UTMB World Series moves to New Zealand as star names flock to Tarawera Ultra-Trail

The UTMB World Series 2025 kicked off in style last weekend with the Arc of Attrition, one of nine exciting new events on the calendar of the global trail running circuit this year.

And now the series moves on to the Tarawera Ultra-Trail, a 102km race that is once again a HOKA Golden Ticket qualifier with the top two male and female athletes qualifying directly for the 2025 Western States.

Taking place on 15-16 February in Rotorua New Zealand, the 16th edition of the event has attracted an exciting line up of elites from around the world for its hero race. In the women’s category, defending champion and 2024 UTMB runner-up Ruth Croft will be aiming to claim her third T102 title on home soil.

Kiwi competition

She will face competition from fellow Kiwi Caitlin Fielder, who will step up to the T102 for the first time. International competition comes in the shape of two-time UTMB podium finisher Marianne Hogan (CAN), CCC podium finisher Helen Mino Faulkner (USA), Anna Louden (USA), Lin Chen (CHN), Lotti Brinks (USA), and Lucy Bartholomew (AUS).

In the T102 men’s category home favourite Daniel Jones (NZL) will be aiming to win his third T102 title on the bounce. Hoping to etch a new name on the T102 trophy are Thibaut Baronian (FRA), Robbie Simpson (GBR), Adrian Macdonald (USA) – last year’s TMiler champion – Hu Zhao (CHN), Ryan Montgomery (USA) – who finished third in the T102 in 2023 – and Marcel Hoeche (DEU).

Meanwhile, the TMiler will feature names like Hillary Allen (USA) and defending champion Konoka Azumi (JPN) in the women’s race, and Sam Harvey (NZL), last year’s runner-up, and Hirokazu Nishimura (JPN) on the men’s side.

Hayden Hawks (USA) headlines the T50, with Spanish duo Daniel Osanz and Marc Olle Bernades (ESP) joining the American on the start line, while Bianca Tarboton (ZAF) and Robyn Lesh (USA) are the top ranked women.

Four thousand for four distances

In all, more than 4,000 registered athletes are expected to tackle one of four distances – 21K, 50K, 102K, 100M

Runners from 78 countries will take part this year’s event, with New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, United States and France the most represented nations.

The Series itself aims to bring the best athletes in the sport together with amateur runners in 50 international events held in some of the most beautiful places in the world, showcasing the diversity and richness of global trail running across five continents.

Full UTMB World Series 2025 schedule

FINALS:

HOKA UTMB MONT-BLANC
AUG 25-31 FRANCE, ITALY, SWITZERLAND

MAJORS:

HOKA ULTRA-TRAIL AUSTRALIA
MAY 15-18 AUSTRALIA

HOKA VAL D’ARAN
JUL 02-06 SPAIN

HOKA KODIAK ULTRA MARATHONS
OCT 1-11 USA

HOKA CHIANG MAI THAILAND
DEC 4-7 THAILAND

EVENTS:

ARC OF ATTRITION
JAN 24-25 UK

TARAWERA ULTRA-TRAIL
FEB 15-16 NEW ZEALAND

ULTRA-TRAIL XIAMEN
MAR 01-02 CHINA

VALHOLL FIN DEL MUNDO
MAR 18-22 ARGENTINA

CHIANTI ULTRA TRAIL
MAR 20-23 ITALY

TENERIFE BLUETRAIL
MAR 27-29 SPAIN

ISTRIA 100
APR 10-13 CROATIA

ULTRA TRAIL MOUNT YUN
APR 11-20 CHINA

DESERT RATS TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL
APR 11-13 USA

THE CANYONS ENDURANCE RUNS
APR 25-26 USA

GRAND RAID VENTOUX
APR 25-27 FRANCE

AMAZEAN JUNGLE THAILAND
MAY 01-04 THAILAND

TRAIL ALSACE GRAND EST
MAY 15-18 FRANCE

ULTRA-TRAIL SNOWDONIA
MAY 16-18 UK

ULTRA-TRAIL GREAT WALL
MAY 16-18 CHINA

MOUNTAIN ULTRA TRAIL
MAY 22-25 SOUTH AFRICA

MOZART 100
JUN 7 AUSTRIA

TRAIL DU SAINT-JACQUES
JUN 13-15 FRANCE

TRAIL 100 ANDORRA
JUN 13-15 ANDORRA

TORRENCIAL CHILE
JUN 19-21 CHILE

KAGA SPA TRAIL ENDURANCE 100
JUN 19-22 JAPAN

LA SPORTIVA LAVAREDO ULTRA TRAIL
JUN 25-29 ITALY

WESTERN STATES 100-MILE ENDURANCE RUN
JUN 28-29 USA

RESTONICA TRAIL
JUL 03-05 FRANCE

TRAIL VERBIER ST-BERNARD
JULY 11-13 SWITZERLAND

EIGER ULTRA-TRAIL
JUL 16-20 SWITZERLAND

MONTE ROSA WALSERWAEG
JUL 18-20 ITALY

SPEEDGOAT MOUNTAIN RACES
JUL 25-26 USA

QUITO TRAIL
AUG 02-03 ECUADOR

KAT100
AUG 07-09 AUSTRIA

PARATY BRAZIL
SEP 18-21 BRAZIL

WILDSTRUBEL
SEP 19-21 SWITZERLAND

GRINDSTONE TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL
SEP 19-21 USA

JULIAN ALPS TRAIL RUN
SEP 19-21 SLOVENIA

NICE COTE D’AZUR
SEP 25-28 FRANCE

KACKAR
SEP 26-28 TURKEY

ULTRA TRAIL WHISTLER
SEP 27-28 CANADA

MALAYSIA ULTRA TRAIL
SEP 27-28 MALAYSIA

CHIHUAHUA
OCT 02-04 MEXICO

TRANSJEJU
OCT SOUTH KOREA

ULTRA-TRAIL NINGHAI
OCT CHINA

MALLORCA
NOV SPAIN

KULLAMANNEN
OCT 31-NOV 1 SWEDEN

TRANSLANTAU
NOV HONG KONG, CHINA

ULTRA-TRAIL KOSCIUSZKO
NOV AUSTRALIA