Friday, 8th June 2018, the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) organization announced that there will be a financial prize for this year edition, that takes place at the end of August 2018 in Chamonix.
According to Le Dauphine, this is the first time that a "financial bonus" will be distributed.
Last April during a press conference in Paris, the organization of the UTMB said that they think about the introduction of a prize for this edition. Now they made public the decision to "devote part of its budget to the recognition of high-level athletes by introducing in 2018 a bonus system on 4 races (UTMB, TDS, CCC, OCC)."
For this year will be distributed no less than 35,000 euros.
- UTMB (171 km): The winner will receive a bonus of 2000 euros, 2nd place 1500 euros and 3rd place 1000. Also, 4th and 5th place will receive 700 euros and 6,7,8,9 and 10 will earn a prize of 500 euros.
- TDS (121 km): The winner will receive 1300 euros, 2nd place 900 euros, 3rd place 600 euros. Top five of the race will earn a prize of 400 euros.
- CCC (101 km): The winner will receive also 1300 euros, 2nd place 900 euros, 3rd place 600 euros. Top five of the race will earn a prize of 400 euros.
- OCC (56 km): The winner will receive 900 euros, 2nd place 600 euros and 3rd place 400 euros.
By choosing this system of payment to the winners, the UTMB chooses to bring recognition to the athletes.
Michel Poletti, organiser of the competition, said "We must also take into account the benefits/priveleges enjoyed by the elite athletes" and "We defend an amateur sport and we do not support the professionalization of sport through money".
For this 2018 edition, the best runners of the planet will be present, including the spanish Kilian Jornet.
