Record breaking weekend at Kullamannen by UTMB plus incredible display of trail running spirit and resilience at hybrid TransLantau by UTMB

The Swedish town of Mölle welcomed almost 2,000 runners over the weekend of November 4-6, as they prepared to take on the legend and lord of the mountain at Kullamannen by UTMB. With the event attracting its strongest ever field, Alexandre Boucheix (FRA) and Claire Bannwarth (FRA) were victorious in the aptly named ‘Heaven, Sea and Hell’ Kullamannen 100 Mile Race.

Storming to the finish line in 15.14.50, Boucheix also broke the course record. The French runner said, “One year ago I saw a video with the horse and the knight with the flag and decided I want to see what this race was all about. I was here to live the experience and that is what happened. It was completely crazy, especially at the end of the race when the course went straight up and straight down!”

Boucheix successfully secured a place in the UTMB World Series Final in Mont-Blanc, joined by second-placed Guillaume Deneffe (BEL) who led the charge for part of the race. 2019 winner, Magnus Rabe (BEL) also rounded out the stellar podium.

Under the watchful eye of the Kullamannen knight, Claire Bannwarth (FRA) secured victory in the women's race with a time of 18.21.10. The French runner said, “It was tough. You had to run all the time and keep pushing. It was hard on the flat, where you really had to run fast but it was also really steep when everyone got to the mountain and that made me miss the flat sections!”

Johanna Bygdell crossed the line in second-place, twelve minutes behind the leader. As her third Kullamannen finish and after backing up another solid second-place finish in 2021, Bygdell was also awarded the prestigious gold finisher ring alongside a UTMB World Series Final spot. Therese Dahl Arvik (NOR) rounded out the podium at her debut in the distance after completing the 100km race last year.

In the Sprint Ultra 100km race, Aasmund Kjöllmoen Steien (NOR) overtook Dylan Voet (BEL) in the final stages of the race to take the win. Voet managed to hold onto an impressive second place in his first ever ultra-trail, with Christian Malmstrom (SWE) third.

The Norwegian winner, Kjöllmoen Steien was in disbelief at the finish line. He said, “I am super surprised! I didn't have the lead for long and it is crazy to win but lots of fun to cross the finish line first. I didn't know that I was that close to Dylan until I saw him and then I just had to go for the win, although maybe I went a bit too hard!”

Lena Trillelv (SWE) was unable to defend her title in the women's field after having to withdraw due to injury and illness early in the race. With the race now wide open, Hannah Aho (SWE) came out on top, crossing the line in 11.11.03 with Claudia Chmielowska (POL) and Sofia Halmgard (SWE) in second and third.

Almost 400 runners took to the start line in Rabocka, Angelholm for the Sibirien Ultra 50km race. Jonatan Fridolfsson (SWE) was first across the line, followed by Roman Ryapolov (SWE) and Jeremy Yvinec (FRA).

With the 2022 race celebrating more women participants than in any of the previous editions, the theme of strong racing continued throughout the weekend in the category, with Tara Grosvenor's (GBR) win in the 50km race also securing her an 11th place finish overall. She was joined by Mathilda Gend (SWE) and Lisa Ring (SWE).

After embracing her competitors at the finish line, Grosvenor said “It was tough but a very beautiful course! I particularly enjoyed when we headed into the forest and then the last section at the end. I have been training in Chamonix hoping it would help me on the slopes and it did!”

In the 20km race, it was a Swedish podium in the men's race with just 8 seconds separating winner Andreas Lundegard and Johannes Tegner. Martin Holm crossed the finish line in third just 2 minutes behind. It was another home victory in the women's race, with Annie Sönnerborg-Wadenhorn crossing the line in 01:47:47, followed by Tilde Jensen (SWE) and Karin Nilsson (SWE).

Registration for the 2023 edition of Kullamannen by UTMB will open to all runners with a valid UTMB Index starting 7 November 2022 at 15:00 CET before opening for general registration to runners without a UTMB Index on 9 November 2022 at 15:00 CET with places assigned on a first come first served basis. More information can be found here.

Despite the ongoing Covid restrictions in Hong Kong, the event organizers at TransLantau by UTMB demonstrated impressive resilience as they adapted the event to create a unique hybrid edition for 2022, with runners able to complete the iconic course on the largest of the islands anytime between 28 October - 18 November. An impressive 2,438 runners registered for the event, taking the opportunity to earn prestigious Running Stones and validate their UTMB Index.

With Saturday 5th November being the original date for the event, it proved to be a big day for the trail running community in Hong Kong as the community rallied around to ensure participants could complete the event in compliance with Covid restrictions. Runners had friends support along the course, while the local community opened their homes or shops to provide food and drink. Kiosks provided runners with their details in advance, allowing them to pre-order any food or drink before reaching the remote villages.

Race Director, Clement Dumont commented, “The enthusiasm of the trail runners was really uplifting this weekend. As the hybrid format is self-supported with no food or water at checkpoints, friends of the participants came along to provide support and encouragement at various points along the course, while local kiosks in some villages showed their enthusiasm for the event by staying open for runners until late at night. While we are deeply disappointed to have not been able to offer a fully supported physical event again this year, the continuous support of the trail community encourages us to persevere and work towards a physical event in 2023.”

One of the many highlights from the weekend came at the halfway point of the 100km race. Pupils from Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College volunteered late into the evening and over the weekend to help runners retrieve their bags from the bag drop and provide encouragement for the second half of the course.

The headteacher from the school, Eric Yuon Fuk Lung wanted to set an example to his students by running the event himself. He said, “What makes us successful is not how capable we are, but how persistent we are. I join TransLantau simply because I would like to demonstrate to my school kids that I can preserve!”

Salomon Wettstein (HK) has posted the fastest time so far in the TransLantau 104 with a time of 14.03.57, with Meg Sterling (AUS) the fastest female in 20.35.12. All is still to play for with the hybrid event open until 18 November.

After a few weeks break, the UTMB World Series returns on 9-11 December with the Doi Inthanon by UTMB in Thailand before heading into the last event of 2022 at Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB in Australia on 15-16 December.