Courtney Dauwalter’s Bid for Fourth UTMB Title Begins

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When Katie Schide broke Courtney Dauwalter’s course report on the Extremely-Path du Mont-Blanc final month, the path working world instantly began questioning: when will the ultra-trail GOAT be again?

Effectively, of us, we solely needed to wait a month for our possible reply.

On October 4, Dauwalter will toe the road on the Good Côte d’Azur by UTMB 100-miler, the place she’ll have an opportunity to earn an computerized qualifier into subsequent 12 months’s 107-mile huge dance across the Mont Blanc massif. After which perhaps, simply perhaps, we’ll see the battle we’ve all been ready for: one other head-to-head showdown of Schide and Dauwalter, two of the best the game has ever seen. The final time the 2 competed collectively, on the 2023 Western States 100, Dauwalter and Schide went 1-2 within the quickest and second quickest girls’s occasions within the race’s historical past.

“It’s race week! Headed to @nicecotedazurbyutmb to discover 100 miles of new-to-us trails and see what’s left within the tank for the 2024 race season,” Dauwalter introduced on September 30.

The 39-year-old from Leadville, Colorado, has been just about unbeatable since 2017. After a historic 2023 marketing campaign that included wins on the Western States 100, Hardrock 100, and UTMB over the span of two months, she opted to not run UTMB this 12 months. As an alternative, she defended her Transgrancanaria 126K title in a decisive wire-to-wire win in late February and received the Mount Fuji 100-miler for the second time on April 27, inserting third total. She additionally earned a 3rd straight win—in a course report time—on the Hardrock 100 on July 12-13 in Silverton, Colorado.

The three-time UTMB winner headlines a record-setting discipline of 6,000 from 77 nations competing throughout 4 race distances within the French Riviera. We’ll additionally see 2024 males’s UTMB champ Vincent Bouillard within the 20K, and a loaded males’s 50K that features 2023 world champion and CCC winner Jon Albon.

Right here’s the whole lot it’s worthwhile to learn about Good Côte d’Azur by UTMB.

The Mediterranean’s Greatest Path Operating Occasion

Good has gained consideration not too long ago past individuals from all around the world flocking to the rocky shores to swim with tropical fish within the azure blue waters. The traditional metropolis is shortly turning into an endurance sports activities mecca. For the previous two years, the enduring Promenade des Anglais framing the Mediterranean Sea to at least one facet and the medieval streets of Good to the opposite has served because the end line to the lads’s (2023) and womens’ (2024) Ironman World Championship. Simply final weekend, Germany’s Laura Philipp ran a 2:44:59 marathon back-and-forth alongside the palm-tree lined boulevard after swimming 2.4 miles within the sea and biking 112 miles by means of the Maritime Alps to seize the Ironman World Championship title.

In July, biking famous person Tadej Pogačar captured his third Tour de France victory right here as Good served because the Grand Tour’s finale whereas the Olympics took over the standard end line on the cobbled streets of Paris. Come to Good on any given day, and also you’re certain to run into the likes of American biking stars Neilson Powless and Matteo Jorgenson, each of whom name Good residence because of its abundance of steep mountain roads rising straight out of the ocean to Mercantour Nationwide Park and north by means of Monaco and into Italy.

In its third 12 months, Good Côte d’Azur by UTMB has shortly gained prominence as the most important path working occasion on this particular area that packs the whole lot from dramatic alpine landscapes to seaside trails winding previous historic battlements. It’s right here that American Jim Walmsley earned one other berth into the 2024 UTMB and a Golden Ticket into the 2024 Western States 100 by profitable the 115K race only a month after profitable the 2023 version of UTMB.

Good Côte d’Azur won’t function a Western States Golden Ticket race for 2025. However as a UTMB World Sequence occasion, the highest three ladies and men within the 100-mile, 100K, and 50K races will earn computerized entries into the finals at UTMB Mont-Blanc subsequent summer time. All finishers can even earn the Operating Stones requisite to enter to the UTMB Mont-Blanc lottery.

RELATED: So You Wish to Run UTMB? Right here’s The right way to Qualify.

Good Côte d’Azur by UTMB Course

Throughout 4 race distances—100 miles, 100K, 50K, and 20K—Good Côte d’Azur by UTMB showcases the jaw-dropping variety of the French Riviera. From Mercantour Nationwide Park, a famend biodiversity hotspot crammed with alpine lakes and hovering mountains and valleys, to technical shoreline trails with sweeping views of the ocean, these races pack a stunning but sneaky punch in paradise.

100-Miler

The purpose-to-point 98.7-mile race begins within the ski village of Auron within the Maritime Alps at 5,200-feet and ends on the sea. Whereas it’s over 5,000 ft web downhill, the course nonetheless boasts about 27,000 ft of climbing. Runners shortly make their approach to the highpoint on the course at over 8,700-feet. After winding by means of chestnut forests and tracing the Tinéee River, racers traverse the enduring ridges of the Mercantour massif. 4 extra mountains later, Mont Leuze, Mont Vinaigrier, Mont Alban, and Mont Boron, and down a closing steep staircase and so they’ll discover themselves on the ocean on the end line on the Promenade des Anglais.

