#6 April 24, 2019

UTMF: AN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF TRAILRUNNING IN

― 2,663 RUNNERS FROM 40 COUNTRIES AND AREAS, INCLUDING

INTENATIONAL TOP TIER ATHLETES ―

ULTRA-TRAIL Mt. FUJI 2019 is about to kick off at noon JST (UTC+9), Friday April

26 from Fujisan Kodomo-no-Kuni (Fuji, Shizuoka). Runners will follow the course clockwise around Mt. Fuji, and make a turn at to go back and finish at

Ohike Kouen (, Yamanashi). As a result of slight route change from last year, course distance is 165km with 7,942m of vertical gain, and forty-six hours for cut- off.

ULTRA-TRAIL Mt. FUJI, or UTMF, is the eighth leg of Ultra-Trail World Tour in 2019.

You may follow not only race leaders but also your favorite racers with LiveInfo app. In addition, race organization will provide live streaming video program, "UTMF 2019 Live" on our official YouTube channel.

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Elite athletes for UTMF 2019

Local’s favorite, and runner-up of last year, Kaori Niwa

(JPN) will toe the line for her first victory in UTMF. Since she finished 4th in UTMB®︎ 2017, Niwa is known as

international elite athletes in ultra-trail races. She knows

UTMF in detail with her 8th in 2014, 4th in 2015, and 3rd in shortened 2016. Returning

athletes with top-10 results in 2018 are Kaori Asahara (3rd), Yukari Hoshino (4th), Kiyomi Kudoda (6th), Kimino Miyazaki (8th), Akiko

Miyajima (10th). Yumiko Oishi, 2nd of STY 2015 and

Yukako Takashima, 5th in both UTMF 2015 and 2016 are also our favorite.

From overseas, Fuzhao Xiang (CHN) may lead Japanese elites with her speedy legs, proved by her runner-up finish at Hong Kong 100 in January. Lou Clifton (AUS), 5th in Tarawera 2018, and Sylvaine Cussot (FRA), winner of Eco Trail de Paris 2018, should be noted here as well.

Just three athletes from 2018 podium will return this year. 5th Jantaboon “Jay”

Kiangchaipaiphana (THA), 6th Takashi

Doi (JPN) and 9th Masatoshi Obara (JPN). In this field of athletes, Xavier Thevenard

(FRA) should be apparently the closest to

the top of podium. Last year, Thevenard was cerebrated as the third male athletes who took victory of UTMB®︎ three times. He might be disappointed with shortened UTMF due to poor weather condition, but come again to complete his UTMF.

Thevenard’s team mate, Benoit Girondel (FRA) is also on the roaster list. Since his

UTMF was shortened in 2016, Girondel won the famous Diagonales des Fous two times in row. We also have 3rd in UTMB®︎2018, Jordi Gamito Baus (ESP), 4th in TDS®︎ 2018, Tofol Castanyer Bernat (ESP), 2nd in Hong Kong 100 2019, Jing Liang (CHN), and runner-up in American River 50 2018, Coree Woltering (USA).

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List of our favorite countrymen include two winners of Hasetsune CUP, Yuichi Miura in 2018 and Yuya Kawasaki in 2016. Kota Araki ran Trail World Championships in

Penyagolosa last year and took 12th, the highest male place as Japanese delegate team ever. We also note; Kei Kikushima, Tomonori Onitsuka, Seiji Kobayashi,

Koji Morimoto, Masanori Makino, Makoto Yajima, Shunsuke Okunomiya, and

Hiroaki Matsunaga.

W.L. Gore & Associates presents “GORE-TEX Products Special Prize”

It’s been 50 years since the discovery of ePTFE （expanded polytetrafluoroethylene）, which is the core technology behind the waterproofness, breathability, and windproofness of GORE-TEX products. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, ”GORE-TEX Products Special

Prize” will be presented to UTMF MEN/WOMEN finishers in the 5th, 50th, and 150th place. These lucky finishers will get “HYPERAIR GTX

Hoodie” or “Endurance Hoodie”, high performance jackets from THE NORTH FACE, with technology of GORE-TEX.

Contact information Masako Suzuki, the ULTRA-TRAIL Mt. FUJI Race Headquarters Dot Tree Shuzenji PJ-01, Shuzenji 75, Izu City, Shizuoka, Japan 410-2416 TEL: 0558-99-9117, FAX: 0558-72-8466 Email: [email protected] Mobile: +81-80-6876-8748 (only for race weekend) The UTMF official website: https://www.ultratrailmtfuji.com/en/ The UTMF official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ultratrailmtfujiofficial/ The UTMF official Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=%40UTMtFUJI The UTMF official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYTG7HNLx89OeaOsknc6mTg/featured *Back numbers of the past press releases: https://www.ultratrailmtfuji.com/en/press/release/ *Official UTMF photos for the press can be downloaded from this URL.: https://www.ultratrailmtfuji.com/en/press/gallery/ Please contact the Race Headquarters to receive download ID and password.

