Just five days to go to the second edition of the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB
With 6,000 runners registered across 4 race formats ranging in distance from 34 to 171kms and taking in both the Haut- and Bas-Rhin departments the stage is set for a second exceptional edition of the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB. Festivities kick off on Friday May 17 at 12:00 with the opening of the Ultra-Trail Village in Obernai where runners can collect their race packs and take the opportunity to meet UTMB partner brands.
The Ultra-Trail des Chevaliers en Région Grand Est (171km and 6,300m D+) gets the event underway on Friday May 17 at 20:00, setting off from la place Rapp in Colmar, destination Obernai. On Sunday, the Ultra Trail des Païens (116km and 4,200m D+) will start at 10:00 in Orschwiller with 1,500 runners competing, swiftly followed by the Trail des Pèlerins (34km and 1,280m D+) which gets underway at 10:30 from the centre of Barr. The Trail des Celtes (50km and 1,990m D+) brings the event to a close on Monday May 20, with a 07:00 start from the centre of Barr.
All refreshment points will be easily accessible, except for Hohlandsbourg Castle which will be closed between 19:00 and 23:00 on Friday, May 17.
There is something for everyone at the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB in a festive program with a medieval twist laid on for runners and their supporters at the host towns and along the routes. This will include the famous medieval knights at the start of the 100M in Colmar, a DJ on the Obernai stage, concerts in the Hohlandsbourg and Wineck castles on Friday evening as the runners come through, plus children's races!
Quelques chiffres clés sur l’événement :
- 6,000 runners over 4 distances
- 720 volunteers mobilized for the event
- 65 nationalities represented among the runners
- 2 departments — Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin — and 20 castles along the routes
- 18 charity bibs supporting 2 associations: ELA and Les Châteaux Forts d'Alsace
100M :
- Men: Saturday, May 18 at 13:45.
- Women: Saturday, May 18, between 18:00-19:00.
100K :
- Men: Sunday, May 19 at 20:30.
- Women: Sunday, May 19 at 23:30
50K:
- Men: Monday, May 20 at 10:40.
- Women: Monday, May 20 at 11:30.
20K:
- Men: Sunday, May 19 at 13:00.
- Women: Sunday, May 19, 13:30.
A TOP-CLASS ELITE LINE-UP
A host of top French and international runners are expected at the first French trail event of the UTMB World Series circuit.
The Ultra-Trail des Chevaliers en Région Grand Est will see a repeat of the contest between Sébastien SPEHLER (UTMB Index 893) and Jonas RUSSI(UTMB Index 882), who fought it out at the Ultra Trail Chianti Castles (100K) last March, plus Samir TAZI (UTMB Index 820)-the trio are sure to spice things up. The women's field will see two local runners battling it out: Claire BANNWARTH (UTMB Index 708) and Juliane WIBERT (UTMB Index 626)), who finished 7th in the 50K Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB in 2023. Jenny JOSEFSSON (UTMB Index 625), 3rd in the 100M Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB in 2023, completes the top three.
In the 100K race France will be in the spotlight, with Theo DETIENNE (UTMB Index 878), Stéphane RICARD (UTMB Index 819) and Aurélien COLLET (UTMB Index 815) set to lock horns on the rolling hills and equally demanding Ultra-Trail des Païens course. These seasoned athletes will push themselves to the limit to claim victory. In the women's field, Sweden, Germany and France will be represented respectively by Anna CARLSSON (UTMB Index 723), Joanna TALLMANN (UTMB Index 708) and alsatian local Alizée MINKER (UTMB Index 664).
Monday's 50K race promises some tough competition with a spectacular trio of runners made up of Katarzyna SOLINSKA (UTMB Index 750), 6th at the 2023 UTMB, Marie GONCALVES (UTMB Index 727), and Megan MACKENZIE (UTMB Index 711) who will thrill spectators with their speed and tenacity. In the men's field, Anthony FELBER (UTMB Index 887) will line up alongside Benedikt HOFFMANN (UTMB Index 885),winner of the Wildstrubel by UTMB 50K in 2023, and Antoine CHARVOLIN (UTMB Index 870) who will be out for revenge over the same distance as last year - all will be aiming for the top step of the podium. Another one to watch will be Gregory BASILICO (UTMB Index 829), winner of the Trail des Celtes in 2023.
In the men's 20K race, it will be a match between France and Poland, with Dominik TABOR (UTMB Index 867) the clear favorite. That said, it would be a mistake to overlook Matthieu CORGIER (UTMB Index 798) and Dorian LOUVET (UTMB Index 786). The women's field promises a very fast race with Lilou MIRESSI (UTMB Index 661) former winner of the 100K Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB, Noémie LE GOVIC (UTMB Index 603), and Astrid VAN CLEEF (UTMB Index 589) lining up for glory.
RACE CREW SHUTTLES
The Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB team works year-round to identify solutions to reduce the event's ecological impact, while also enabling race crews to come and support their runners where they need it most. Our race shuttle solution achieves both goals.
With 5 days to go to the event, over 200 race crews have already booked their shuttle. Reservations remain open until the day before the start of the race (subject to availability).
For the Ultra-Trail des Chevaliers en Région Grand Est (100M) and the Ultra-Trail des Païens (100K), race crews will be able to support their runner at the start and along the route. For the Trail des Celtes (50K) and the Trail des Pèlerins (20K), race support crew can attend the start and then return to Obernai on a direct shuttle bus.
Our approach aims to simplify the race crews' travel while ensuring support to runners on the trail.
