Ultra-Trail Australia is stepping into the spotlight as the latest addition to the UTMB World Series Majors (WSM). Announced alongside a brand new 100-mile race, the UTAMiler, the UTA events will join the global WSM lineup in May 2025. It becomes one of just four premiere events worldwide, held alongside Europe (Spain’s Val d’Aran by UTMB, July 2-6), Asia (HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB in Thailand, Dec. 6-8) and North America (Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB in Big Bear Lake, Calif., Oct. 11-13). All these races lead to the grand finale, the UTMB Mont-Blanc in Chamonix, France, held each year at the end of August.
Set in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains just west of Sydney, the UTAMiler has runners traversing some of Australia’s most spectacular terrain, including the Grand Canyon, the Blue Gum Forest and cliff-top ridges with breathtaking views.
The pathway to UTMB Mont-Blanc
As a UTMB World Series Major, UTA will offer double Running Stones and expanded qualification slots for the UTMB World Series Finals. For the 7,000 runners already registered for 2025, this represents an enhanced opportunity to earn a spot at one of trail running’s most popular events, and 210 athletes will now automatically qualify through the various distances at UTA.
Major events, big rewards
The 100-mile race is expected to attract elite runners from around the world, enticed by not only the WSM opportunity but also a prize pool of AUD$120,000 that will be alongside a new, enhanced WSM and finals prize purse that kicked off this year at Val d’Aran by UTMB.
A race for everyone
While the UTAMiler is an exciting new addition for endurance athletes, the UTA running festival remains inclusive, with opportunities to race in a wide array of distances. The festival begins with an 11K race, and includes 22K and 50K distances alongside the classic 100K (UTA100) and new 100-miler. Past UTA champion Lucy Bartholomew emphasized the event’s broad appeal in a press release: “The Blue Mountains are such a special place to run. From kids’ races to the 100-mile distance, UTA is about bringing the community together to celebrate the joy of trail running.”
The 2025 UTA events will kick off on May 15, 2025 and will be broadcast live for fans around the globe. To learn more, head here.
