Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB // Press kit

« Alsace is proud to host an event which is part of the UTMB World Series, a legendary circuit which brings together thousands of runners. Alsace will offer a marvellous setting combing nature and our heritagetothissportingeventwhichisinspiredbythe world-renowned UTMB Mont-Blanc»

Frédéric Bierry President of the European Community of Alsace

« From May 18 to 21,the Grand Est Region will be at the heart of global trail running news byhosting four races of the UTMB World Series. The Vosges massif and the string of castles in Alsace will not only offer an exceptional natural and heritage setting to all the competitors, but also the unique experience to discover our region. By supporting this international event, the Grand Est Region intends to promote Alsatian culture and help people discover the attractions of the Vosges mountains»

Franck Leroy President of the Grand Est region

EDITORIAL

« We are delighted to welcome the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB to the UTMB family in 2023. This new event becomes the fifth event on the global circuit to take place on French soil. The UTMB World Series bring together the best races on the planet.

Organized in line with the highest UTMB standards,the event will offer local as well as international runners wishing to discover the region the opportunity to experience a unique journey through time as they explore castles and vineyards, which for many will be the start of their quest to the UTMB Mont-Blanc. The entire UTMB community looks forward toseeingyou atthe TrailAlsace Grand Est byUTMB from May18to 21.»

Isabelle Viseux-Poletti

UTMB France Director

« This event is first and foremost a story of friendship, passion, encounters, values and dreams. A passion for running but also for our region and our heritage. This project was born from a desire of a group of friends to run from Mont St Odile to the castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg, through both departments of Alsace and crossing as many fortified castles as possible. Our dream to become part of the UTMB World Series has now come true, ensuring runners from all over the world can discover our playground »

Mathieu Pettinotti Technical director

AGENDA

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TRAIL ALSACE GRAND EST BY UTMB®

1st EDITION OVERVIEW

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PROGRAM OF THE EVENT

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THE RACES

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MUST-SEE PLACES ON THE ROUTE

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EXTRA-ORDINARY RUNNERS

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FOLLOW THE EVENT

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A UTMB® WORLD SERIESEVENT

THELEADINGGLOBALTRAILRUNNINGCIRCUIT

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PARTNERS

© Lez Broz - Visit Alsace

OVERVIEW

Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB is the fifth event on the global circuit to take place on French soil. All runners will be able to embark on an epic journey through the Vosges mountains and Alsace, discovering castles, vineyards and picturesque villages.

The first edition, from May 18 to 21, 2023, will host 4,600 runners and their crew for an unforgettable epic journey.

Soutenu par la Collectivité européenne d’Alsace et la Région Grand Est

OBERNAI

Nestled in the heart of the green French countryside, on the Alsace and Mont SainteOdile wine route, Obernai is a medieval city, famous for its dynamism, festivals and remarkable architectural heritage – it’s Alsace at its best! Its charm, its shopping streets, its wide range of accommodation and restaurants make it an ideal destination for all visitors.

COLMAR

City of art, history and cultural heritage, Colmar has preserved its historic center, classified as a "protected area". Its museums, including the famous Unterlinden museum are a must-see. Capital of Alsace wines, the city is famous for its exceptional gastronomic heritage.

BARR

Wine capital of the Bas-Rhin nestled at the foot of the Vosges Mountains and iconic spot of the famous Alsace Wine Route. A picturesque city that seduces wine lovers and attracts many tourists in search of nature, authenticity and beautiful landscapes.

© Obernai

© Colmar

© Barr

4 DAYS OF SPORT AND FESTIVALS:

Starts :

- Friday 10 am in Barr = 50K

- Friday 8 pm in Colmar = 100M

- Saturday 7 am in Orschwiller = 100K

- Sunday 8 am in Barr = 20K

Finish line in Obernai :

- Friday 1:30 pm = 50K

- Saturday 1 pm = 100M

- Saturday 4 pm = 100K

- Sunday 10:30 am = 20K

Check the program of the event

THE RACES

DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF THE TERRITORY.

From Colmar to Obernai, winding through the most beautiful castles and trails of the region, this event is a unique journey through the heart of an exceptional cultural, gastronomic and historical heritage.

The itineraries of the 4 distances merge, making it possible for everyone explore the most beautiful landscapes and must-see places. The finish line is on the ramparts of Obernai, one of the most beautiful spots in France.

The longest race features 19 climbs and not less than 6,200m of positive elevation gain: enough to have a good time and get lost in the beauty of the surrounding nature.

Ultra-Trail des Chevaliers

175 km – 6 200m D+

May 19th, 2023 start at 8 pm

A legendary adventure

Explore the trails of the Vosges mountains –including more than 20 castles - and become the hero of an epic adventure where magnificent views, history and legends blend together.

Ultra-Trail des Païens

109 km – 3 820m D+

May 20th, 2023 start 7 am

A mystic experience

Live an enchanting and mystical experience among mountains, vineyards, picturesque villages: cross the Haut Koenigsbourg region along the old Celtic road at the foot of the Vosges and explore the majestic Mont St. Odile.

See race details

See race details

Trail des Celtes

50 km – 1 990m D+

May 19th , 2023 start 10 am

A Celtic ballad

Legend has it that if you go there at night, you can meet the elves. On this intermediate route, which follows the trail of wonders leading to Saint Odile, you will wind through the peaks of Bloss and Heidenkopf.

Trail des Pèlerins

34 km – 1 280m D+

May 21st , 2023 start 8 am

Follow the pilgrims' route

Come and discover a thick medieval atmosphere, in the heart of a luxuriant and enchanted forest where seven castles stand. This shorter format also crosses the spiritual capital of Alsace at 753m above sea level.

See race details

See race details

DIVE INTO THE HEART OF THE EVENT

MUST-SEE PLACES

Kayersberg

Obernai

An outstanding belfry, the wheat market, the Saints-Pierre-et-Paul church, the famous ramparts and its central square will seduce you in a second.

Château du Hohlandsbourg

Colmar

Nicknamed "Little Venice", this city boasts many exceptional religious and artistic buildings such as the Collegiate Church of St. Martin, the Dominican Church, the Maison des Têtes, the Maison Pfister and the famous Batholdi Museum.

Ribeauvillé

Kintzheim

Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg

Mont Sainte-Odile

It's definitely worth a visit!

Barr

This village will enchant you with its cobblestone streets, its vineyards surrounding the city and its typical houses

Châtenois

The witches' tower of the Saint-Georges church

Eagles' aviary + mokey's mountain

Ottrot

The Pagan Wall

(EXTRA) – ORDINARY RUNNERS

TOP-RANKED MEN RUNNERS

ANDY SIMONDS

From Manchester, participating in the 100M

British athlete, winner of the Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB in 2016, Montreux Trail Festival in 2020 and Matterhorn Ultraks Sky in 2021, he finished the UTMB® Mont-Blanc twice in the Top 20, with a 5th place in 2019.

ANTOINE CHARVOLIN

From Grenoble, participating in the 50K

Antoine is a 25-year-old French talent who has been running and cross-country skiing since he was a very young boy. He got his first bib at the Mont Blanc Marathon in 2017, where he won a place on the podium. Since then, he has achieved many good results, including a 2nd place in the 1st edition of Wildstrubel by UTMB50K in 2022.

STEEVE DOBERT

From Chambéry, participating in the 100K

In 2022, Steeve finished 3rd in the Sainté-Lyon and 1st in the Grand Trail de Serre-Ponçon a few months earlier. He is a military trained cyclist, comfortable running long and shorter distances.

ALVIN LAIR

From Laval, participating in the 20K

A mountain and trail running enthusiast, Alvin is a child of the plains who left the Mayenne region a few years ago to settle in Haute-Savoie and fulfill his dreams.

