The newly created Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB offers a unique journey through historic areas, castles and vineyards.
Runners will go along trails through the heart of Alsace Grand Est and the Vosges mountain regions which travel through villages, past castles and along paths where nature is beautifully preserved yet wild. Against a lustrously green backdrop, the castles of Alsace defy time and offer a magnificent panorama of the Alsace plain, Black Forest and sometimes even the Alps.
It is a unique event that takes runners right into the heart of the rich and beautiful region. Runners will have the chance to enjoy amazing views Alsace and the Grand Est Region offer across all the courses.
Alsace is proud to host the legendary UTMB World Series that gathers thousands of runners. Alsace will be able to offer a marvellous natural setting with historic fortified castles to the event that has been inspired by the world-renowned UTMB Mont-Blanc.
FRÉDÉRIC BIERRY
President of the European Collectivity of Alsace
The Grand Est Region will become the heart of the trail running community from 18 to 21 May when hosting the 4 races of the UTMB World Series.
The Vosges mountains and the string of Alsatian castles will not only offer an exceptional natural and historical setting for all the competitors but also a unique experience of discovery of our region. Through hosting this international event, the Grand Est Region aims to promote Alsace’s culture and to showcase the attractions of the Vosges mountains.
FRANCK LEROY
President of the Grand Est Region
We are delighted to welcome the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB to the big UTMB family in 2023.
This new trail is the 5th French event to become part of the UTMB World Series, the world’s largest trail running series bringing together the world’s best races.
ISABELLE VISEUX-POLETTI UTMB France Director
This event is above all a story of friendship, passion, getting together, values and dreams. It is about the passion for running but also for our region and our heritage.
The project came about with a group of friends who wanted to join Mont St Odile to Haut-Koenigsbourg one Sunday morning. It came from wanting to see further and farther and to join the two Alsatian regions whilst passing by as many castles as possible. Then the dream was to create this route and become a stage of the UTMB World Series circuit so that runners from all over the world would get a chance to get to know our trails.
MATHIEU PETTINOTTI Race Director
Uniting the sport’s biggest stars and amateur runners through the best, leading international events in the most stunning locations, the UTMB World Series gives all trail runners the chance to experience the UTMB adventure across the world, and gain access to the UTMB World Series Finals at the pinnacle UTMB MontBlanc.
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, the mythic UTMB Mont-Blanc is the world’s most well-known and revered trail running event on the globe. In the heart of the Alps, the prestigious UTMB World Series Finals is held in 3 categories: the OCC (50K), CCC(100K) and UTMB (100M) every year at the end of August in Chamonix, France.
Three UTMB World Series Majors, are held each year across the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Collect double the amount of Running Stones compared to other UTMB World Series Events for the UTMB World Series Finals lottery. In total 225 runners are also granted automatic qualification for the UTMB World Series Finals through each Major. This includes age-group category winners and the top 10 male and female runners in the 100M, 100K and 50K categories.
Get the UTMB experience closer to home. Built on a passion for the mountains with sustainability at its heart, UTMB World Series Events gives all trail runners the chance to experience the UTMB adventure at 35 events around the world. Begin your quest to UTMB Mont-Blanc and the UTMB World Series Finals.
DO YOU HAVE YOUR MY UTMB ACCOUNT ?
THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT ALL.
You can only collect Running Stones by finishing races in the 20K, 50K, 100K or 100M category at a UTMB World Series Event or UTMB World Series Major.
Only 1 Running Stone acquired in the past two years is mandatory to enter the lottery. Running Stones are cumulative, have no expiration date, and each Running Stone gives you an additional chance to be drawn in the UTMB World Series Finals lottery.
The UTMB Index is calculated for each of the 4 UTMB World Series race categories: 20K, 50K,100k and 100M.
Trail runners are also given a General UTMB Index calculated by combining results from all race categories. A valid UTMB Index is mandatory to enter the UTMB World Series Finals lottery, along with a minimum of 1 Running Stone.
