 17 years of expertise, sharing and innovations. In order for all runners to be able to enter the race of their dreams one day, the organisation had to innovate and renew the entry process.
“The current registration system has reached its limits. To continue to meet the expectations of these thousands of trail runners, it was necessary to improve our entry process. We have implemented a more flexible, more open system, in line with the internationalization of trail running. It is also very important for us to respect runners’ health” Michel Poletti, co-director of the UTMB®.
How does the current system work?
Today, access to the UTMB® races is divided in two stages:
Here is the 2019 scale
UTMB® : 15 points acquired in 2 years (3 races maximum).
TDS® : 8 points acquired in 2 years (in 2 races maximum).
CCC® : 8 points acquired in 2 years (in 2 races maximum)
OCC : 6 points acquired in 2 years (in 2 races maximum)
MCC: 0 points, the race is reserved for volunteers,
local runners and partners
PTL®: selection upon presentation of a file
YCC: for younger athletes
2020: a year of transition towards the new entry process
The new entry process will be implemented gradually so that the organization can honor its commitments towards runners already benefiting from an advantage in the lottery (coefficient 2, direct entry).
The novelty for the 2020 UTMB® Mont-Blanc lies in the implementation of a new lowered scale of qualifying points and the implementation of a more flexible lottery:
2020 UTMB® Mont-Blanc qualifying points scale
“With this significantly lowered scale, runners will be able to gain their qualifying points in a more relaxed way. One ultra-marathon per year will be enough to get your points for the UTMB® Mont-Blanc. In the light of the studies conducted on the UTMB® Mont-Blanc, this is a logical development which is meant to better respect runners’ health “ Nicolas Lagrange, Operational Director of UTMB® .
Implementation of a more flexible lottery
From 2020, the lottery will become more flexible. Further detail will be provided to runner. Runners who are not lucky on their first attempt through the lottery will have better chances of being selected in following years.
The probability of being selected is therefore proportional to the number of times a runner has failed to gain entry in the previous years. Runners can also decide to apply for a different race each year (ex: apply for the UTMB® the first year, then for the TDS® the following year) or to take a/or more than one, year break from their running.
2 exceptions:
- Runners who failed to gain entry in 2019 will double their chances of being selected in the 2020 lottery for the same race. If they are still not selected in the 2020 lottery, they will get a direct entry for 2021.
- Finishers of 130 km of 2019 Ushuaia by UTMB® and 130 and 160 km of 2019 Oman by UTMB® will be guaranteed a direct entry for the 2020 UTMB® Mont-Blanc races.
Entry process for elite athletes will still be based on the ITRA ranking. The scale evolves to take into account the increase in the level of international elite athletes. Further information on utmbmontblanc.com
2021: an innovative, open and more flexible entry process
In addition to the lottery, which will continue to exist, and in order to allow for as many runners as possible to one day be eligible to enter the UTMB® Mont-Blanc, the organization will introduce a parallel system offering faster access to its races, starting from January 2020.
This latter system will be based on the concept of the “Running Stones”, which will only be awarded to the Finishers of a limited number of races, carefully selected by the UTMB®. Running Stones will be recorded on a database, which runners can refer to check their up to date stock. Once they have gained the requested number of running stones, runners will get a direct entry for the UTMB® Mont-Blanc race of their choice without having to go through the lottery. If the runner doesn’t have enough Running Stones, he/she will be able to trade them for additional tickets in the lottery thus improving the probability of being selected. From January 2020 and not before, it will be possible to collect Running Stones by participating in some of the most incredible races around the world: the existing “by UTMB® ” events (Gaoligong, Ushuaia, Oman, etc.) as well as, and this is a first - the 2020 Ultra-Trail® World Tour events.
UTMB® and Ultra-Trail® World Tour formalize therefore a major strategic partnership, recently signed, whose objectives are to better define ultra-trail running in the trail running world and to develop new sporting and marketing synergies. The 2020 international circuit resulting from the partnership between the UTMB® and the Ultra-Trail® World Tour will be presented to the press at the 2019 UTMB® Mont Blanc event. It will be a significant evolution of the current circuit.
Marie Sammons, Executive Director of the Ultra-Trail® World Tour, and Cristiana Queirolo, her counterpart at UTMB® International, declared: “Trail running is a booming sport, and its potential is enormous in many countries. The recent partnership between the UTMB® and the Ultra-Trail® World Tour is very exciting. By building on each other’s strengths, by combining the influence of the UTMB® with that of the UTWT, we wish to write a new chapter in the history of our sport and create an extremely appealing circuit for both elite athletes and the millions of passionate trail runners around the world.”
For instance, finishing 160km (MGU) Gaoligong byUTMB® = 18 Running Stones, that is 6 ITRA points. If runners have their qualifying points, they will be able to enter the UTMB® Mont-Blanc races without having to go through the lottery. Running Stones expire after 4 years. Running stones gained in 2020 can be traded for entry to a 2012, 2022, 2023, 2024 UTMB® Mont-Blanc race of their choice. If they are not used during those 4 years, they will expire unless they are exchanged for additional tickets. The Running Stones can be used to enter the UTMB®, the TDS®, the CCC® and the OCC. Special registrations apply for the MCC, the PTL® and the YCC.