TOP-RANKED WOMEN RUNNERS

MAITE MAIORA

From Mendora, participating in the 100M

Spanish long-distance runner specializing in skyrunning and ultra distances, Maite is a two-time world champion in skyrunning and finished 4th female in the 2022 Sainté Lyon.

JASMIN NUNIGE

From Davos, participating in the 50K

Swiss athlete, formerly a cross-country skier and then a trail runner, she completed her first 100 km race in January 2019 at the Hong Kong 100, where she finished 6th. In 2019, she won the Grand Défi des Vosges, 1st overall.

TATIANA QUESADA

From Luxembourg, participating in the 100K

The Luxembourgian, who finished on the podium in the last races she took part in, knows the region's trails well, having recently taken part in the Munster'Trail, the Trail de la Vallée des Lacs and the Scherwiller races.

CHARLENE KLEITZ

From Savernes, participating in the 20K

This young 26 year old athlete is a native of the region and has been competing in many high level events over the last few years. Accustomed to cross-country races in her region, she knows these trails by heart and will be able to lead the way in the Trail des Pèlerins.

EXTRA-ORDINARY RUNNERS

CHRISTELLE STURTZ

From Strasbourg, participating in the 100M

Karate champion and godmother of the ELA association.

"The "by UTMB" races have the ability to make people experience strong sporting moments, a rare emotion that combines the spirit of race and family. I am delighted that such a race can take place in Alsace, as I am a passionate and long-distance runner. Let's make it a great party to carry and share the values of this sport. Let's raise our hearts and run together!"

MOHAMED SIAALITI

From Strasbourg, participating in the 100K

Born in Strasbourg, this former contestant on the Koh-Lanta show balances athletic challenges with his role as a business manager and his personal life. Since the show, he has been taking on bigger and bigger challenges and has been practicing sports for passion, to push himself beyond his limits. Recently, he competed in events such as the Paris Marathon and the Marathon des Sables. This time, he will be participating in the 100K race of Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB.

LAETITIA BLEGER

From Colmar, participating in the 50K

Miss Alsace, then Miss France in 2004, Laetitia is a fan of her region and has enjoyed the trails of Alsace Grand Est since her childhood. Ready to take on any challenge, she will participate in this first edition of the Trail des Celtes.

EXTRA-ORDINARY RUNNERS

SZABÓ CSABA-ZSOLT

From Luxembourg, participating in the 100M

"I started running in 2020, when everything was shut down because of the pandemic, and running remained the only viable way to train. I quickly discovered the trails, fell in love and never looked back. Since then, I've done two 50k races and two 100k races, and a 100-mile race is the next logical step. I was planning to sign up for the Istria race in Croatia in April. However, as a resident of Luxembourg, I immediately registered when the Trail Alsace Grand Est was announced, and now I am looking forward to running in May."

VANESSA BALTZER

From Strasbourg, participating in the 100K

"My most beautiful running souvenir? The 58km Nice Cote d'Azur by UTMB. It was a real challenge for me and above all a real wake up call. I trained for a year for this race, losing almost 30kg to be able to handle the distance and the elevation gain. Once I got there, even with the catastrophic weather, nothing could stop me.

JOÃO GUERRA

From Hannover (GER), participating in the 50K

"The idea of a trail running race through medieval castles was too tempting to pass up. I ran the CCC last year and not only did I dream of participating in the event, but I became a fan of the races organized by the UTMB. I was able to conquer the triple-digit distance, overcome my struggles with nutrition, and connect with friends who made the experience even more amazing".

FOLLOW THE EVENT

FOLLOW THE EVENT

Don't miss out on the latest news about the event and interact with the community to watch the event live and share your own experiences.

Facebook and YouTube will also be broadcasting the event live throughout the weekend.

The leading platform to follow live all the highlights of the event (starts, interviews, films, race leaders, finishes).

