2022 UTMB Events Men’s Top Runners

Here we are with some more lottery results, this time for the 2022 UTMB events men’s top entrants. The race administration holds many spots for elite athletes, and in the weeks before the draw, the race made public the top runners who have been given entrance into the 2022 races. This week, a few top runners gained entrance through the lottery.

Here you can search the full entrants’ lists for all the UTMB races, six events spread over a week. Also on this page are lists of the “favorites” singled out by the race administration.

In this article, we preview the men’s top runners for the 170-kilometer UTMB, the 100k CCC, the 145k TDS, and the 55k OCC.

The entrants’ lists will evolve as the year progresses, as elites may be allowed late entrance, and not all who intend to start will be able to. Then we have the unknowns of the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that could change things, but we’ll keep the list updated.

Let’s take a deep look at these four men’s race fields. We list each section in alphabetical order and additionally provide a recent and relevant result or two for each man to help identify him.

Be sure to also check out our article previewing the 2022 UTMB events women’s top runners!

A big crowd at the 2021 UTMB starting line. Photo: iRunFar/Ben Clark

2022 UTMB Top Men

We divide the top UTMB men’s entrants into a couple of categories, Recent Top-Five Finishers who’ve finished in the top five in the last five editions of the race, Headliner Men who have proven performances at numerous long mountainous ultramarathons with deep international competition, and More Top Men who we think have potential to finish in a top-25 position.

Recent UTMB Top-Five Finishers

• Mathieu Blanchard (France, lives in Canada) – 3rd 2021 & 13th 2018 UTMB; 10th 2019 CCC
• Pau Capell (Spain) – 1st 2019 & 6th 2017 UTMB; 3rd 2018 & 6th 2015 CCC; 1st 2016 TDS
• Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz (France) – 2nd 2021 UTMB; 1st 2021 Transgrancanaria 130k
• Jordi Gamito (Spain) – 3rd 2018, 10th 2017, & 12th 2015 UTMB; 5th 2016 & 2014 TDS
• Germain Grangier (France) – 5th 2021 & 9th 2019 UTMB; 5th 2018 CCC
• Gediminas Grinius (Lithuania) – 8th 2017, 2nd 2016, & 5th 2014 UTMB
• Robert Hajnal (Romania) – 2nd 2018 UTMB; 5th 2021 & 4th 2019 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 115k
• Scott Hawker (New Zealand) – 3rd 2019 & 11th 2017 UTMB; 2nd 2021 CCC
• Kilian Jornet (Spain, lives in Norway) – 1st 2008, 2009 & 2011 UTMB; 2nd 2017 UTMB
• David Laney (USA) – 4th 2016 & 3rd 2015 UTMB; 3rd 2021 Ultravasan 90k
• Hallvard Schjølberg (Norway) – 4th 2018 UTMB; 4th 2019 TDS
• Andy Symonds (U.K., lives in France) – 5th 2019 UTMB; 1st 2021 Matterhorn Ultraks 50k
• Xavier Thévenard (France) – 2nd 2019, 1st 2018, 1st 2015, & 1st 2013 UTMB
• Tim Tollefson (USA) – 3rd 2017 & 2016 UTMB; 5th 2021 Western States 100
• Jim Walmsley (USA) – 5th 2017 UTMB; 1st 2021 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k; 1st 2021, 2019, & 2018 Western States 100

