RMB UTCT 2025 - The essential A to Z guide for runners and supporters

RMB UTCT 2025: the essential A to Z guide for runners and supporters to get the most out of Africa’s ultimate trail running event

Are you ready for the ultimate test of endurance through beautiful but precarious terrain? RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town (UTCT) 2025 has arrived! Excitement is mounting ahead of Africa’s premier ultra-distance trail race through the Cape’s iconic mountain trails, which takes place from 21 to 23 November.

This year’s RMB UTCT will see athletes from around the world converging at the foot of Table Mountain to take part in six challenging trail races across varying elevations.

Expect an electrifying atmosphere as supporters gather at the Race Village and along the route to cheer on their runners (and ring their cowbells) across the 100-mile, 100km, 55km, 35km, 23km and 16km trail races!

Here’s a handy A to Z guide to this year’s thrilling RMB UTCT:

• A is for Aid Stations, which are available on each of the six routes. Supporters can cheer on and support runners at designated aid stations, including the lively RMB supporter zone at Newlands Picnic Site.
• B is for Beauty, which RMB UTCT is renowned for – it takes place in the scenic Cape Peninsula, with routes traversing the trails of Table Mountain National Park.
• C is for Cowbells, synonymous with trail running, which supporters will receive from RMB to ring along the route to add sound, spirit and celebration while cheering the runners on.
• D is for Determination, which trail runners require in spades – plus a high degree of self-sufficiency, physical and mental resilience and the ability to adapt to challenging conditions.
• E is for Excellence and Equality, which RMB is committed to, reflected in male and female winners receiving equal prize purses across all distances.
• F is for Friends of Table Mountain (FOTM), one of the race’s environmental partners helping to maintain and rehabilitate trail networks.
• G is for Gardens Rugby Club, which serves as the Race Village and the finish line for all six races on Sunday, 23 November. It is also the start location for the UTCT 100-miler, UT100 and TM35 races.
• H is for Hout Bay, an aid station location where supporter crews are allowed to gather and cheer.
• I is for International, as the event is expected to see more than 2 800 athletes from nearly 50 countries participating this year.
• J is for Journey, representing the runners’ challenging but picturesque course through the Cape’s iconic mountain trails, as well as the personal mental journey travelled by each athlete to conquer the route.
• K is for KS16, the shortest race distance at 16km, starting at the beautiful Beau Constantia wine farm on Friday, 21 November, at 8.30am.
• L is for LIV2Run, a development running club based north of Durban that RMB supports to nurture talented athletes from disadvantaged communities.
• M is for MyCiTi Bus, which provides a Park & Ride service from Cape Town High School to all relevant start and finish venues, as no public parking is available at the Race Village.
• N is for Newlands Aid Station, where RMB will create a lively, family-friendly supporter zone on Saturday, 22 November, offering refreshments, a DJ, the iconic RMB Light Tunnel and an interactive poster-making station.
• O is for One-Hundred-Miler (UTCT), the longest race distance, starting at 5pm on Friday, 21 November, with a cut-off of 45 hours.
• P is for Prize Money, with a total purse of R755,500 across all categories, making it the highest-paying trail running event in South Africa.
• Q is for Qualification, which is not required for any of the six race distances of RMB UTCT 2025, opening the event to a wide range of runners.
• R is for RMB Recovery Zone, located at the finish line, where runners can rest, refuel and receive well-deserved post-race support after completing their race.
• S is for SANParks, or South African National Parks, one of RMB UTCT’s environmental partners for the event.
• T is for Table Mountain, the iconic backdrop and venue where the races take place, covering technically challenging mountainous terrain.
• U is for UT100, the 100km race, starting at 4am on Saturday, 22 November, with a 26-hour cut-off.
• V is for Varying Weather, which runners must be prepared for, as conditions can range from single-digit temperatures in the early morning to upwards of 30°C later in the day.
• W is for World Trail Majors, a prestigious global series that RMB UTCT is recognised as part of.
• X is for EX23, the 23km race starting at the Constantia Greenbelt at 9am on Saturday, 22 November.
• Y is for YouTube, where you can watch live coverage of the races to witness the drama unfold across Table Mountain.
• Z is for the ZZZs every intrepid trail runner will be welcoming at the end of this ultimate feat of human endurance!

Race details

• UTCT – Northern Mountain Range to Noordhoek (21 November, 5pm start at Gardens Rugby Club, cut-off at 45 hours – 14 aid stations along the route)
• UT100 – Karbonkelberg and Table Mountain (22 November, 4am start at Gardens Rugby Club, cut-off at 26 hours – nine aid stations along the route)
• PT55 – Llandudno to Newlands Forest (21 November, 7am start at Llandudno, cut-off at 14.5 hours – four aid stations along the route)
• TM35 – Table Mountain (23 November, 6am start at Gardens Rugby Club, cut-off at 11 hours – two aid stations along the route)
• EX23 – Alphen Greenbelt to Table Mountain (22 November, 9am start at Constantia Greenbelt, cut-off at 6.5 hours – one aid station along the route)
• KS16 – Table Mountain (21 November, 8.30am start at Beau Constantia, cut-off at 6.5 hours – one aid station along the route)

Come and enjoy Cape Town’s spectacular scenery and witness the true grit, resilience and endurance of the human spirit as the world’s top trail runners take on RMB UTCT!

For route maps, race rules, nutrition tips, locations of aid stations and other race information, visit www.ultratrailcapetown.com and follow RMB on social media for event updates.

If you can’t be there to catch all the adrenaline-soaked action in person, be sure to watch the livestream of the event on RMB UTCT’s YouTube channel.