The UTMB World Series heads to the heart of the Spanish Pyrenees, with 5,400 participants from 80 nations lining up for the third edition of Val d’Aran by UTMB®, 5-9 July.
As the only 2023 European UTMB® World Series Major, it will be the full focus for athletes looking for the opportunity to ring the iconic bell located under the finish arch in Vielha.
As a UTMB World Series Major, the Top 10 male and female runners in the 100M, 100K and 50K categories will automatically qualify for the corresponding race at the UTMB World Series Finals.
That combined with Age Group Qualifications will see 225 runners granted direct access to the UTMB World Series Finals. All finishers will be rewarded with double Running Stones, making it all to play for in the stunning but unforgiving Pyrenees Mountain range.
With Val d’Aran considered the ‘Essence of the Pyrenees’, the VDA 100-mile course promises to showcase the very best of the area as runners leave Vielha, Spain to tackle two 2,000m+ peaks early in the race before sharing the unmissable features of the 100km CDH course, including the largest glacial lake cirque in the Pyrenees which boasts more than 50 majestic lakes.
Both courses welcome talented professional runners from around the world, including Tobias Dahl Fenre (NOR, UTMB Index 860) and Alyssa Clark (USA, UTMB Index 708) who will be on the hunt for the top spot in the queen race.
“The combination of very high-level athletes, a professional organisation and a majestic natural landscape is what motivated me to sign-up for the challenge of Val d’Aran by UTMB.
It is the perfect race to help me prepare ahead of my main objective of the season, the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix. I am also looking forward to going with my wife, who will be running the CDH 100K race. What better way to spend a romantic trip than taking part in a great-long distance race?” said Dahl Fenre.
Maite Maiora (ESP, UTMB Index 760) has celebrated a string of strong results so far this season, including 1st at Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB®, and could come out on top in the women’s CDH race.
Aritz Egea (ESP, UTMB Index 894) will be looking to retain his title in the men’s race after winning the first edition in 2021 but faces tough opposition, including Peter Frano (SVK, UTMB Index 881) who recently finished third at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Austria.
The 55km PDA races promises more fast and furious racing across the wild and authentic landscape with Manuel Marillas (ESP, UTMB Index 924), currently ranked 9th in the world and second highest-ranked Spanish runner behind Kilian Jornet, toeing the start line.
A recent second place at La Sportiva® Lavaredo Ultra Trail® by UTMB® (20km) for Anna Comet Pascua (ESP, UTMB Index 752) suggests she has good form and speed coming into this bucket-list race.
With three 20K race category distances on offer, including a race for the future stars of mountain running (16–19-year-olds), Val d’Aran by UTMB offers a distance for everyone with the opportunity to enjoy views across the entire valley.