Headliner Men

• Jon Aizpuru (Spain) – 14th 2021 UTMB; 4-time podium finisher of the Ultratrail Ehunmilak 168k
• Dylan Bowman (USA) – 2nd 2021 Hardrock 100; 3rd 2020 Transgrancanaria 130k; 2nd 2018 TDS
• Sage Canaday (USA) – 5th 2020 Tarawera 100k; 2nd 2019 Pikes Peak Marathon
• Julien Chorier (France) – 4th 2021, 2nd 2014, & 1st 2011 Hardrock 100; 17th 2017, 8th 2016, 6th 2013, 4th 2010, & 3rd 2008 UTMB
• Mathieu Clément (Switzerland) – 9th 2021 UTMB; 9th 2021 Mont-Blanc 90k
• Thomas Evans (U.K.) – 1st 2020 Tarawera 100k; 3rd 2019 Western States 100; 1st 2018 & 4th 2017 CCC
• Ugo Ferrari (France) – 16th 2021 UTMB; 4th 2019 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k
• Thibaut Garrivier (France) – 1st 2021 & 2nd 2019 CCC; 1st 2019 Transvulcania 73k
• Benoit Girondel (France) – 2nd 2021 TDS; 1st 2018 & 2017 Diagonale des Fous 165k
• Jared Hazen (USA) – 5th 2020 Vibram Hong Kong 100k; 2nd 2019 & 3rd 2015 Western States 100; 2nd 2016 Grand Trail des Templiers 80k
• Luis Alberto Hernando (Spain) – 1st 2019 CCC; 2nd 2015 UTMB
• Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon (France) – 3rd 2021 TDS; 9th 2019 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 115k; 9th 2018 CCC
• Daniel Jung (Italy) – 1st 2021 Diagonale de Fous 165k; 4th 2018 Transgrancanaria 130k
• Erik-Sebastien Krogvig (Norway) – 1st 2021 TDS; 3rd 2021 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k
• Can-Hua Luo (China) – 11th 2019 UTMB
• Beñat Marmissolle (France) – 7th 2021 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 115k; 3rd 2021 Diagonale des Fous 165k
• Dmitry Mityaev (Russia) – 2nd 2021 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 115k; 2nd 2019 & 3rd 2018 TDS
• Hannes Namberger (Germany) – 1st 2021 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 115k; 6th 2021 UTMB; 1st 2021 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k
• Masatoshi Obara (Japan) – 8th 2019 UTMB; 4th 2019 Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji 100 Mile
• Diego Pazos (Switzerland) – 7th 2021 UTMB; 5th 2018 TDS
• Min Qi (China) – 2nd 2018 CCC; 1st 2018 Vibram Hong Kong 100k
• Ryan Sandes (South Africa) – 8th 2021 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 115k; 11th 2019, 1st 2017, 5th 2014, & 2nd 2012 Western States 100
• Jason Schlarb (USA) – 1st 2020 IMTUF 100 Mile; 4th 2014 UTMB
• Seth Swanson (USA) – 7th 2021 TDS; 4th 2015 UTMB
• Marcin Świerc (Poland) – 1st 2018 TDS; 2nd 2017 CCC
• Aleksei Tolstenko (Russia) – 4th 2021 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 115k; 13th 2021 UTMB
• Pablo Villa (Spain) – 1st 2020 & 2nd 2019 Transgrancanaria 130k; 1st 2019 TDS
• Ho-Chung Wong (Hong Kong) – 10th 2021 & 6th 2019 UTMB

