A star-studded field line up for the Ultra Race of Champions this weekend

September 24th 2013, Vail, CO- The Ultra Race of Champions (UROC), is set to take place between Breckenridge and Vail, Colorado on September 28th, 2013. UROC, which functions as the Ultrarunning World Championship and this year also serves as the Skyrunner World Series Ultra Final, will host the best long distance trail and road runners on one of the most scenic mountain courses in the World. The event will include the UROC 100K, the Über Rock 50K and the Cruxy Half Marathon. The UROC 100 kilometer trail race will begin on Main Street in Breckenridge. On its way to the finish line at the Mountain Plaza in Vail, the race will go through downtown Frisco, Copper Mountain Ski Area and Minturn. The Über Rock 50K and Cruxy Half Marathon will start and finish at the Mountain Plaza in Vail.

The Ultrarunning World Championship will also serve as the 2013 Skyrunner World Series Ultra Final: this is the first time that the Skyrunner World Series Ultra Final will be held in the U.S.A. While being The Ultrarunning World Championship, UROC is open to everyone.

The field boasts some of the biggest names in the sport. Spaniard Kilian Jornet just comes off a record-breaking season, including numerous wins in Europe and new records on Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. Kilian is arguably the best technical mountain runner in the World. His biggest competition will include Sage Canaday, Dakota Jones, Rob Krar, Rickey Gates, Cameron Clayton and Frenchman Martin Gafurri. Names like Michael Wardian are also on the list. One of the most unique qualities of the Ultra Race of Champions is the course: while being one of the toughest mountain courses in the USA, with several high mountain passes and challenging terrain, UROC also includes faster stretches. This specific course design challenges every type of runner, while not being limited to one specific skill. 

The women’s field is no less impressive. International talent like Emelie Forsberg and Francesca Canepa will be challenged by USA and local talent like Michele Yates, Darcy Africa and Helen Cospolich, who calls this course home. The same excitement of following how the course challenges the different skills in the men’s field will hold in the women’s field.

“We are very excited to see this World Championship event take place in the heart of Colorado” says Race Director James Gill III. “I cannot think of a more fitting mountain background for the Skyrunner World Series Ultra Final. The best ultra runners from the U.S.A., Europe and all over the World will be competing on these trails for the title of “Ultrarunning World Champion” and for the $20,000 cash purse”.

“The support from all the Towns and Ski Resorts has been incredible” says Gill. “The starting line on Main Street in Breckenridge will be iconic. The first aid station, spectator and media location will be on Main Street in Frisco, in front of the Historic Park. With its scenic Burning Stones Plaza, Copper Mountain will serve as the next spectators and media location, and halfway point into the race. The Town of Minturn, about ten miles from the finish, will be crucial in determining the winner, and will also be a great location to watch not only the 100K race, but also the 50K. Families and spectators will also be able to watch the race at Eagles Nest on Vail Mountain by taking advantage of the gondola from Lionshead Village”.

“UROC is open to everyone” says Dr. Francesca Conte, Bad to the Bone (the company behind the Ultra Race of Champions) President. “Between the three events, we expect 400 competitors and their families to arrive in Summit County and Vail starting on Wednesday the 25th. The Champions’ Village, the race Expo, will be held at the Mountain Plaza in Vail Village on Friday the 27th from 11am to 7pm and on Saturday the 28th from 9am to 8pm. The Expo is open to everyone. The other associated events include the Elite Panel Discussion on Friday at 6pm at the Mountain Plaza in Vail: this will be a great opportunity to meet and greet the best ultra runners in the World”.

“We cannot thank all the municipalities and the US Forest Service enough: this race would not be possible without their support” says Conte. “In addition, our sponsors have been wonderful, and the Expo will be a great way to see the best running products on the market today. Local sponsors like Vertical Runner of Breckenridge and Wilderness Sports of Dillon and Frisco have done a wonderful job with getting the local community involved ”. Sponsors present at the Expo include La Sportiva, Clif Bar, Hoka One One, Scott Running, Ultimate Direction, Altra Zero Drop, Hypoxico Altitude Training System, Pacsafe Smart Travel Gear, Oval IV, Injinji, Greenlayer, Wilderness Sports, Vertical Runner, Swiftwick, Coco Ridge and MS Sports Nutrition. The Ultra Race of Champions is presented by Competitor Magazine.

For a list of athletes competing at UROC and more information on the race, please visit http://ultraroc.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ultra-Race-of-Champions/106670719408593

For media or sponsor inquiries please contact Dr. Francesca Conte, 434.466.8016, francesca@badtothebone.biz

Follow the race live on race day at ultraroc.com, on Twitter (@UROCUltraRace) and on Facebook (Ultra-Race-of-Champions).

About the Ultra Race of Champions

The Ultra Race of Champions is The Ultrarunning World Championship. Elite runners are invited based on the recommendation of the Ultra Race of Champions Elite Advisory Council and their performances at key events in the sport all over the world. The UROC Elite Advisory Council includes some of the best ultra runners from around the World: Geoff Roes, Dave Mackey, Ellie Greenwood, Michael Wardian, Devon Yanko, Ian Sharman and Anna Frost. www.ultraroc.com

About Bad to the Bone Endurance Sports

By directing premiere road and trail events all over the United States, Bad to the Bone Endurance Sports strives to motivate runners of all backgrounds to challenge themselves. For over 12 years, Bad to the Bone Endurance Sports events have reflected owners James Gill and Francesca Conte decades-long knowledge and passion for running. www.badtothebone.biz

About the International Skyrunning Federation

Skyrunning, or high altitude running, is defined as the discipline of mountain running up to or exceeding 2,000m where the incline exceeds 30% and the climbing difficulty does not exceed II° grade. The governing body is the International Skyrunning Federation. The sport comprises a number of different disciplines from the short, steep Vertical Kilometer® to the more popular SkyRace® and Ultra SkyMarathon®.

The idea of creating a sports discipline was the brainchild of Italian mountaineer Marino Giacometti. Thanks to Giacometti, skyrunning races have taken place across the world’s mountain ranges reaching from the Alps to the Himalayas and to Mount Kenya to the Rocky Mountains. The principal aims of the International Skyrunning Federation are the direction, regulation, promotion, development and furtherance of skyrunning and similar multisport activities on a worldwide basis. The International Skyrunning Federation is also the organizer of the Skyrunner® World Series. www.skyrunning.com

About Competitor Magazine

Celebrating 25 years, Competitor magazine is the world’s leading voice of endurance athletics. Competitor engages active people from runners to cyclists and outdoors adventurers to fulfill one simple mission: to inspire a healthy, active lifestyle. Competitor empowers readers across the country, with world-class journalism and photography, to become community leaders through their adventurous lifestyle and courageous spirit. For more information about Competitor, including advertising rate cards and editorial calendar, visit CompetitorMediaKit.com. For the latest running news, training advice and more, visit Competitor.com.