Spartan Ultra World Championship to take place in Mountain Village October 8-11
The world’s leading endurance sports brand Spartan will bring its 24-hour Spartan World Championship and other obstacle races to Mountain Village and the Telluride Ski Resort, Friday, Oct. 8 through Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.
This is the first time the world championship event has been held in the United States, and the event will bring some of the world’s best endurance athletes to the area where they will face more than 4,000 feet vertical elevation per loop and technical terrain.
In addition to the 24-hour Ultra World Championship, the event weekend features a 30-obstacle, half-marathon Spartan Beast® race Saturday, October 9 and a Spartan Vertical 300 Friday, Oct. 8.
The Spartan Vertical 300 is a one mile race up the ski mountain and will take place 3-4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8. The 13-mile Spartan Beast Race(start time begins at 7:30 a.m.) and Ultra World Championships Opening Ceremony will take place on Saturday, Oct. 9.
The 24-Hour Ultra World Championships will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 and run through the morning of Monday, Oct. 11.
“While our area is best known for its unparalleled skiing, our diverse mountain terrain, high elevation, and extensive single-track trails will present a formidable challenge to even the most fit and seasoned athlete,” said Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association’s President & CEO Anton Benitez. “Crossing the finish line in our Town’s Village Center will be an experience that races will never forget. TMVOA is excited to be sponsoring this endurance competition in Mountain Village.”
The start corral will be at the bottom of the NASTAR Ski Run and the finish line will be in Heritage Plaza for Saturday’s Beast Race but will move to the top of the Meadows Ski Run for the 24-Hour Ultra World Championships located in Village Center underneath the chondola. Neighbors should expect noise from the race throughout the evening of Sunday, Oct. 10. There will be overnight activity in the Village Pond Lot and the overnight racer transition area will be in the Meadows Ski Run by the Meadows magic carpet.
Medical UTVs and other support vehicles will be active on the roadways in the Village Center area as well during the event. While the Gondola Parking Garage will be used for primary parking, overflow parking for racers has been approved on the Village Bypass Ski Run, north of Mountain Village Boulevard as needed.
Residents will see obstacles being built in the Village Center starting Monday, Oct. 4 and some of these features will remain in place until Wednesday, Oct. 13 at the latest.
“The Ultra World Championship is the most grueling event of the season,” said Spartan’s Founder and CEO Joe De Sena. “24 hours with no sleep, mountainous terrain and hours of complete darkness puts athletes to the ultimate test of strength and sheer will, and I can’t wait for it to unfold here in the U.S. for the first time – especially in a location as epic as Mountain Village and Telluride Ski Resort.”
Residents should expect to see staffers, racers, volunteers and obstacle courses throughout the ski mountain and Village Center over weekend and are invited to spectate or even register to participate.
All parking fees apply throughout the Town of Mountain Village and the gondola will run 6:30 a.m. to midnight daily.
Residents may reach out to Spartan VP Production Mike Morris at with any questions. Other details about the event can be found on Spartan’s website.