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The Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji 2019 Event Outline

-Distance: approximately 165 km -Cumulative altitude gain: approximately 7,942 m -Start time: 12:00, Friday, April 26, 2019 -Cut-off time: 46 hours -Number of racers: 2,400 people -Location: at the foot of Mt. Fuji (: Fuji city and Fujinomiya city, : Minobu town, Narusawa town, Fujikawaguchiko town, city, Oshino village, and Yamanakako village) -Start venue: Kodomo-no-kuni (Fuji city, Shizuoka) -Finish venue: Ohike Kouen (Kawaguchiko town, Yamanashi) -Organizer: The ULTRA-TRAIL Mt. FUJI Race Headquarters (The NPO Fuji Trail Runners Club, Fuji city, Fujinomiya city, Minobu town, Narusawa village, Fujikawaguchiko town, Fujiyoshida city, Oshino village, Yamanakako village, Gotemba city, and R-bies Sports Foundation) -Support: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Sports Agency, Japan Tourism Agency, Doshi village, Yamanashi prefecture, Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun, Yamanashi Broadcasting System, Television Yamanashi, FM Fuji, the Shizuoka Shimbun, Shizuoka Broadcasting System, Shizuoka Telecasting, Shizuoka Asahi Television, Shizuoka Daiichi Television, and K-mix -Honorary Race Committee Director: Yuichiro Miura (professional skier and adventurer) -Honorary Race Committee Members: Heads of the nine local governments in the race committee, Koichiro Horiuchi (president of Fuji Kyuko) -Race Committee Overall Director: Tsuyoshi Kaburaki (representative director of the NPO Fuji Trail Runners Club and professional trail runner) -The UTMF is a race registered with the International Trail Running Association (ITRA). -The UTMF is a member race of the Ultra Trail World Tour (UTWT).

The Ultra Trail Mt. Fuji 2019 Press Schedule

A press conference is held at 17:00, Thursday, April 25, the day before the race to introduce the race and top racers from Japan and the world. Another press conference is planned at 8:00, Sunday, April 28 with top three racers in men’s and women’s categories.

● Thusday, April 25th 12:00 - 20:00 Mandatory equipment check Tokinosumika, Gotemba city, Shizuoka 12:00 - 20:00 Mandatory equipment check and exchange of race bib numbers Ohike Kouen, Fujikawaguchiko town, Yamanashi 15:00 Opening of the on-site press center Kawaguchiko Park Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko town, Yamanashi 17:00 - 18:00 Press conference (*) Press center (the ground floor of Kawaguchiko Park Hotel) ● Friday, April 26th 8:00 - 10:30 Exchange of race bib numbers Kodomo-no-kuni, Fuji city, Shizuoka 11:30 - Opening Ceremony Kodomo-no-kuni, Fuji city, Shizuoka 12:00 The UTMF starts Kodomo-no-kuni, Fuji city, Shizuoka ● Saturday, April 27th 6:30 (expected) Top runner finishes the race Ohike Kouen, Fujikawaguchiko town, Yamanashi

● Sunday, April 28th 8:00 - 9:00 Press conference of top racers (*) Press center (the ground floor of Kawaguchiko Park Hotel) 9:30 - Prize Ceremony & Closing Ceremony Ohike Kouen, Fujikawaguchiko town, Yamanashi 10:00 Completion of the race Ohike Kouen, Fujikawaguchiko town, Yamanashi 12:00 Closing of the on-site press center Press center (the ground floor of Kawaguchiko Park Hotel) * Japanese/English bilingual service is available.

If you wish to participate in the race as a press, please fill out the Press Application Form on the next page and submit it. The Race Headquarters will reply with detailed information. Parking permit is required to use parking lots. Be sure to apply for a parking space before the race.

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UTMF 2019 Press Application Form

E-mail: [email protected]

[Contact Information Regarding Press Application] ULTRA-TRAIL Mt. FUJI Race Headquarters TEL: 0558-99-9117 E-mail: [email protected] Mobile: +81-80-6876-8748 (only for race weekend)

Please check / tick the applicable response to the questions below: Will you be at the UTMF 2019 to Yes No 1 cover the event?

Will you attend the press Yes No 2 conference?

Date & place of April 26th April 26th press registration April 25th 3 at the UTMF Park Hotel Kodomonokuni Park Hotel

Company name: Name of media outlet and your department: Main person to be at the UTMF: Contact information TEL: FAX: Email: Number of media crew: Journalist/writer: person(s) Still camera: person(s) Video/movie: person(s) Total: person(s) Remark

*Please read the conditions concerning the use of photos and videos in your UTMF media coverage report. *You may place cameras at the press conference on a first-come basis. No reservation system is available. *Photographing in the press conference is allowed only from designated areas and during designated times. Please follow the instruction of the UTMF staff at the press conference. *One vehicle is allowed per company. Be sure to display your parking permit in the front window of your vehicle. *Designated parking lots are “Kodomonokuni Parking B” at the start venue, and “Central Public Hall Parking of Fujikawaguchiko Town Hall” near the finish venue. Do not park at other parking lots near the start or finish venues. Please complete this form and return it to us via Email.

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