TV News Advisory: UTMB World Series concludes 2025 season with a two-week celebration at Asian Major, HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB

Over 7,200 participants, including 56% from the Asia region, are set to take part in HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB^®, the final of four UTMB^® World Series Majors. The event celebrates its sixth edition with a brand-new two-week format, new and improved courses and an even deeper connection to Thailand’s natural and cultural heritage. Taking place across two iconic locations, the event showcases the distinct landscapes that capture the spirit of northern Thailand.

• From 29-30 November, the opening weekend takes runners high into the mountains of Doi Inthanon National Park, also known as the ‘Roof of Thailand’.
• The focus then shifts to Chiang Mai the following weekend, from 4-7 December, with the race hub at PAO Park welcoming thousands of runners to explore routes that blend the energy of the city with the surrounding foothills. The celebrations coincide with Thailand’s National Day on 5 December.

In 2025, course upgrades further enhance the experience for runners. The Chiang Dao 160 (100M) and Elephant 100 (100K) now trace the fringes of the Doi Luang Chiang Dao UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, while the Hmong 50 – Day has been reworked to reduce road sections and heighten the connection to Thailand’s natural landscapes.

“This year marks a truly transformative moment for the HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB^® as we proudly host the event across two full weeks. Our expansion is a direct reflection of our status as the Asia Major and our commitment to providing an unparalleled experience. The newly designed 100M and 100K courses, offer a major new challenge that showcases the stunning beauty and cultural heart of Northern Thailand.”– THITI YAKUL, race director

As the Asia UTMB World Series Major, HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB offers athletes a great opportunity to progress towards the UTMB World Series Finals. All finishers will receive double Running Stones, while 210 automatic qualification spots will be awarded across the 100M, 100K, and 50K categories for age-group winners and the top 10 male and female finishers in each race.

Elite field

An exceptional elite field will take on the event in 2025. The Hmong 50 (Day) currently stands out as the most competitive race, with 15 confirmed elite athletes, but fierce competition and inspiring racing is expected across all distances.

In the women’s field, Sunmaya Budha (NPL, UTMB Index 786) and Maude Mathys (CHE, UTMB Index 785) will go head-to-head in the Suthep 20 (Night), while Ikram Rharsalla (ESP, UTMB Index 775) and Lin Chen (CHN, UTMB Index 768) are confirmed for the Hmong 50 (Day). Hau Ha Thi (VNM, UTMB Index 769) takes to the Elephant 100 start line as the favourite.

The men’s race also features a world-class lineup, including Hayden Hawks (USA, UTMB Index 912), Antonio Martínez Pérez (ESP, UTMB Index 912), Guangfu Meng (CHN, UTMB Index 906) and Lorenzo Beltrami (ITA, UTMB Index 898), who will battle it out in the Hmong 50 (Day). Ji Duo (CHN, UTMB Index 909) is the one to beat in the Elephant 100.

Sustainability, community and equality

The event continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, expanding several initiatives in 2025:

• Support for forest-fire prevention: 45% of runners have chosen to donate to a project aiding the Doi Inthanon National Park staff in preventing and controlling wildfires.

• ‘Opt-out’ initiative: Runners can decline certain race-pack items in advance, with 1,381 items already saved and repurposed into firefighting uniforms for park staff

• GreenRoad project: Recycles practice waste into useful construction materials such as roadblocks, promoting circular economy.

Beyond its environmental initiatives, the event focuses on a deep connection with the local and regional community through close collaboration with local groups along the course, meeting with the Hmong, Pga-Gan-Yaw, and Karen tribes.

The event will once again host a Women for Trail panel, bringing together influential female voices to share their experiences and inspire others. Feminine hygiene products, women-only toilets, and a dedicated women’s start area will also be available at every race, ensuring an inclusive environment for all participants and encouraging female participation. Women now represent 35% of all runners on the start line for the event in 2025, rising to 45% in the 20K distances.

Text & Photo Credits: UTMB

TV broadcasters: ICARUS Sports’ output from the HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB® PAO Park in Chiang Mai will be uploaded on ICARUS Sports SERVER on 7th of December. 

Please find here the link in order to register and use our server:
http://portal.icarus-sports.com/

As long as you register, you will get access to our folder with the Events 2025.
Subfolder: HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB® PAO Park in Chiang Mai

Please note that the direct download links might not work with all browsers such as Google Chrome. You may use an alternative browser such as Mozilla Firefox, alternatively visit the ICARUS Sports server directly to access our content.