The livestream will follow the leaders of the Ultra-Trail des Chevaliers (100M), the UltraTrail des Païens (100K) and the Trail des Celtes (50K) from Friday morning to Saturday afternoon.

Livestream on: live.utmb.world

The best way to follow your favorite runners in real time and know where they are at all times. Follow your runners, check the expected times, create a list of your favorite athletes, enjoy interactive race profiles, compare runners’ performances, check the webcams on the route... It is the really the best way to keep track of the runners, on site or from home!

USEFUL INFORMATION

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

More information

ACCESS AND MOBILITY

How to get to Obernai:

By train = train station in the city center, 2h20 from Paris

By plane = Strasbourg-Entzheim airport is 25 km away and Basel Euroairport is 100km away.

By bus = line 257 from Strasbourg / line 262 from Ottrott

By car and bus = A4 from Paris and 135 from Strasbourg and Mulhouse

Public transportation is available during the whole weekend, see information at each start city.

Shuttles will be provided by the organization to take runners and their crew to the start of the races.

ACCREDITATIONS:

Press accreditations are open.

Accreditation requests are to be sent via the 'Press' page of the event website: HERE

All requests will be analyzed and validated before the event and a confirmation email will be sent to all applicants.

THE ULTIMATE GLOBAL TRAIL RUNNING WORLD SERIES

THE ULTIMATE GLOBAL TRAIL

RUNNING WORLD SERIES

UTMB World Series is the world’s ultimate trail running circuit that the sport’s biggest stars and amateur runners through the best, leading international events in the most stunning locations.

Built on a passion for the mountains with sustainability at its heart, UTMB World Series gives all trail runners the chance to experience the UTMB® adventure across the world.

It is the only place where runners can begin their quest to UTMB MontBlanc, where the prestigious UTMB World Series Finals (OCC, CCC, UTMB) are held.

PARTNERS

OUR PARTNERS

UTMB WORLD SERIES PARTNERS

UTMB WORLD SERIES PARTNERS

HOKA®, the performance footwear and apparel brand, is the PremierFootwear and Apparel Partner to the UTMB World Series.

HOKA’s role as UTMB World Series Premier Partner highlights the brand’s ascendancy in the trail running community. HOKA was first adopted by trail and ultra-runners as a best-in-class footwear option for those seeking to perform to their fullest potential. The brand has since established a strong presence in the ultra-trail running community, known for its innovative trail running shoe assortment. In addition to top performing footwear, HOKA unveiled a brand-new apparel line in 2020, created from insights by trail running icons like Jim Walmsley, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, and Ludovic Pommeret.

UTMB WORLD SERIES PARTNERS

Dacia becomes Official Technical Partner and exclusive Automotive Partner for UTMB World Series European and African events, including UTMB Mont-Blanc, beginning 2022.

UTMB World Series shares many fundamental principles with Dacia. Both organizations focus on the spirit of solidarity, inclusivity and on the development of a mindful consumption. In the automotive world, Dacia is thinking outside the box - literally and metaphorically. With its pragmatic approach and modern, simple and robust design, Dacia is able to offer what is essential to its customers: accessibility and the ability to enjoy life's simple pleasures. As Dacia expands in the field of outdoor activities, the partnership with the UTMB World Series is a new way to offer everyone the pleasure of connecting with nature through trail running.

In 1992, Original BUFF® created the first multifunctional neckband. Today, BUFF® products are chosen by sports enthusiasts around the world. As part of the company’s plans to create a more conscious business model, most of BUFF®’s products are designed and made in Barcelona with recycled or natural fabrics as part of their sustainability program ‘Do More Now’ . Partners to UTMB MontBlanc since 2007 – during which time, BUFF® has been worn by many UTMB podium finishers – the partnership extension solidifies our strong ongoing relationship.

As a result of this collaboration, BUFF® has created a unique collection of official UTMB World Series products, and the journey does not end there: trail running continues to grow, technologies must continue to adapt and BUFF® will continue to innovate.

