Highlights from UTMB’s Press Kit for the 2026 World Series Finals

UTMB just released their full press kit for the 2026 Finals in… non-downloadable magazine format published to the e-magazine platform ISSUU. But, thanks to my amazing press contact at the UTMB office I was able to obtain a PDF of it (10MB) – you’re welcome!

What’s in it?

Volunteers:

As organisers, our mission goes beyond offering you an exceptional course. It also involves ensuring your safety and protecting your health before, during, and after the race. That is why we rely every year on more than 2,600 volunteers, the true pillars of the UTMB family, as well as a large-scale medical team of more than 350 healthcare professionals: 30 doctors, 60 nurses, 60 first responders, and 90 physiotherapists and podiatrists.

Just an incredible number of folks giving their time so you can have a great time.

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Some Key Figures:

• 10,000 runners across the 8 races helped during race week – remember that one, yeah, I was right, of course.
• 29,000 runners entered lottery.
• €45,000 Million in Economic Impact for the region and 55,000 overnight stays in the valley.

So many beds filled. I am sure UTMB enjoys sharing this number with the mayor’s office.

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The Environmental Commitment:

In short: This is a resetting to match the realities of this global mega event and bringing it back to the local priorities of the Alpine valley facing the realities of our climate crisis. You’re a guest here, act like one and respect the local culture.

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The Human Focus:

Controlling event noises = for locals in Chamonix. Inclusivity and Solidarity = for all runners from everywhere. The campaign “freedom, but not without responsibility” = teaching visitors the way of the mountains.

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The Elite Race: the Prize Purse and increased doping controls I previously mentioned.

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The Charter:

Will definitely result in a few smirks and glaring eye-rolls but hey, a place where people come together for a shared experience in limited space common rules need to be agreed upon otherwise society can’t function.

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The Programme:

I bring this up every time, but the staging for each race start and finish to perfectly harmonize in downtown Chamonix, under that blue arch is just an incredible achievement and deserves from praise and recognition. Yes, runners come for the route, and a race director usually gets recognized for the ingenuity in weaving various trails together and obtaining permits to give runners this incredible experience that feels like a perfect flow and not an forced and tedious one. But packing this many races – start and finish – into a full week is truly what makes UTMB stand apart from all other events (and the ones that are similar have copied this from them.)

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The Elite Line-Up:

Has already two most notable drops: Kilian Jornet and Jim Walmsley dropped after the document “went to print”. Reminds me of the old Panini World Cup sticker books. There were always a few players who you collected stickers for that were late drops due to injury or other reasons.

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The Notable Figures:

Highlights, rightfully winners of past races, but I wonder how hard it would be to include other “notable runners” that completed the loop that would create a bit more inclusive storylines.

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Lastly:

I am truly fascinated and grateful that European race organizations are producing all their documentation in several languages. Keeping all these moving pieces up-to-date and ready for a deadline and having them translated is no small feat. Kudos to the team for creating a level of hospitality that we in English speaking countries aren’t thinking about.