- See your Running Stones count
- Check your UTMB Index
- View your race results
- Get detailed performance statistics
- See your upcoming race registrations
- Share your results with your friends
Istria 100™ by UTMB®
Croatia
Transvulcania by UTMB®
Spain
Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB®
Wales
Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB®
France
Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB®
France
mozart 100™ by UTMB®
Austria
La Sportiva® Lavaredo Ultra Trail® by UTMB®
Italy
Trail 100 Andorra™ by UTMB®
Andorra
Val d'Aran by UTMB®
Spain
Restonica Trail by UTMB®
France
Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB®
Switzerland
Eiger Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB®
Switzerland
KAT100™ by UTMB®
Austria
UTMB® Mont-Blanc
France, Italy, Switzerland
Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB®
Slovenia
Wildstrubel by UTMB®
Switzerland
Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB®
France
Kullamannen™ by UTMB®
Sweden
Tarawera Ultramarathon™ by UTMB®
New-Zealand
Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB® Australia
Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko™ by UTMB® Australia
Desert RATS Trail Running Festival™ by UTMB® USA
The Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB® USA
Valhöll Argentina by UTMB® Argentina
Western States® 100-Mile Endurance Run USA
Speedgoat™ Mountain Races by UTMB® USA
Paraty Brazil by UTMB® Brazil
Grindstones Trail Running Festival™ by UTMB® USA
Puerto Vallarta México by UTMB® Mexico
Mountain Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB® South Africa
Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB®
Thailand
Ultra-Trail Ninghai by UTMB®
China
TransJeju by UTMB®
South Korea
TransLantau™ by UTMB®
Hong Kong
Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB® Thailand
MAFATE SPEED 4
Extreme traction for those who choose the toughest terrain
As the event organiser, UTMB Group has developed several actions aimed at preserving the natural environment and raising the awareness of all those involved.
It is a collective action that includes the organisation, the local authorities, the runners and supporters, the partners, the service providers and the volunteers.
THESE ARE SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTED ACTIONS:
• The Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB has a team of environmental ambassadors from the outset on the first edition, whose objective is to make the public aware of environmental best practices and to check the entire course after the runners have passed through.
• The Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB sets up the BYOU system: no disposable eating material will be distributed during the event, the runners must carry all they need to contain and eat food and drinks (in addition to the cup included in the compulsory equipment), in particular if they wish to eat hot dishes.
• Waste separation system.
• No plastic bottles are used for still water to limit the plastic and the transportation of these bottles, locally available resources are preferred.
• P ublic transportation is organized to limit the use of personal vehicles and facilitate and manage the traffic flow in the cities, and so limiting the inconvenience caused to both residents and merchants.
©VILLE D’OBERNAI
Obernai will welcome runners over the four day event and showcase the full splendour the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB has to offer providing the Ultra Trail Village, which will be set up and which will host the finish for all the races.
Nichée dans un écrin de verdure, Obernai, cité médiévale reconnue pour son dynamisme, ses fêtes et son remarquable patrimoine architectural est un véritable condensé d’Alsace ! Son charme, ses rues commerçantes, sa large palette d’hébergements et de restauration en font une destination idéale pour votre séjour...
Located in the heart of the wineyards, the city of Colmar is a condensed version of Alsace with its traditional houses, its canals, its flowers, its tasty gastronomy, its renowned fine wines and its charming accommodations.
City of art, history and heritage, Colmar has preserved its historic center classified as a “protected area”, its museums including the famous Unterlinden museum, and its charm which is so particular to it.
Capital of Alsace wines, the Alsatian city is distinguished by its exceptional gastronomic heritage.
Wine capital of Lower Alsace, Barr is located at the foot of the Vosges mountains and on the famous Alsace Wine Route.
This picturesque town seduces connoisseurs of good wine and attracts many tourists in search of nature, authenticity and beautiful stones. The historic centre has a rich architectural heritage with magnificent half-timbered houses and several historic buildings. Visitors can enjoy its decorated streets and lively squares all year round.
There are numerous walks in the vicinity of the town, as well as through the vineyards, forests and around the medieval castles ruins of Châteaux Haut-Andlau, Spesbourg and Landsberg.
Small typical Alsatian village, located in the heart of the wine road, Orschwiller is distinguished by its castle: the Haut-Koenisgbourg.
The castle, built in the 12th century, has been for centuries the witness of conflicts and rivalries between lords, kings and emperors. A real plunge into the world of the Middle Ages which attracts every year history lovers, wine and local gastronomy enthusiasts.
The organizers of the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB are committed to limiting as much as they can the environmental impact of the event. Transport shuttles have therefore been set up, in order to limit the use of personal vehicles. Runners can use the shuttle buses to get to the start of the races, but also to be able to reach the runners at different sections of the course.