More Top Men

• Gautier Airiau (France) – 6th 2021 TDS; 10th 2018 & 8th 2017 OCC
• Jonas Buud (Sweden) – 6th 2021 Ultravasan 90k; 2nd 2012 UTMB; 5-time podium finisher of the IAU 100k World Championships
• Maxime Cazajous (France) – 4th 2019 & 3rd 2018 Diagonale des Fous 165k
• Nicolas Cerisier (France) – 21st 2021 UTMB
• Avery Collins (USA) – 11th 2021 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 115k; 15th 2021 CCC
• Sylvain Court (France) – 1st 2018 Mont Blanc 90k; 3rd 2016 & 1st 2015 Trail World Championships 85k
• Francesco Cucco (Italy, lives in France) – 5th 2021 & 2018 Diagonale des Fous 165k; 4th 2021 Transgrancanaria 130k
• Hugo Deck (France) – 5th 2021 CCC
• Guo-Min Deng (China) – 3rd 2020 & 4th 2019 Vibram Hong Kong 100k; 6th 2019 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k
• Ji Duo (China) – 3rd 2020 Panda Trail by UTMB 160k
• Luís Fernandes (Portugal) – 8th 2020, 6th 2019, & 8th 2018 Transgrancanaria 130k; 7th 2019 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 115k
• Maxime Grenot (France) – 9th 2021 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail 115k; 7th 2019 TDS
• Didrik Hermansen (Norway) – 3rd 2018 Ultravasan 90k; 13th 2017 UTMB; 2nd 2016 Western States 100
• Moisés Jimenez (Venezuela, lives in France) – 16th 2019 UTMB; 10th 2018 TDS
• Harry Jones (U.K.) – 4th 2020 Transgrancanaria 130k; 15th 2019 UTMB; 8th 2018 CCC
• Arnaud Lejeune (France) – 10th 2021 Mont-Blanc 90k; 8th 2013 & 2012 UTMB
• Ionel Cristian Manole (Romania) – 1st 2021 Val d’Aran by UTMB 160k; 6th 2019 Tor de Géants 330k
• Karl Meltzer (USA) – Has won 45 one hundred milers over 20 years
• Jérôme Mirassou (France) – 6th 2018 TDS
• Cody Reed (USA) – 1st 2019 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k; 2nd 2019 & 2018 Tarawera 100k; 7th 2018 Western States 100
• Petter Restorp (Sweden, lives in France) – 3rd 2021 Tor des Géants 330k; 4th 2019 Mont-Blanc 90k; 11th 2018 UTMB
• Lluis Ruiz (Spain) – 6th 2021 Ultra Pirineu 100k; 14th 2019 UTMB
• Jonas Russi (Switzerland) – 2nd 2021 Tor des Géants 330k
• Yan-Qiao Yun (China) – 6th 2019 & 11th 2018 TDS
• Jia-Ju Zhao (China) – 11th 2019 CCC
• Fotios Zisimopoulos (Greece) – 1st 2021 Spartathlon 153 Mile; 3rd 2021 Transgrancanaria 130k

Tim Tollefson goes big to celebrate his second third-place finish in a row at the 2017 UTMB. Tollefson will be among the 2022 UTMB starters. Photo: iRunFar/Kirsten Kortebein

2022 CCC Top Men

We divide the top CCC men’s entrants into a couple of categories, Headliner Men who have proven performances at long mountainous ultramarathons with deep international competition, and More Top Men who we think have the potential to finish in a top-15 position.

Headliner Men

• Jonathan Albon (U.K., lives in Norway) – 1st 2021 Grand Trail des Templiers 80k; 1st 2021 OCC; 1st 2019 (45k) & 4th 2018 (85k) Trail World Championships
• Pere Aurell (Spain) – 10th 2021 CCC; 2nd 2021 Transgrancanaria 130k; 1st 2018 Transvulcania 73k
• Thibaut Baronian (France) – 3rd 2021 CCC; 6th 2021 & 2017 Sierre-Zinal 30k; 2nd 2017 & 3rd 2016 OCC
• Aritz Egea (Spain) – 12th 2021 Sierre-Zinal 30k; 4th 2019 Pikes Peak Marathon; 5-time top-10 finisher of the Zegama Marathon
• Petter Engdahl (Sweden) – 5th 2021 Grand Trail des Templiers 80k; 3rd 2021 OCC; 3rd 2019 Transvulcania 73k
• Hayden Hawks (USA) – 5th 2021 OCC; 8th 2021 Western States 100; 1st 2018 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k; 1st 2017 CCC
• Nico Martin (France) – 4th 2021 Grand Trail des Templiers 80k; 6th 2021, 7th 2018 & 1st 2014 OCC; 2nd 2016 (85k), 7th 2015 (85k), & 9th 2013 (75k) Trail World Championships
• Yannick Noel (France) – 11th 2021 UTMB; 12th 2019 TDS
• Andreas Reiterer (Italy) – 3rd 2021 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k; 4th 2021 CCC
• Jia-Sheng Shen (China) – 2nd 2019 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k; 1st 2019 Vibram Hong Kong 100k; 5th 2019 OCC
• Andreu Simon (Spain) – 2nd 2021 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k; 2nd 2019 CCC

