If your goal is to run the UTMB, knowing the race inside out is essential. That means getting to grips with the various possible routes, the history of the event and the specific features of the 2026 edition, which will take place from 24 to 30 August.
Distances and courses at the UTMB® 2026
Exploring the UTMB course means not only discovering the various distances and elevation gains across the different races on offer, but also finding out about time limits, cut-offs and available aid stations.
- The UTMB®: 174 km with around 9,900 metres of positive elevation gain, starting from Chamonix on Friday at 17:45, with a maximum time limit of 46:45.
- The CCC®: 101 km with around 6,050 metres of positive elevation gain, starting from Courmayeur on Friday at 09:00, with a maximum time limit of 26:30.
- The TDS®: 145 km with around 9,500 metres of positive elevation gain, starting from Courmayeur on Monday at 23:50, with a maximum time limit of 44:55.
- The OCC: 60 km with around 3,500 metres of positive elevation gain, starting from Orsières on Thursday at 08:15, with a maximum time limit of 14:30. The upper section of the course has been revised for 2026 with a new high point at 2,321 m between the Col de Balme and the Col des Posettes.
- The MCC: 40 km with around 2,350 metres of positive elevation gain, starting from Martigny-Combe, with a maximum time limit of 10 hours, reserved for volunteers, organisation members, residents of the Mont-White area, partners, and inhabitants of Valais, the Aosta Valley, Savoie and Haute-Savoie.
- The ETC: 15 km with around 1,200 metres of positive elevation gain, starting from Courmayeur, with semi-autonomous kit requirements and a maximum time limit of 04:30. Open to runners aged 23 and over.
- The YCC: a challenge dedicated to young runners born between 2007 and 2012, comprising a trail race in Courmayeur (between 4 and 15 km depending on category).
These figures are verified against the official race website: please note that the UTMB® route changes each year depending on weather and safety conditions (the Chamonix–Les Houches section, for example, has been revised for 2026), which explains the slight variations in distance and elevation from one edition to the next.
The UTMB®: one of the four monuments of ultra-trail
Alongside the Western States 100 (USA), the Hardrock 100 (USA) and the Grand Raid de la Réunion (the Diagonale des Fous), the UTMB® is regarded as one of the four "monuments" of world ultra-trail. Its distance and elevation make it one of the most demanding races on the international circuit.
The history and records of the UTMB
The UTMB is already a legendary race, and its history is packed with records and a roll of honour full of great names. Find the details of the UTMB® records, reference times and the full roll of honour. Even if, at your level, you are competing primarily for personal achievement, it is worth knowing the international elite among the many trail runners who will be covering the same trails as you this year.
The 2026 edition
Get ready by exploring the details of the UTMB 2026, including its specific regulations and in particular the mandatory kit to carry, the online tracking options via the UTMB website, and the many new products and equipment you can discover at the ultra-trail trade show held during the race. Find out more:
