Ultra-Trail® World Tour rankings before the final event

The Ultra-Trail® World Tour is a selection of major trail-running events from around the world

The seventh and eighth legs in the Ultra-Trail® World Tour took place on the same weekend in June.

Photos: Rory Bosio demolishes women’s course record at The North Face® Lavaredo Ultra Trail ©Alberto Orlandi / The North Face & ©Giovanni Marchesi / The North Face

The 8th North Face®Lavaredo Ultra Trail®

The North Face®Lavaredo Ultra Trail® was the seventh leg of the UTWT - Cortina d’Ampezzo, June 27, 2014

596 trailers set off for 119km and 5850m of ascent through the Dolomites. A splendid landscape was awaiting all the runners!

The American Anton Krupicka, setting off in the leading group, very rapidly took the lead in the race. He was pursued by Fulvio Dapit (ITA), Mike Foote (USA) and Gediminas Grinius (LTU). A few moments behind them came the Frenchmen Christophe Le Saux and Cyril Cointre. After Fulvio’s retirement, Anton increased his lead over the other competitors. In the village of Cortina, the crowd was waiting impatiently for the arrival of Anton who crossed the Line after 12 hours and 42 minutes of racing, 16 minutes quicker than the previous winner, Iker Karrera (ESP). Mike Foote arrived thirty minutes later and just behind was Gediminas Grinius.

In the women's competition, the duel between Rory Bossio (USA) and Francesca Canepa (ITA) went on throughout the race. They engaged in a real battle! Rory crossed the finish line, radiantly, literally smashing the record by 90 minutes with a record time of 14 hours and 29 minutes, with Francesca Canepa arriving 15 minutes later, ahead of Katia Fori (ITA).

Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run

Photo: Rob Krar wins the 2014 Western Staes 100-mile Endurance Run © The North Face

On 28th June, on the other side of the Atlantic, in Squaw Valley (California) the Start of the Western State Endurance Run took place. For the 40th edition, 376 runners were at the start and 296 of them finished. It was also the eighth leg of the UTWT.

Nick Clark (UK) led off, but Max King rapidly led the race. Despite his great form, he could not compete with Rob Krar (CAN) who broke the course record of Timothy Olson (USA) with a time of 14:53. Seth Swanson (USA) took second place. Dylan Bowman made an incredible comeback and finished third in this race which meant so much to him.

The North Face team member Stéphanie Howe walked away with first place for the women. Larisa Dannis, who had adopted a very regular pace, always with a smile, took second place. Nathalie Mauclair (FRA), known for her very quick starts, alternated between lively and slower strides to finally take thirdrd place.

UTWT Ranking after 8 events (*)

Men's standings

Women's standings

Full UTWT results at: www.ultratrailworldtour.com/fr/resultats

(*) the ranking is based on the three best results, of which a maximum two must be part of the “Series”

At present, the Frenchman Christophe Le Saux, sixth in the general ranking, is the only trailer to have taken part in and finished five events in the tour! Among the women, Spaniard Nerea Martinez can count four starts and four finishes! She is at present in fourth place.

It's not only about the world’s best trail runners

However, the Ultra-Trail® World Tour is not only about the world’s best trail runners. Several road-racing enthusiasts are also taking part in the UTWT. Among them, Freddy Thevenin, originally from La Réunion island, who after two races and a fourth place on the The North Face® Lavaredo Ultra Trail® lies 15th in the ranking! You will find him at both the UTMB® and on the Diagonale des Fous! Another Frenchman on the Tour is the fireman Benoit Rothan, who has already finished two races and plans to display his great form at home during the UTMB®.

9th event: The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® - August 25 to 31, 2014

2014 will be the 12th edition of the The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®, 168km and 9600m of ascent, 46h max, 10 peaks of more than 2,000m.

2300 runners will be at the start in Chamonix on Friday 29th August at 17:30

From its first running in 2003, it has been called “the race with all the superlatives”. A complete circuit of the Mont-Blanc massif, run solo, non-stop, passing through three countries: France, Switzerland and Italy, one which every ultra-endurance runner dreams of having finished once during their lifetime. It’s above all set around the emblematic summit of Mont-Blanc, a formidable human epic that brings together the community of enthusiastic trailers in magical surroundings. The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® is in worldwide context, a unique event for trail runners from every nation and every level, volunteers, friends, families... L’UTMB® remains the showpiece event.

For more info please visit: www.ultratrailmb.com

As on all the other legs, elite runners have been invited to be on the Starting Line. 6 athletes have been invited:

• Tim Olson (US)
• Neal Gorman (US)
• Clarke McClymont (Aus)
• Tsuyoshi Soma (Jap)
• Michael Wardian (US)
• Tina Lewis (US)

The Ultra-Trail® Show will host an Ultra-Trail® World Tour chalet, with all the organisers of the races on the world calendar. Friendly exchanges, meetings and films from these events are on the program. Rendezvous at the UTWT chalet, from Tuesday, August 26 at 13h00 to Friday, August 29 at 13h00.

The Ultra-Trail® World Tour

Role and objectives:

• To BOOST the international promotion of major trail-running events.
• To PROMO a varied offer of races adapted to all runners.
• To INVITE all athletes to travel and discover the world.
• To HELP the elites athletes to be part of these major trail running events.

w: www.ultratrailworldtour.com
f: www.facebook.com/UltraTrailWorldTour
t: www.twitter.com/ultratrail