More Top Men

• Manuel Anguita Bayo (Spain) – 8th 2019, 6th 2018, & 10th 2017 Transvulcania 73k
• Anthony Costales (USA) – 1st 2021 Canyons 100k; 3rd 2020 Speedgoat 50k
• Matt Daniels (USA) – 4th 2019 Western States 100
• Mohamed El Morabity (Morocco) – 4-time 2nd-place finisher at the Marathon des Sables 250k Stage Race including in 2021
• Peter Frano (Slovakia) – 7th 2021 OCC
• Tyler Green (USA) – 10th 2021 TDS; 2nd 2021 Western States 100
• Stephen Kersh (USA) – 7th 2021 & 2019 Western States 100
• Johan Lantz (Sweden) – 8th 2021 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k; 3rd 2018 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k
• Thibault Leroy (France) – 11th 2021 CCC
• Jorge Maravilla (USA) – 10th 2017 CCC
• Mario Mendoza (USA) – 14th 2019 CCC; 6th 2018 (85k) & 9th 2017 (50k) Trail World Championships
• Paddy O’Leary (Ireland, lives in USA) – 6th 2018 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k; 14th 2017 CCC
• Marc Pinsach (Spain) – 1st 2015 & 2nd 2014 OCC
• Yoann Stuck (France) – 18th 2021 CCC; 9th 2018 Ultravasan 90k
• Peter van der Zon (Netherlands) – 4th 2021 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k; 5th 2019 Transgrancanaria 130k
• Pablo Villalobos (Spain) – 4th 2018 OCC

Jonathan Albon crosses the line as the 2021 Grand Trail des Templiers 80k champion. Albon is signed up for the 2022 CCC. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

2022 TDS Top Men

We divide the top TDS men’s entrants into a couple of categories, Headliner Men who have proven performances at long mountainous ultramarathons with deep international competition, and More Top Men who we think have the potential to finish in a top-10 position.

Headliner Men

• Ivan Camps (Spain) – 4th 2019 & 7th 2018 CCC; 3rd 2017 & 5th 2016 OCC
• Cristofer Clemente (Spain) – 8th 2019 CCC; 3rd 2019 & 2018 Transgrancanaria 130k; 2nd 2018 (85k) & 2017 (50k) Trail World Championships
• Franco Collé (Italy) – 3-time Tor des Géants 330k champion including in 2021; 4th 2021 Mont Blanc 90k
• Martin Kern (France) – 1st 2021 Mont-Blanc 90k; 12th 2019 UTMB
• Janosch Kowalczyk (Germany) – 6th 2021 CCC; 10th 2018 (85k) & 11th 2017 (50k) Trail World Championships
• Joaquin Lopez (Ecuador) – 6th 2019 UTMB

More Top Men

• Guillaume Beauxis (France) – 11th 2021 Mont Blanc 90k; 13th 2019 UTMB
• Patrick Bohard (France) – 4th 2021 Swiss Alps 100k
• Sebastien Camus (France) – 14th 2021 & 10th 2019 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k; 7th 2016 UTMB
• Sylvain Camus (France) – 8th 2018 Diagonale des Fous 165k; 2nd 2017 TDS
• Tòfol Castanyer (Spain) – 11th 2021 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k; 10th 2019 & 4th 2018 TDS; 2nd 2014 UTMB
• Mike Foote (USA) – 3-time 2nd-place finisher at the Hardrock 100; 5th 2013, 3rd 2012, & 11th 2011 UTMB
• Cordis Hall (USA) – 14th 2021 TDS
• Weston Hill (New Zealand) – 3rd 2020 Kepler Challenge 60k; 12th 2018 CCC
• Andrea Macchi (Italy) – 8th 2019 & 5th 2018 Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120k; 3rd 2017 Tor des Géants 330k
• Marcos Ramos (Spain) – 5th 2021 TDS
• Matthew Urbanski (USA) – 1st 2021 Tarawera 100 Mile

Cristofer Clemente on his way to finishing second at the 2018 Trail World Championships 85k. He’s signed up for the 2022 TDS. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

2022 OCC Top Men

We divide the top OCC men’s entrants into a couple of categories, Headliner Men who have proven performances at mountainous races of medium distances with deep international competition, and More Top Men who we think have the potential to finish in a top-10 position.

