The Grand Raid du Ventoux (France) is joining the UTMB World Series, starting next year. The famous bare mountain often plays a deciding role in the Tour de France. It isn’t just a challenging obstacle for cyclists, but also for trail and ultra runners.
This year Domitille Fabre and Pierre-Arnaud Bourguenolle (both France) won the most challenging race the Grand Raid Ventoux has to offer; the 125 kilometres long ultra, with 6.500 metres of altitude. Besides that race, there will be next year a 83k (4.500m+), a 47k (2.100m+) and a 26k (1.100m+) race. Those races will be held from 25-27 of April 2025.
“Joining the UTMB World Series was an obvious choice for us”, says Pieryves Coudray, organiser of the Grand Raid for nearly 10 years. “We wanted not only to structure and grow our event, but also to offer our trail-running community the opportunity to experience something unique in their region, while highlighting Mont Ventoux, the iconic territory we love so much.”
Sixth French UTMB race
The Grand Raid Ventoux, which was launched in 2016, will be the sixth UTMB race in France. The other races are: Nice Côte d’Azur (October), Trail Alsace Grand Est (May), Trail du Saint-Jacques (June), Restonica Trail (July) and the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc (August).
All races will start in Malaucène, at the foot of Mont Ventoux, and go through the Provençal vineyards and hilltop villages.
Ultra running in Turkey
Turkey has become a new destination for the UTMB World Series. September next year Kaçkar, will kick off with three distances: 74 kilometres (5.800m+), 39 kilometres (3.000m+) and 22 kilometres (1.300m+).
All races are circular. They will start at the village of Ayder and go through the emerald green forests and misty valleys of the Kaçkar Mountains.
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OSJ Yamanaka Onsen Japan joins UTMB
The OSJ Yamanaka Onsen Trail Running Race is also joining the UTMB Series, under the new name: Kaga Spa Trail Endurance 100. Just like for Turkey, it’s a first for Japan. Neighbouring country South Korea already has a UTMB race; TransJeju.
Kaga Spa Trail Endurance 100 will be held from June 19 to 22, 2025. Jiro Takikawa, who founded the OSJ Yamanaka Onsen Trail Running Race in 2015, stays on as race director: “With vast mountain fields, 360-degree views from ridgelines, primaeval rhododendron and beech forests, trail running here is a dream.”
105k Ultra
Kaga Spa Trail Endurance 100 will offer three races. The 105k (6.100m+) will start at Yamanakaza in the centre of Yamanaka Hot Springs, and finish at the same location. It will take the runners over single tracks, through fields and mountain streams and over forest trails.
The 54k (2.700m) also starts and finishes at Yamanakaza. The trail will first go over a forest road, crossing the first mountain on a single track, while the second half of the course includes repeated small ups and downs. The 20k (700m+) course starts at the Kenmin no Mori, about 20 kilometres from Yamanaka Onsen, and finishes alongside the 100k and 50k at Yamanakaza. It’s designed as an easy course for beginners.
Photos: UTMB