100K

Runners be warned, the 100K distance really features a bonus 7K for a complete of 66.3 miles with 15,000 ft of climbing and 19,000 ft of descent. The race begins in Roubion, a small village constructed on the facet of a cliff within the south of the Mercantour Nationwide Park, earlier than shortly becoming a member of up with the ultimate two-thirds of the 100-mile course.

50K

The 50K (which is definitely a 54K, or 33.3 miles) begins on the legendary Col d’Eze at 1,610 ft and makes a giant loop by means of the mountains above Monaco earlier than ending in Good for a complete of 6,000 ft of climbing and over 7,600 ft of descent. Ranging from Grande Corniche Departmental Park, the 50K winds across the Fort de la Revère and climbs above La Turbie to the Cime de Cabanelle at almost 3,600 ft. The race tops out on the Epaule de la Cime du Baudon at almost 4,000 ft with panoramic views over the Mercantour, the French Riviera, and the Mediterranean. The descent takes runners to the hilltop villages of Peille and Peillon, then alongside an outdated irrigation canal, the place racers will be part of the 100K and 100-mile programs over the ultimate 4 mountains to the end on the Promenade des Anglais.

20K

The 20K (really 22K, or 13.8 miles) begins on the port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and makes a tour of the peninsula and again to Good by the use of coastal trails with one huge climb up and over Plateau Saint Michel within the center for a complete of about 2,000 ft of climbing and descent. Like all 4 races, the 20K ends with tagging Mont Vinaigrier, Mont Alban, and Mont Boron and runners make their method all the way down to the end on the Promenade des Anglais.

The place to Eat

Because the second largest metropolis within the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur area, Good gives a endless provide of scrumptious meals starting from Neapolitan-style pizza to recent seafood. You’ll additionally discover hole-in-the-wall bakeries, gelato on each nook, and an abundance of Indian meals. Listed below are just a few of our favourite locations from current travels to town.

Bakery: Zielinska

4-6 Jules Gilly Avenue, 06000 Good

Half a mile from the end line you’ll discover Zielinska tucked into an alley in Outdated Good. This women-owned bakery makes use of historic grains to conjure up otherworldly scrumptious breads, pastries, breakfast dishes, and lunch. Strive a fruit brioche, the egg, bacon, and cheese breakfast sandwich, and a few freshly squeezed orange juice. And say hello to Dominika Zielinska herself, who will probably be behind the counter wearing a frock and a hand band similar to the woman on the bakery’s equally charming brand.

Pizza: Acqua & Farina 

39 Rue de la Préfecture, 06300 Good, France

Good is each a thriving native city and a bustling vacationer attraction. Which means you’ll discover watered-down eating places geared in direction of vacationers and native gems off the overwhelmed path. If you happen to’re searching for the latter, take a look at Acqua & Farina within the coronary heart of Outdated Good simply off the Promenade des Anglais. The Neapolitan-style pizza comes skinny, crispy, and adorned with top-shelf toppings. Be ready to speak together with your server in French or pantomime.

Gelato

1 Rue Jules Gilly, 06300 Good, France

It’s the Mediterranean, you’ll discover a number of gelaterias on each nook. Might we propose you cease at one, or a number of. Proper down the road from Acqua & Farina, Terre Adélice dishes up one hundred pc natural gelato in all of the traditional flavors and loads of unique choices.

The place to Go

When you’ll see a gentle stream of runners, cyclists, walkers, and rollerbladers gliding up and down the Promenade des Anglais, go only a few steps away from the ocean and also you’ll discover a hidden trove of hills and trails—lots of which the 6,000 Good Côte d’Azur opponents will deal with over the weekend.

Colline du Château 

Proper subsequent to the end line you’ll discover the Colline du Château (“Fort Hill”) overlooking town. A comparatively fast bop up an extended flight of stairs lower into the hillside results in a scenic panoramic overlook with views of town, the ocean, and the mountains sprawling into the space. Watch racers right here on their closing climb earlier than crossing the end line beneath.

Mont Boron

Make it to the highest of Mont Boron (720 ft) through the superbly wooded trails on foot or on the street by bike or automotive and also you’ll be rewarded with much more epic views and the imposing and well-preserved Fort du Mont Alban, a army set up constructed within the sixteenth century. Bonus: the races come proper previous right here, so you may cheer on runners throughout their closing climb earlier than a quick descent to the end line.

Monaco

Drool over 400-foot yachts, five-mast sailboats, and Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLarens galore in Monaco. It’s only a 35-minute prepare trip from Good, a enjoyable bike trip, or an epic run. Keep away from crowds on the prepare by making your method again to Good earlier than 4 P.M.

The right way to Watch

The 100-mile, 100K, and 50K races will all be broadcast reside at no cost on Outdoors TV:

Friday, October 4: 100-mile protection begins at 11:30 A.M. and can run till 7 P.M. native time (5:30 A.M. to 1 P.M. ET).

Saturday, October 5: Catch the tip of the 100-miler, together with the 100K and 50K from 7:15 A.M. to 9 P.M. native time (1:15 A.M. to three P.M. ET).

Miss the reside motion? No sweat. Catch the replays anytime on Outdoors TV.