With the 2024 UTMB Mont Blanc competition happening this week in Chamonix, France, we wished to try how the numbers behind these occasions have been trending through the years. As one of many focal factors of the worldwide path operating world, this week of racing has a gravitational pull that draws most of the finest runners.
The UTMB Mont Blanc competition is the venue of the UTMB World Collection Finals, every requiring entry by way of a lottery system. To qualify for the lottery, contributors will need to have no less than one operating stone (acquired by way of ending a UTMB World Collection occasion) and a sound UTMB Index (achieved by ending an occasion of the requisite distance or issue). Elite athletes with the {qualifications} are rewarded with direct entry.
So, who truly races on the UTMB Mont Blanc competition? And the way have contributors’ geographies modified over time? These are the questions we start to reply on this article. We have a look at how the geography of UTMB finishers has modified over time, beginning with a continent-level view after which diving into a rustic breakdown to get a glimpse into the shifting tides throughout the path operating world.
Runners setting off at the beginning of the 2023 UTMB. Picture: iRunFar/Kirsten Kortebein
Dataset
The dataset used on this evaluation pulls finisher knowledge from Worldwide Path Operating Affiliation outcomes. The information spans from 2009 till 2023 and focuses on finishers from the UTMB (100 miles) and CCC (100 kilometers) occasions. We selected 2009 as a begin date as a result of, whereas the occasion began in 2003, the group didn’t institute a lottery till 2009. We selected to restrict this evaluation to UTMB and CCC as they’re the most well-liked occasions, with a roughly related variety of entrants through the years. Utilizing this dataset, we have been in a position to carry out a comparable evaluation of finishers over time.
The next graph reveals the variety of distinct nationalities of finishers recorded at UTMB or CCC through the years.
Nationalities Recorded in UTMB and CCC Finishers
Chart depicting the rise within the variety of distinct nationalities represented at UTMB and CCC from 2009 to 2023.
Continental Breakdown
Beginning with a high-level view, we discover how participation throughout continents differs for this occasion. Happening in Chamonix, it’s on the heart of the European path operating scene and thus might be anticipated to boast a big European presence. By plotting the variety of finishers by continent through the years, this was certainly evident, with European runners nonetheless accounting for somewhat greater than 70% of finishers in 2023 — however a pattern of different continents growing in illustration could possibly be seen.
Word that UTMB didn’t happen in 2020, and in 2021, worldwide journey was restricted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Breakdown of Finishers by Continent
Graph displaying the breakdown of finishers by continent from 2009 to 2023. European runners nonetheless make up the overwhelming majority, however there are growing numbers from Asia and North America additionally. All pictures iRunFar/Zander Chase until in any other case famous.
Europe
Digging into the Europe knowledge, I plotted the proportion of finishers coming from every European nation. France has essentially the most runners, with almost 40% of all European finishers in 2023 coming from France. Spain is subsequent, accounting for about 16% of European finishers in 2023. After leaving France, the 2 different international locations that the race goes by way of, Italy and Switzerland, are additionally within the prime 5, together with Nice Britain.
Breakdown of High European International locations
Graph displaying the European international locations most represented amongst CCC and UTMB finishers every year. French runners nonetheless account for almost 40% of the European area, however illustration from different European international locations is growing. On this graph, France, Spain, Italy, Nice Britain, and Switzerland are proven.
Whereas European presence continues to be most distinguished at UTMB, this occasion is capturing the eye of path runners across the globe. Zooming in on the finishers by continent graph to exclude Europe, we will see some attention-grabbing upward tendencies, particularly from Asia and North America.
Breakdown of International locations Excluding Europe
A zoomed-in model of the earlier graph, displaying the geography by continent, this time with Europe excluded. Right here we will extra clearly see a rise in runners from different continents, significantly Asia and North America, with a noticeable drop in Asian participation in 2021 on account of COVID-19 journey restrictions.
North America
North American runners represented 8% of all finishers in 2023. This development is led by the U.S., whose development in illustration has roughly mirrored that of the North American complete.
From simply over 1% in 2009, runners from the U.S. now encompass shut to six% of your entire area. This development in recognition of the occasion was highlighted final 12 months, with People taking prime spots at UTMB, in each the boys’s and girls’s fields.
The 2023 UTMB males’s podium (left-to-right): 2. Zach Miller, 1. Jim Walmsley, and three. Germain Grangier. U.S. males took two of the highest three spots, whereas Courtney Dauwalter received on the ladies’s aspect. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Runners From the U.S. as a Share of Whole Finishers
Graph displaying the growing proportion of the sector made up from runners from the U.S. In 2009, runners from the U.S. made up simply over 1% of the sector, a determine which has risen to just about 6% in 2023.
Breaking down the North American development by nation, we see it’s predominantly pushed by the U.S. and Canada, with the U.S. hovering round 70% of the share, and Canada inching over 20%. These percentages have remained pretty constant through the years. The vast majority of the rest is made up of runners from Mexico, who accounted for over 7% of the North American contingent in 2023.
Breakdown of North American International locations
Graph depicting the breakdown of runners from varied North American international locations collaborating in UTMB and CCC. As of the 2023, the U.S. accounts for 70% of those, with Canada and Mexico in second and third, respectively. This graph depicts america, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.
Asia
Trying on the breakdown of Asian finishers through the years, we see a special story. The share of Asian finishers coming from sure international locations has fluctuated considerably over time. In 2010, the overwhelming majority — greater than 80% — of contributors from Asian international locations have been from Japan. This proportion has modified over time, now nearer to 30%, as extra contributors have entered the operating scene from Hong Kong, Thailand, and China.
Breakdown of Asian International locations
Graph displaying the breakdown of Asian international locations represented at UTMB and CCC. It reveals extra Asian international locations represented in recent times, the place beforehand the overwhelming majority of Asian runners had been from Japan. Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, China, and Korea are proven right here.
Taking a look at a breakdown of the variety of finishers from Japan, we see that the proportion of general contributors peaked in 2013, at nearly 6% and, though barely decrease in recent times, has remained roughly constant (save for a drop in 2021, when journey restrictions have been in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic.) In 2023, Japanese runners accounted for 3.5% of complete finishers.
Participation of Japanese Runners
Graph displaying altering participation charges of Japanese runners as a proportion of complete contributors since 2009. In 2023, they made up roughly 3.5% of the whole fields.
This reveals us that the expansion in Asian participation is because of a fairly vital soar in runners from Hong Kong, Thailand, and China.
This development in recognition might be seen from virtually no illustration (up till 2016, Thailand had no recorded finishers of UTMB or CCC) to those three international locations mixed contributing to roughly 6% of all finishers on the 2023 UTMB.
China’s Fu-Zhao Xiang took second on the 2024 Western States 100. Xiang has additionally raced UTMB 4 earlier instances, and can race in 2024. We surprise if Xiang’s worldwide racing, amongst different athletes, has helped to propel worldwide participation by different Chinese language path runners? Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Participation of Runners From Hong Kong, China, and Thailand
Graph displaying growing participation charges from runners from Hong Kong, China, and Thailand from 2009 to 2023.
South America, Africa, and Oceania
Whereas illustration from South America, Africa, and Oceania make up a smaller proportion of complete finishers at UTMB, they’re additionally trending upward as a p.c of the whole. South American runners are led by Argentina, offering round 40% of the continent’s complete finishers. Brazil is in second, with round 20%, and Peru is in third, growing to 12%.
Graph displaying the breakdown of illustration of South American international locations at UTMB and CCC by way of the years. Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela are proven.
Africa is primarily led by South Africa, which accounts for round 70% of African finishers. The variety of distinctive African international locations being represented has been growing 12 months over 12 months, with 9 in 2023, in comparison with solely two in 2013.
Graph displaying the illustration of African international locations — South Africa, Japanese and Southern Africa (ESA), Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria — at UTMB and CCC by way of the years.
In Oceania, Australia leads New Zealand roughly 80% to twenty%.
Ideas and Evaluation
Taking a look at continent and nation tendencies of finishers at UTMB and CCC is an attention-grabbing solution to observe shifts within the sport over time. Primarily based in Europe, the UTMB Mont Blanc competition has established itself as the middle of the European path operating world, and more and more has attracted runners from around the globe.
North America and Asia have seen the most important will increase over the previous decade, led primarily by wealthier nations who, firstly, have entry to UTMB qualifying races of their nation, and, secondly, have the disposable revenue essential to buy journey to Europe and the race entries, and carry all the opposite prices associated to participation.
There was a notable enhance in runners from Thailand, Hong Kong, and China. These international locations have come to be seen as path operating locations, with distinguished occasions happening there. For instance, Thailand hosted the 2022 World Mountain and Path Operating Championships.
There are additionally a number of key figures which have continued to bolster the expansion of the game in Asia. Hong Kong native Janet Ng has been president of the Worldwide Path Operating Affiliation since 2021. Chinese language native Fu-Zhao Xiang not too long ago completed second on the 2024 Western States 100, in addition to fourth on the 2023 UTMB. And runners like China’s Jia-Sheng Shen and Miao Yao have additionally been making a reputation for themselves on the UTMB World Collection Finals for years, main the best way for Chinese language racers throughout Europe.
Most of the nations with growing illustration at UTMB even have notable figures who’ve superior the game of their nation. Trying solely on the change in uncooked numbers of finishers since 2009, Spain — the unique residence of the GOAT, Kilian Jornet — has seen the most important enhance. And when an excellent star such because the American Courtney Dauwalter crosses the tape first, it might encourage a technology.
One other factor that caught out from this knowledge, is that we’ve got not but seen the inflow of Kenyan and different East African runners into extremely distances like we’ve seen in brief distance path operating and mountain operating. On the 2024 Sierre-Zinal, 5 of the highest 10 males and two of the highest 10 ladies have been from Kenya.
Kenya’s Joyline Chepngeno had a breakout victory within the hypercompetitive 2024 Sierre-Zinal. Picture: World Mountain Operating Affiliation/Marco Gulberti
Momentum like we see on this knowledge round a sport can create a tradition that acts as a flywheel for future participation. A number of articles have been written concerning the socio-culture components that result in Jamaicans being such nice sprinters. The tradition constructed up over time round ultrarunning in a rustic might result in sure nations turning into dominant within the sport.
We’ve questions on what the geography of the game will appear like sooner or later. Will we see a shift into longer distances from Kenyan runners, as path operating continues to popularize of their nation and limitations to entry are higher addressed? Will this occur in different international locations that aren’t but represented? And naturally there are the larger looming questions, will the game have the ability to sort out the socioeconomic limitations that forestall full world illustration at an occasion just like the UTMB Mont Blanc competition?
Because the 2024 UTMB Mont Blanc competition takes place this week, we are going to will eagerly comply with alongside as runners from across the globe make their approach round Mont Blanc.
Name for Feedback
- What different continent or nation tendencies do you discover attention-grabbing?
- Undoubtedly financial components contribute to international locations having excessive illustration at UTMB. What do you suppose are another components?
- Who do you suppose will win this 12 months’s UTMB?