The first stage of the Beyond the Ultimate Mountain Ultra proved to be both challenging and awe-inspiring. Known as ‘The Nomad,’ this stage took the runners through a diverse landscape under the variable weather and thin air of high altitude. This year, for the first time in Mountain Ultra history, we have a 50/50 gender split between male and female participants.
Stage 1 began in picturesque Alpine meadows, with runners following rivers and roads for the initial few miles. This gentle start gave way to the surreal Red Rock Valley, where the terrain became rugged and otherworldly, with towering red cliffs creating a dramatic backdrop. This stark shift in scenery provided both visual splendour and physical challenges, making it a memorable start to the race.
The day was marked by variable weather, with temperatures rising, rain falling, and the altitude adding an extra layer of difficulty. Despite these harsh conditions, all participants have now made it safely back to camp, with the majority completing the stage.
Tonight, the runners are sleeping in traditional yurts in a small nomad village, offering a unique opportunity to bond with their Kyrgyz host families and immerse themselves in local culture.
In the Men’s race, Alex Welch blazed through the course with an outstanding time of 3:08:00, setting a high bar for the remainder of the race. Close behind was Simon Dicks in 3:29:00, demonstrating consistent pacing and strong form. Stéphane Pagani rounded out the top three with a solid 4:15:00, maintaining a strong position going into Stage 2.
In the Women’s race, Ioana Barbu led the field with a commanding time of 4:26:00, edging out a tightly packed group of strong female runners. Maria Russell and Jemma Wilkinson followed closely at 4:42:00 and 4:49:00, respectively. With just over 30 minutes separating the top five women, Stage 2 is set to be fiercely competitive.
Stay tuned for more updates as we follow these incredible runners on their journey through one of the most beautiful and demanding ultramarathons in the world.
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| Full Name | Gender | Stage 1 Time | Position | Gender Positoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Welch | Male | 3:08:00 | 1 | 1 |
| Simon Dicks | Male | 3:29:00 | 2 | 2 |
| Stéphane Pagani | Male | 4:15:00 | 3 | 3 |
| Ioana Barbu | Female | 4:26:00 | 4 | 1 |
| Micah Risher | Male | 4:37:00 | 5 | 4 |
| Maria russell | Female | 4:42:00 | 6 | 2 |
| Jemma Wilkinson | Female | 4:49:00 | 7 | 3 |
| Bert Gossey | Male | 4:50:00 | 8 | 5 |
| Natalie Chun | Female | 4:56:00 | 9 | 4 |
| Isabelle Dufour | Female | 5:15:00 | 10 | 5 |
| Louisa Forrester | Female | 5:15:00 | 11 | 6 |
| Corrado Buzzolan | Male | 5:32:00 | 12 | 6 |
| Katie Hislop | Female | 5:32:00 | 13 | 7 |
| Mina Janeska | Female | 5:42:00 | 14 | 8 |
| Tanja Löhr | Female | 5:51:00 | 15 | 9 |
| Brittany Potts | Female | 6:20:00 | 16 | 10 |
| Madeleine Ryan | Female | 6:29:00 | 17 | 11 |
| Chih Hung Wei | Male | 7:02:00 | 18 | 7 |
| Ben Smith | Male | 7:23:00 | 19 | 8 |
| Kole Chia Yang | Male | 7:39:00 | 20 | 9 |
| Wen Ching shyy | Male | 7:48:00 | 21 | 10 |
| Trish Mccarthy | Female | 8:20:00 | 22 | 12 |
| Stefan Briggs | Male | DNF | 23 | 11 |
| Yu-Chin Kuo | Male | DNF | 24 | 12 |
