[Editor’s Note: Photographer and Vert.Run co-founder Kirsten Kortebein created these images at the 2022 UTMB. Enjoy!]
The 2022 UTMB was a memorable one, with a very decisive win by Katie Schide (post-race interview) in the women’s race and a new men’s course record by Kilian Jornet (post-race interview) on the men’s side. But there were plenty of other human stories unfolding along the course of the 171.5-kilometer (106.5-mile) loop around Mont Blanc, which weaved its way through France, Italy, and Switzerland. Some of the magic is captured in this photo gallery. You can also read our 2022 UTMB results article for more.
Katarzyna Solińska (Poland) glances at the roaring crowd before the 6 p.m. start of the 2022 UTMB on Friday, August 26. All photos: iRunFar/Kirsten Kortebein
Fans gather on a roof overlooking the start line in Chamonix, France, while mountains loom sharply in the distance.
The balcony of the Chamonix city hall offers arguably the best vantage point of the UTMB start.
Family members of a racer smile as they tell loved ones over the phone that UTMB has started.
The town of Les Contamines, 31 kilometers into UTMB, buzzes with locals drinking beer, waving flags, and serving up hot dogs and potatoes to spectators.
Night sweeps in over Les Contamines.
“It’s like the Tour de France for ultrarunners,” said one spectator of the jovial ambiance in Les Contamines.
UTMB attracts its fair share of four-legged fans. Here, a dog looks around to figure out what all the “dinging” is about. (It’s the cowbells.)
With midnight struck on the clock long ago, crews nap anywhere they can. In this case, Courmayeur, Italy’s warm sports center does the job. The sports center is the 80-kilometer mark for the UTMB.
Moisés Jiménez (Venezuela, lives in France) heads back out into the night after re-fueling at Courmayeur.
A glowing sunrise over Martigny, Switzerland, brings a new day — and renewed energy — for crews and runners.
Crews unload in Champex-Lac, digging deep for energy after 14 straight hours of assisting their runners. The mountain-top village of Champex-Lac is 126 kilometers into UTMB.
Gabriel Santos (Argentina) breaks into a grin as he’s welcomed back into Chamonix to finish the UTMB.
A young fan is elated after getting a high-five from a team finishing the 300-kilometer PTL race, one of the other events in the UTMB Mont-Blanc festival.
Racers experience a lot of emotions during an ultra, but the family and friends of finishers might experience even more. Here, a runner is greeted by his family at the finish line.
The sun shines over Chamonix, France, as racers complete their tour around Mont Blanc.