TO BE ABLE TO USE THE SHUTTLE BUSES, RUNNERS MUST REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT.
FIND THE LATEST INFORMATION & BOOKINGS HERE: https://alsacegrandest.utmb.world/races-runners/runners/bus
The races of the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB take place in open countryside with remote sections (certain road network areas, telecommunications...).
Advice on the course :
- If you can’t find the next markers, turn around to find the last marker
- Stay on the paths
Some common sense appeals to deal with difficult weather:
- Anticipate both cold and extreme heat
- Don’t wait until you are shivering to cover yourself
- Don’t change clothes in the wind: plan ahead or wait until you are under cover
- Protect yourself from the sun
Poles : Be careful with your poles, especially in the first part of the race when the pack is dense. Do not use the straps on the downhill: in case of a sudden fall, they prevent you from catching yourself properly on your hands (injuries to the shoulders, wrists, forearms... or head).
Fluid and food intake should be adapted to weather conditions and fortified with salt throughout the duration of the event. Maintain a good balance between slow and fast sugars.
Places are provided at aid station points to rest and sleep for a while. It is dangerous to sleep alone in the wild. Fatigue and lack of alertness can be the cause of an accident. Run below your capacity (especially in the first part) to save energy for difficult situations such as a sudden change of weather.
In order to take the start of your race with peace of mind, we remind you that you must have personal accident insurance to cover any search and rescue costs in France. Every year there are runners who do not have sufficient provision. Such insurance can be taken out with the insurance company of your choice. Since 2022, the UTMB Group has offered its own repatriation insurance, which you can take out at the following link:
HTTPS://UTMB.ASSURINCO.COM/
The app is the main tool for ensuring your safety as well as providing you with valuable race information (real-time tracking of your race and that of your friends). In case of an emergency, the application allows you to send directly to the organization an SOS via text message giving your GPS position. This helps you to save precious time. It does not however mean that you do not make a call to the Race HQ.
It is mandatory to have a working and charged mobile telephone that works in France. Do not set your mobile phone to airplane mode under any circumstances, as we need to be able to contact you before, during and after the race. We strongly recommended installing and using the LiveRun by Live-
Trail® application on smartphones, which is essential for your safety. For runners who will spend more than 15 hours in the race, are advised to bring an external battery. Make sure that the emergency number you provide is the number of the person you want to be alerted in case of a problem. Very important: To improve your support, check that you have filled in your phone number in your account during the race. You can update it right up to the start of your race.
This 100M run is a legendary route that takes you through more than 20 castles and a unique heritage through the Vosges mountains. An epic challenge that will allow you to cross the 2 Alsatian regions and walk along preserved trails with stunning views, steeped in history and legend.
The start is in Colmar at 8pm and the race then heads to the Vosges mountains and its castles, the first of which is the Hohlandsbourg. Then there is the chance to cross the popular towns of Turckheim, Kaysersberg or Ribeauvillé, at km 56, before taking the road of the castles, with in first place those of the city of the minstrels and in particular the castle of Saint Ulrich.
Once you reach the Taennchel massif, the highest point of the course, you switch to the Bas-Rhin department just before entering the enclosure of the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, before reaching the base of Chatenois some 13km ahead.
At the three quarter mark of the race, you will arrive in Barr, a picturesque city which hosts the start of the 50K and 20K, before facing the ascent to the Mont Sainte-Odile. 20 km more and you will arrive at the foot of the last tough part which is the ascent of the Heïdenkopf before plunging towards Obernai and the finish line.
Race bib collection in Obernai :
- Thursday 18 May from 2 pm to 8 pm
- Friday 19 May from 12 pm to 6:30 pm
No bib distribution on the start place of the race.
Aid Stations :
- Ribeauvillé - Km 56
- Chatenois - Km 84 (bags drops available)
- Barr - Km 123
Retrouvez toutes les informations à ce lien : alsacegrandest.utmb.world/races-runners/races/UTDC
The race can only be withdrawn at the aid stations. In case of withdrawal, the runner must inform the race headquarters.
From the crossing of the Haut-Koenigsbourg by the ancient Celtic road at the foot of the Vosges to the majestic Mont Sainte-Odile, experience an esoteric and mystical adventure between mountains, vineyards, picturesque villages and castles.
