UTMB 2019: who are the elite Chinese runners to look out for? Dark horses and favourites at Chamonix’s famous race
- Chinese runners are taking part in a range of races – the UTMB, the OCC and the CCC – and this year, they don’t have surprise on their side, says UTMB TV Mandarin commentator
This year Jia decided to give UTMB a miss, concentrating on making the Chinese national marathon team instead. But there are still a host of runners to look out for.
UTMB – 171km
The first couple of Chinese trail running – Qi Min and Yao Miao – are both going up to contest the full 171km UTMB.
Chinese runners rarely, if ever, announce their true goals before races — the standard reply is “I just want to finish the race safely”. But Qi, in his interview with Runners’ World magazine earlier this year revealed Yao’s true goals – win every UTMB distance and set course records in all of them.
Yao, who has been in Chamonix for almost a month already, said she feels great pressure as the field at UTMB is very strong. This will be her first 100-mile race, but she said she has not adjusted her training for the increase in distance. Yao’s main rivals are American Courtney Dauwalter, Sweden’s Mimmi Kotka and another American, Katie Schide, who finished in second place behind Yao last year in CCC.
Probably unable to rival Yao, another elite Chinese runner, Xiang Fuzhao, will be looking to improve on last year’s 20th position at UTMB. This year the 27-year-old Xiang came second at the Vibram Hong Kong 100 (HK100) and won the Ultra Trail Mount Fuji.
Both Qi and Hawks will have to find a solution to beat the three-time UTMB champion, the great Xavier Thevenard of France, as well as Spain’s Pau Capel and two highly decorated Americans – Zach Miller and Tim Tollefson.
The usually vocal Liang holds his cards close to his chest: Your goal? “Finish the race”. Did you improve your nutritional strategy? “Yes, I eat more now during a race”. What is your pacing strategy for UTMB? “Run to my own rhythm”. What did you learn since you tried TDS last year? “A lot, life is a never-ending learning process.”
A dark horse to look out for at UTMB is Luo Canhua. Second at the Gaoligong by UTMB last year, Luo has been quietly amassing wins and podium finishes in China. With a reputation for being an introvert, Luo hails from Lijiang in Yunnan and lives and trains at high altitude.
TDS – 145km
The TDS does not have any top Chinese runners apart from the veteran Yun Yangqiao, who was 10th last year at the same race. Since last year, the race has extended its distance from 121km.
CCC – 101km
Shen desperately wants to make amends for last year’s sixth place in the OCC and is feeling the pressure. He is as coy as the rest about his goals: “The (CCC) race course is really difficult,” he said, followed by an emoji showing the conversation was over.
OCC – 56km
The OCC has Li Yinggui, who won the Gaoligong by UTMB last year beating American favourite and former Hardrock 100 champion Jason Schlarb. This year’s women’s HK100 champion Lu Yangchun is likely to be the surprise of the female division too.
Last year, elite Chinese runners arrived as almost complete unknowns, and their UTMB success was met with great surprise. A year on, they have become household names. Now firmly among the favourites, they are expected to deliver. The pressure is on.