Wildstrubel by UTMB: Runners discover untamed trails within Swiss Alps

2,439 runners registered for the inaugural Wildstrubel by UTMB this weekend, with victory for David Hauss (FRA) and Amelia Watts (GBR) in the Wild 108 race, plus personal milestones achieved and unforgettable memories for thousands of runners from 65 different countries, with all finishers collecting Running Stones that can be used to enter the UTMB, CCC and OCC races at UTMB Mont-Blanc 2023. Former Olympic triathlete, Hauss started steady out of Crans-Montana before pressing on in the latter stages of the race to pick off his competitors and finish with a 30-minute gap in 12 hours and 26 minutes. British runner, Amelia Watts was also in second place for most of the female race before passing leader Ellis Cookson (CAN) who eventually dropped down to fourth place after struggling with foot pain. Hauss, who won his spot on the CCC 2023 start line, said: “The course was really crazy. Today we had perfect conditions. It's a magical race and I think it's the ideal race to do your first 100km. A really beautiful and fairly rolling race. I have the honor of winning the first edition of Wildstrubel by UTMB and it will remain etched forever.” Full of adrenaline and energy at the finish line having enjoyed an unforgettable race, Watts said, “It was wonderful! The entire race was amazingly beautiful and it was all quite runnable but with some really challenging climbs mixed in which kept it really interesting. The other competitors were so friendly which makes the race that extra bit special!” Watts adds this race to the list of UTMB World Series events she has been lucky enough to experience. She said, “I have enjoyed the UTMB World Series races so much and loved taking in all the different scenery at all of them. UTMB really does choose the most beautiful places in the world to race!”

Among other noteworthy performances was that of Mirjam Niederberger (SUI) in the Wild 50 race, leading the female field from start to finish. Her incredible time of 4 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds also earned her 9th place overall. Despite a textbook race, the Swiss runner couldn't quite believe it. She said, “It is a dream come true, I can't find the words! Today was just the perfect race, everything went according to plan and I didn't really have a low moment. It was all going so well and it was just perfect, although I was still afraid up until the last two kilometres that someone would come from behind and take the win.” Frenchman Kevin Vermeulen (FRA), who lives in Crans Montana, won the men's Wild 50 in a time of 4 hours, 25 minutes and 41 seconds, marking a remarkable comeback from injury earlier in the year. The Wild 25 men's race was won by France's Damien Humbert (FRA), while his fellow country-woman Manon Bohard Cailler picked up the women's title. There was an electric atmosphere in Crans-Montana throughout the weekend as runners across all three courses and of all abilities tamed the wild mountains of the Valais and Bernese Alps before crossing the line in the iconic ski-resort. Mary Marshall (GBR) loved her first taste of the trails, taking on the Wild 25 race despite being new to running this year. She said, “This was my first ever trail race and it was hard and tricky at the start but also absolutely amazing! I had a big smile on my face the whole way around and still have it now! I loved it all, everyone on the course was cheering us on and it was just brilliant!” The full results from Wildstrubel by UTMB can be found here