Headliner Men

• Thomas Cardin (France) – 4th 2021 OCC; 2nd 2021 La Sainté Lyon 78k
• Jiří Čípa (Czech Republic) – 3rd 2019 CCC; 9th 2018 (85k) & 8th (50k) 2017 Trail World Championships
• Oriol Cardona Coll (Spain) – 6th 2019 & 5th 2018 Zegama Marathon; 2nd 2018 Pikes Peak Marathon; 2nd 2019, 3rd 2018, & 2nd 2017 Limone Extreme 30k
• Bernard Dematteis (Italy) – 5-time top-10 finisher at the World Mountain Running Championships
• Martin Dematteis (Italy) – 3-time top-10 finisher at the World Mountain Running Championships
• Petro Mamu (Eritrea) – 2nd 2019 Sierre-Zinal 30k; in 2017, Mamu failed two doping tests, after both the World Mountain Running Championships and the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships, and he was given a nine-month ban by the IAAF for testing positive for fenoterol
• Antonio Martínez (Spain) – 7th 2019 Mountain Running World Championships; 8th 2019 Trail World Championships 44k
• Bartłomiej Przedwojewski (Poland) – 3rd 2021 & 2018 Mont-Blanc Marathon; 2nd 2019 & 3rd 2018 Zegama Marathon
• Julien Rancon (France) – 3-time top-10 finisher of Sierre-Zinal 30k including 8th in 2021; 2nd 2019 Trail World Championships; 10th 2017 World Mountain Running Championships
• Robbie Simpson (U.K.) – 7th 2021 Grand Trail des Templiers 80k; 2nd 2021 OCC; 8-time top-10 finisher of Sierre-Zinal 30k including 2nd in 2021
• Kevin Vermeulen (France) – 6th 2021 Les Templiers 80k; 9th 2021 & 3rd 2018 OCC

More Top Men

• Moritz auf der Heide (Germany) – 10th 2021 OCC
• Arnaud Bonin (France) – 12th 2021 OCC
• Pascal Egli (Switzerland) – 12th 2020 Sierre-Zinal 30k; 2nd 2017 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships
• Benedikt Hoffmann (Germany) – 9th 2021 Grand Trail des Templiers 80k; 5th 2016 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships
• Erenjia Jia (China) – 1st 2018 OCC
• Tao Luo (China) – 3rd 2019 OCC
• Manuel Merillas (Spain) – 4-time top-10 finisher of the Zegama Marathon
• Adrien Michaud (France) – 7th 2021 Skyrace des Matheysins 25k
• Leonard Mitrica (Romania) – 13th 2021 OCC; 14th 2019 Mountain Running World Championships; 14th 2019 Trail World Championships 44k
• Elov Olsson (Sweden) – 14th 2019 Comrades Marathon 90k; 10th 2018 IAU 100k World Championships
• Jeshurun Small (USA) – 7th 2020 Pikes Peak Marathon
• Frédéric Tranchand (France) – 1st 2021 Skyrace des Matheysins 25k; 2nd 2020 Sierre-Zinal 30k
• Stephan Wenk (Switzerland) – 4-time top-10 finisher of Sierre-Zinal 30k

Robbie Simpson crosses the line in second place at the 2021 Sierre-Zinal 30k. Simpson plans to race the 2022 OCC. Photo: World Mountain Running Association

Top Runners Not on Any 2022 UTMB Event Entrants’ List

Notably, some of the top finishers in the UTMB festival’s recent history are not currently on the entrants’ list of any 2022 races.

• François D’Haene (France) – 1st 2021 & 2017 UTMB
• Kilian Jornet (Spain, lives in Norway) – 2nd 2017 UTMB; 3-time UTMB Champion
• Ludovic Pommeret (France) – 4th 2021 & 1st 2016 UTMB; 3rd 2019 TDS; 3rd 2017 CCC

Call for Comments

• Who do you see leading out these four incredibly stacked events?
• And what underdogs are you looking at for breakout performances in 2022?
• Wow, that’s a ton of fast runners and amazing results! With so many names and races, we surely missed a couple of top runners or made a couple of mistakes. Leave a comment if you think someone should be included on these lists or if you see an error.

The town of Saint-Gervais at sunset during the 2019 UTMB. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks