2023 UTMB World Series season set to end on a high with two incredible events: Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB and Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB in Australia

The fourth edition of Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB® is set to be bigger and better than ever, as the event gears up to host UTMB® World Series Asia-Pacific Finals on 7-10 December. Over 5,000 runners will line up to experience one of the most popular national parks in Thailand, while also earning double the amount of Running Stones compared to other UTMB World Series events and increasing their chances of being selected in the Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc lottery.

As part of the continental series final, the top 10 male and top 10 female runners in each of the 50K, 100K and 100M categories will also automatically secure their place at the 2024 UTMB World Series Finals, resulting in a stellar elite field across the categories. With a new race venue at the Rajapruek Royal Park, it will be a new experience for everyone and the chance to set blistering benchmark times over each of the distances.

Starting at the foothill of Doi Inthanon National Park, the Trans-INT 160 offers an exciting point to point trail race and has attracted elite and amateur runners from around the world. Having won the 100-miler in both 2021 and 2022, Jiaju Zhao (CHN, UTMB Index 888) returns to try and defend his title in 2023 but will face tough opposition, including his 2022 podium companions in Canhua Luo (CHN, UTMB Index 864) and Gediminas Grinius (LIT, UTMB Index 845). A strong field of international runners will also be looking to challenge at the front of the race - including Pablo Villa (ESP, UTMB Index 883), Benat Marmissolle (FRA, UTMB Index 875) and Arlen Glick (USA, UTMB Index 872).

Having taken the win by over an hour in 2022 as part of her 100-mile debut, Jenny Quilty (CAN, UTMB Index 726) will also return to defend her title for the fourth edition of the race on the ‘rooftop of Thailand’. The Canadian runner will face tough opposition, with Keely Henninger (USA, UTMB Index 754), Aroa Sio (ESP, UTMB Index 749) and Yuanyuan Wu (CHN, 708) amongst some of the top contenders that will be heading into the race with podium hopes.

Aptly named after the Doi Inthanon Elephant Sanctuary which runners bypass as part of the route, the Elephant 100 covers 96km with 5,910m of elevation. Having finished third over the 100K distance in 2022, Peiquan You (CHN, UTMB Index 838) certainly has podium potential, and will be looking to end his season on a high after suffering four DNF’s over the 100K distance this year. A strong field of fourteen elite men from around the world will make the challenge much tougher however, including Yanqiao Yun (CHN, UTMB Index 904), Damien Humbert (FRA, UTMB Index 910) and Guidu Qin (CHN, UTMB Index 855).

Finishing sixth overall in 2022 and taking a commanding win in the Women’s race, Yuri Yoshizumi (JPN, UTMB Index 749) was the star of the show in the last edition of the race. But can she hold off the likes of Hau Ha Thi (VNM, UTMB Index 740), who finished fourth at the 2023 UTMB World Series Finals (100K) and took the win at the 50K Doi Inthanon race in 2022? It will be a tough ask, with Ragna Debats (NED, UTMB Index 779), Giuditta Turini (ITA, UTMB Index 745) and Hillary Allen (USA, UTMB Index 732) also predicted to feature at the front of the race.

Thousands of runners will line-up for the events most popular distance - Hmong 50 - and get the chance to experience the unforgettable culture and nature including the hill tribes of the Chaing Mai Province and the famous Hmong market. In the Men’s Elite field, Tao Luo (CHN, UTMB Index 881) returns for redemption after suffering a DNF at the race in 2022. He will face 50K specialist, Robbie Simpson (GBR, UTMB Index 912) and Meikael Beaudoin Rousseau (USA, UTMB Index 874) who steps up to the longer distance. A fast and furious race looks to be in store!

Having celebrated six victories this season and an incredible fourth place finish at the 2023 Dacia UTMB Mont-Blanc (100M), Fuzhao Xiang (CHN, UTMB Index 791) looks to be the one to beat in the Women Elite field. Ida Nilsson (SWE, UTMB Index 770) will be ready to take on the challenge as she looks add another UTMB World Series Majors win to her name, after taking the tape at Canyon Endurance Runs by UTMB® (100K) earlier in the year.

With the Palace 20 and Rajapruke 10 also on offer, the ‘Land of Smiles’ promises to be an unforgettable event and the perfect end to an incredible UTMB World Series season.

On 7- 9 December, over 2,700 participants will head to the Australian Alps between New South Wales and Victoria, ready to explore the stark beauty of the region as part of Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB.

In its inaugural year in 2022, snowfall forced route changes as Adrian MacDonald (USA, UTMB Index 882) and Sarah Ludowici (AUS, UTMB Index 675) were crowned champions of the modified 100-miler event. For the events second edition, KosciMiler runners will start out of Thredbo as they make their way to the highest peak in Australia at Mt Kosciuszko. Flowing runnable trails combined with just 5,000m of climbing makes it the perfect route for those looking to give the distance a go for the first time or for elites ready to set the benchmark time over the course.

The Kosci100, Kosci50 and Kosci27 will also take runners on an incredible journey through snow gum forests, alpine meadows, and untamed countryside with unrivalled support throughout the course adding to the atmosphere in Australia’s ultimate alpine playground.

Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB Race Director, Nick Christopher said, “_The event team were incredibly proud to launch the inaugural edition of the event last December and can’t wait to welcome runners back to the Snowy Mountains this week. It has been great to see the event grow, with over 3,000 runners set to take part in one of the four distances on offer. We will be taking runners to the highest point in Australia, and they will experience everything this alpine playground has to offer, both on and off the trails. The entire community make up this special event, which promises to be a trail running party from start to finish. One of the best things about trail running is that runners of all ages and abilities take to the same course at the same time, with some of the top runners from across the region set to finish their 2023 racing campaigns with us in the Snowy Mountains._”

As Oceania’s newest Ultra-Trail, it promises to deliver the ultimate ‘runner’s high’, while runners can earn Running Stones closer to home ahead of the UTMB World Series Finals lottery. It will be a testing but unforgettable day for amateur and elite runners from around the world as they take on the rooftop of Australia.

Follow the action live at UTMB.live.