UTMB World Series mastermind ready for ‘beautiful journey’ in TransLantau epic, says Hong Kong is trail running hotbed
- Hong Kong races make world circuit debut, with new 129km event a ‘beautiful journey’
- UTMB 68-year-old co-founder Michel Poletti will defy jet lag to tackle course after travelling to support organisers
The co-founder of the prestigious UTMB World Series said it was impossible to resist travelling to Hong Kong for the “beautiful” TransLantau trail running event - and taking part in Friday night’s inaugural 129km race.
Michel Poletti and wife Catherine created the acclaimed Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc race in 2003, a 171km epic, featuring 10,000 metres of elevation, that finishes in the couple’s home city of Chamonix.
UTMB grew to include associated events and today encompasses the world’s leading trail races. TransLantau gained inclusion in 2021, but after Covid-19 scuppered last year’s edition, 2023 marks its debut on the world series circuit.
For Poletti, incorporating a race in Hong Kong fulfilled a long-standing ambition.
‘‘When we created the UTMB World Series, we wanted to stage a high-quality event in every country that has a significant trail running community,” Poletti said.
“When you think of trail running around the world, Hong Kong is among the most important places. The city has an incredible number of trail runners.”
Poletti said he and his wife had known race organiers Clement Dumont and Sabrina De Nada-Dumont a long time and it was “important for us to be here with them, and be part of this beautiful event”.
The 68-year-old arrived in the city on Thursday afternoon, jet lagged but vowing to turn up full of beans for the start of the new 129km race at 10pm the following day.
Each leg of the UTMB World Series must feature a race across 100 miles (160km), but allowances are made for elevation gain, enabling Lantau to meet the criteria.
Poletti, a former cross-country skier, “discovered endurance running” in 2000, and estimated he had completed around 100 ultra races.
“Twenty-three years is enough time for a lot of running,” he said. “I am not sure arriving one day before the race was the best preparation, but I will try to be ready.
“I tried to train well in France, but winter is coming in Chamonix, we had our first snowfall last week. I am going from freezing weather, to conditions that will probably be hot and humid.
“But I am one of the regular runners, I am doing it for the pleasure of spending a full day and full night on the trails … to have a beautiful journey through the island of Lantau and discover more about this place.”
Clement Dumont, the race director, had previously said the pressure to get everything right was palpable, as TransLantau prepared to return for business after four years.
“I understand,” Poletti said. “Clement and Sabrina worked very hard for this race, and it has been difficult not having it since 2019. To finally stage it again is an emotional experience for them.
“That is another reason it was important we were here to share it with them.”
Dumont imagined the elite runners would complete the longest distance in roughly 13 hours. Poletti was expecting to take twice as long.
“I might finish in around 26 hours, but I am not sure,” he said. “I am old enough to say, ‘OK, I will enjoy it and see when I arrive’. It is about enjoying an adventure, not competition.”
