UTMB Group, one of many companion organizations behind lots of the largest and most well-known extremely and path races, has introduced a major enhance in prize cash (referred to as the HOKA prize purse after UTMB’s title sponsor) for the highest finishers at this 12 months’s version of the UTMB World Collection Finals held on the finish of August in Chamonix, France. Greater than €380,000 can be distributed among the many prime 10 athletes, with the winners taking house €20,000—greater than double the outdated prize purse.
“This new funding will assist all athletes who juggle demanding coaching regimes, together with skilled careers,” the race group introduced in a press launch on Tuesday. Frédéric Lénart, CEO of UTMB Group, highlighted the importance of this initiative on Tuesday: “Rising prize cash is of nice significance to us, to our sport; it’s our obligation to the communities. We’re proud to assist athletes, each ladies and men, in absolutely embracing their ardour and making a livelihood out of it.”
UTMB Group labored with the Professional Path Runners Affiliation (PTRA) to find out how, precisely, to distribute the prize cash. “We’re completely happy that the UTMB Group determined to seek the advice of the PTRA relating to the brand new prize cash construction for UTMB World Collection Finals and Majors, stated Francesco Puppi, an elite path runner who serves on the Professional Path Runners Affiliation (PTRA) Board. “This represents an vital step ahead within the professionalization of the game and the popularity of the elite athletes, for the status, high quality and worth they bring about to UTMB World Collection occasions.”
Dedication to gender equality and race distance recognition
In a transfer to advertise gender parity, prize cash can be distributed equally amongst male and feminine athletes. The UTMB 171K Last will see each female and male winners receiving the identical quantity.
The group additionally desires to emphasise that every one distances, whether or not 50K, 100K or 100M—require immense dedication and perseverance. Whereas the UTMB 171K presents the best prize cash, in all different occasions equal prize cash can be distributed throughout these classes, within the hopes of recognizing the distinctive challenges and expertise concerned in every. Frédéric Lénart, CEO of UTMB Group, highlighted the importance of this initiative: “Rising prize cash is of nice significance to us, to our sport; it’s our obligation to the communities. We’re proud to assist athletes, each ladies and men, in absolutely embracing their ardour and making a livelihood out of it.”
Main occasions, huge rewards
The brand new prize purse can be featured within the upcoming UTMB World Collection Majors and Finals, starting with Val d’Aran by UTMB (Spain, July 3-7, 2024, the UTMB Mont-Blanc occasions hosted in Chamonix, France, on the finish of August, and HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB (Thailand, December 6-8, 2024).
“It’s nice to see UTMB proceed to take steps ahead in worldwide path operating to convey collectively consolidated competitors with an even bigger prize purse,” stated Jim Walmsley, winner of the 2023 UTMB 171K Last. “A rise at UTMB Finals, in addition to UTMB World Collection Majors, offers a whole lot of incentive for present professionals to prioritize these races and helps encourage the following technology of runners to pursue a profession in path operating.”
A 12 months for change
In Might, UTMB unveiled one other important change for 2024—a partnership with the Worldwide Testing Company (ITA) and impartial anti-doping organizations and a dedication of not less than €100,000 this 12 months to bolster its anti-doping initiatives. This complete method contains creating new anti-doping insurance policies, and enhancing testing procedures and athlete education schemes.
