UTMB Readies Version 2 of Their Index

Via press email sent today:

• All historical race scores from 2019 to the present will be recalculated using the new V2.0 formula and will immediately replace the current scores.
• From 27 April 2026 onwards, only V2.0 scores will be visible and used in all UTMB systems, rankings, and qualification processes. Previous scores will no longer be accessible or used as reference.

They are promising faster calculations and results, and they are changing the way a ‘finisher’ is displayed:

• With the introduction of UTMB Index V2.0, race results may now appear under three different statuses: Score, Finisher, or Not Scored. 
• For races where there is insufficient data to calculate a score accurately, runners will be awarded a Finisher status. This status will provide all associated benefits, but without a numerical score.
• Examples include races with fewer than 5 finishers or races stopped midway.
  
  The existing criteria for Not Scored races remain unchanged, for example races less than 20km-effort.

This system feels wildly ambitious and complicated, not sure I fully understand why it exists, aside from defining who is an ‘elite’. I wonder if the new version is vibe-coded.

Side note: UTMB promised a few years ago to rethink their Index and give us gender parity in the way the results get calculated, I supposed this didn’t make it into the V2 release.