The race starts in Orschwiller, stronghold of the impressive Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, the largest medieval castle in Alsace, for a 109 km adventure between the 2 departments.
There follows a passage through the vineyards alongs trails that then lead to the village of Saint-Hippolyte with an ascent towards the manor of Schaentzel before beginning a long epic stretch of 70km which will see you pass no less than twenty castles in the region.
At the km 60 point, the paths of the 50K will be crossed, passing by Barr, then the Mont Sainte-Odile, the roman town of Rosheim and finally the ramparts of Obernai for the finish.
The start will be in two waves:
- The first at 6:50 am
- The second at 7 am
The starting area is established according to the runner’s UTMB Index. If you don’t have a UTMB Index, you will start in the second wave.
Race bib collection in Obernai:
- Friday 19 May from 12 pm to 8 pm
No bib distribution on the start place of the race.
Aid Stations :
- Barr - Km 59 (bags drops available)
Find all the information on this link: alsacegrandest.utmb.world/races-runners/races/UTDP
The race can only be withdrawn at the aid stations. In case of withdrawal, the runner must inform the race headquarters.
50km and 1,990 metres of positive elevation gain will take you to the the top of Mont St Odile and 6 castles that are not to be missed. A route that crosses this path of wonders and the peaks of the Bloss and Heidenkopf, this adventure will not leave you wanting.
Starting in Barr, the course takes you thorugh vineyards and goes on into the forest past the castle of Lansberg, the first of the 6 castles on the course.
After the top of the Bloss, there is a fifteen kilometers section passing all the castles leading to the top of the Heidenkopf, passing by the castle of Birkenfels or that of Hagelschloss.
After this ascent of some 500 metres of positive elevation gain, the course returns to the heart of the vineyards and heads towards the city of Rosheim, at Km 42, before reaching the finish on the ramparts of Obernai.
The start will be in three waves:
- The first at 9:50 am
- The second at 10 am
- The third at 10:10 am
The starting time is decided according to the runner’s UTMB Index. If you don’t have an UTMB Index, you will start in the 3rd wave.
Race Bib collection in Obernai :
- Thursday 18 May from 2 pm to 8 pm
- Friday 19 May from 6:30 am to 8:30 am
No bib distribution on the start place of the race.
Find all the information on this link: alsacegrandest.utmb.world/races/TDC
The race can only be withdrawn at the aid stations. In case of withdrawal, the runner must inform the race headquarters.
On this short route, which passes through the spiritual stronghold of Alsace at an altitude of 753 m, you will experience a condensed version of a medieval landscape in the midst of a lush, enchanted forest with seven castles.
Starting from Barr, the first 10 km will lead you to the summit of la Bloss, highest point of the route at 800m. The Way of the Cross to Mont Sainte-Odile takes you on a breathtaking route past 4 other castles, including Dreistein and Birkenfels.
At the end of the route, the Way of Miracles and the Rock of the Giants will offer you a panoramic view of the Alsatian plain before arriving at the city walls of Obernai.
The start will be in three waves:
- The first at 07:50
- The second at 08:00
- The third at 08:10
The starting time is decided according to the runner’s UTMB Index. If you don’t have an UTMB Index, you will start in the 3rd wave.
Race bib collections in Obernai :
- Friday 19 May from 12 pm to 8 pm
- Saturday May 20 from 9 am to 8 pm
No bib distribution on the start place of the race.
Find all the information on this link: alsacegrandest.utmb.world/races-runners/races/TDP
The race can only be withdrawn at the aid stations. In case of withdrawal, the runner must inform the race headquarters.
FROM 18 TO 21 MAY 2023,
come and discover the latest trail equipment and take part in the many events organised in the Ultra-Trail Village.
The place to be for trail-running enthusiasts is Obernai, offering you 4 days to discover the brands, companies and local stakeholders.
This is the perfect opportunity to talk with gear providers at the frontier of innovation, coaches and organizers will be pleased to share their newest updates and brands will show you the upcoming trends.
14:00 - 20:00
12:00 - 20:00
09:00 - 20:00
10:00 - 16:00
THURSDAY 18/05
FRIDAY 19/05
SATURDAY 20/05
SUNDAY 21/05