UTMB WORLD SERIES PARTNERS

As the official supplier of hydration packs, filtration systems, sports bottles and beverages, CamelBak brings its cutting-edge innovations to the series for those looking to perform to their maximum potential. A pioneer in hydration and transportation solutions since 1989, and a partner of the UTMB Mont-Blanc since 2016, CamelBak empowers those pursuing an active lifestyle - from established elites to newcomers just beginning their running journey.

COMPRESSPORT has become the Official Compression Apparel and Technical Socks Supplierof the UTMB World Series through 2024. As part of the partnership, COMPRESSPORT® will develop a specific UTMB-branded range of compression products. Every detail of the product line has been considered for the athletes to perform at their best.

At several UTMB World Series events, CamelBak will showcase its line of innovative trail running products, such as the Zephyr Pro jacket (12 liters) that incorporates a quiver for carrying poles and body mapping technology.

The COMPRESSPORT team will of course be present on all the courses to encourage its athletes, ambassadors and all the runners.

UTMB WORLD SERIES PARTNERS

NÄAK was born in Canada with a mission: to build the most efficient and sustainable fuel for ultra distance athletes. Since 2016, NÄAK has developed a line of innovative sports nutrition and hydration products that help runners fuel their ultra distance without gastrointestinal discomfort. Developed in close collaboration with elite athletes in the Näak Lab, NÄAK products cover all the nutritional needs of ultra distance athletes: energy, hydration and recovery. In addition to providing carbohydrates and electrolytes, Näak performance nutrition and hydration products provide the ideal balance of complete proteins (EAA and BCAA) to reduce muscle fatigue during long duration efforts.

In 2021, NÄAK received B Corp certification, which means the company has been verified as meeting the highest standards for social and environmental impact. Whether it's choosing sustainable proteins, sourcing responsibly or giving back to communities, everything NÄAK does is designed to help trail runners reach their full potential while preserving their playing field. To learn more, visit www.naak.com.

Vibram is the world leader in the development and manufacturing of highperformance rubber soles for outdoor and leisure activities, workwear, fashion, orthopedics and correction. Vibram has become an important reference in the world of trail running with soles developed specifically for this discipline, with unparalleled grip, traction, lightness and resistance to wear. Thanks to Vibram, trail running enthusiasts can tackle the most technical competitions and the most difficult trails.

Running in the mountains requires appropriate and technical equipment: with Vibram soles with Megagrip, Litebase and Traction Lug technology, which are found in the leading brands of trail running shoes, runners of all levels, from beginners to professional athletes, can face competitions with greater safety, on any type of terrain and even in extreme weather conditions. Whether on the plains or in the mountains, in the sun or in the rain, rely on Vibram and set off for your next adventure!

OUR PARTNERS

LOCAL PARTNERS

Alsace is one of the regions in Europe with the highest concentration of fortified castles, with nearly 80 buildings to visit from north to south.

With the support of the Alsatian Tourist Board and numerous organizations, the Alsatian Community of Europe is pursuing a policy of preserving and developing this heritage.

The "castle watchers" are a network of passionate volunteers who take part in the maintenance, promotion and security of the ruins so that everyone can discover Alsace's castles.

The Region intends to make the Grand Est a leading area in the field of sport, so that people can experience the many emotions deriving from this kind of activities. The Region encourages its residents to become more physically active in their daily lives by taking advantage of the natural playgrounds that the area has to offer.

In this respect, national and international sporting events such as the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB are the perfect way to promote the full potential of the region. This support illustrates the Region's ambitious policy to promote all forms of sport, to consolidate its partnerships with all the stakeholders of the region - particularly in the context of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games - and to host events that contribute to the development of this field, its athletes and the region as a whole. Sporting events in the Grand Est are the best way of promoting community, sports tourism, respect for the environment and a healthy way of living.