Photo : UTMB official by Ian Corless
Kullamannen by UTMB returns to Sweden’s west coast this weekend, bringing more than 2,750 runners from almost 60 countries to the forests, beaches and rocky trails surrounding Kullaberg and the Bjäre Peninsula.
The two longest races begin in Höganäs on Friday evening. The 168-kilometre Ultra 100 Miles starts at 18:00 CET, followed by the 108-kilometre Sprint Ultra at 22:00. Saturday brings the 53-kilometre Seventh Seal and the shorter North Shore race.
Despite the relatively modest elevation figures, Kullamannen has earned a reputation as one of Northern Europe’s most distinctive late-season races. Darkness, coastal wind, wet rock and technical sections around Kullaberg can turn an otherwise fast course into something considerably less predictable.
Mjelva arrives after a breakthrough season
Anne Luksengaard Mjelva gives Norway a serious contender in the women’s 100-mile race after an exceptional 2026 season.
She opened the year by winning the 120-kilometre EcoTrail Paris in 11:28:32. In August, she became Norwegian ultra-trail champion by winning the demanding 70-kilometre Meråker Mountain Challenge, covering approximately 3,730 metres of elevation in 11:21:27.
Only three weeks later, Mjelva won the inaugural 80-kilometre EcoTrail Trondheim in 8:10:21. That victory completed a run of three major wins across distances from 70 to 120 kilometres.
Kullamannen now asks her to extend that form across 168 kilometres. It is a substantial step up in distance, but the relatively runnable course may suit an athlete who has already demonstrated considerable strength over long, fast ultras this season.
Anna Carlsson should provide the benchmark. The Swedish runner holds the Kullamannen women’s course record and won the 80-kilometre race at EcoTrail Paris earlier this year. Susanna Sjögren, Maria Saxvall and Natálie Kapcalová add further depth to the field.
Simpanen returns to chase another 100-mile victory
Juuso Simpanen leads the men’s race. The Finn won Kullamannen in 2024 and returns with the highest UTMB Index among this year’s 100-mile starters.
His strongest challengers include Sweden’s William Englund, Polish runner Roman Ficek and Alexandre Boucheix. The Frenchman finished second in 2025 and will attempt to earn his fifth Kullamannen finisher ring.
The course runs from Höganäs to Båstad, crossing 15 nature reserves and accumulating approximately 2,020 metres of elevation gain. Much of its technical terrain arrives around Kullaberg before the route continues north along the exposed coastline.
Juuso Simpanen winning in 2024. Photo by UTMB official
Fenre returns to familiar territory
Tobias Dahl Fenre enters the Sprint Ultra as one of the leading favourites and already knows how to race this course.
The Norwegian finished second in the Kullamannen 100K in 2024, completing the race in 8:22:23. He has also won both KRSUltra and the Vestfold Historic Ultra Trail during the 2026 season.
His year has not been entirely straightforward. Fenre recorded DNFs at Mozart 100 and UTMB Mont-Blanc, but a return to the faster Kullamannen terrain gives him an opportunity to finish the season on familiar ground.
Britain’s Joseph Turner starts with the highest index in the men’s field, while Spain’s Alejandro Mayor and Swedish ultrarunning veteran Jonas Buud should also challenge near the front.
Norway has another contender in the women’s race through Liv Richter Melby. She joins a field led by Gemma Hillier Moses, winner of the 50K at Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB earlier this season. Dominika Stelmach, Sofie Nelson Rask and Ellinor Ericsson are also among the leading names.
With only 749 metres of official elevation gain, the Sprint Ultra looks fast on paper. However, the 22:00 start means the leading runners will navigate the opening sections around Kullaberg entirely in darkness.
Kaspersen returns as the clear 50K favourite
The greatest Norwegian presence comes in Saturday’s Seventh Seal, where Yngvild Kaspersen begins as the clear favourite.
Kaspersen won this race in 2023, completing the course in 3:59:31 and finishing eighth overall. She returns after winning the CCC at UTMB Mont-Blanc for the second time this August. Her 2026 season has also included victory at Molde 7 Peaks and second place at the 120-kilometre Ultra-Trail Chianti Castles.
The 53-kilometre distance is considerably shorter and faster than her recent races, but Kaspersen has repeatedly shown that she can compete across everything from steep skyraces to 100-mile ultras.
She will face Eleanor Davis, Kirsty Skye Dickson and Alice Goodall, while Marte Emilsen and Mari Wetterhus give Norway two further contenders.
Emilsen arrives after winning the 29-kilometre Fýri Mountain Trail in September. Wetterhus finished third in the same race and has also enjoyed a strong international season, including victory over 43 kilometres at Davos X-Trails.
The men’s race is headed by Jacob Adkin, whose UTMB Index of 934 is the highest among the elite athletes competing at Kullamannen this year. Anton Gustafsson, Henri Aymonod, Bertie Houghton and defending champion Oscar Claesson complete a deep field.
The course begins in Båstad, climbs through Sinarpsdalen and onto Hallandsåsen before turning back towards the coastline. With 727 metres of elevation across 53 kilometres, it should produce fast racing and small margins.
Four races across one dark weekend
Kullamannen offers four distances in 2026:
Ultra 100 Miles: 168 km / 2,020 m+ — Friday at 18:00 CET
Sprint Ultra: 108 km / 749 m+ — Friday at 22:00 CET
Seventh Seal: 53 km / 727 m+ — Saturday at 11:00 CET
North Shore: 22 km / 96 m+ — Saturday at 17:00 CET
For the first time, the North Shore race will begin after sunset. The change gives even the shortest distance a taste of the darkness that has become central to Kullamannen’s identity.
The long races may lack the elevation totals associated with the Alps, but that does not make them simple. Kullamannen replaces endless climbing with speed, exposure and hours spent moving through the Scandinavian night.
With Mjelva, Fenre and Kaspersen leading a strong Norwegian group, Hold W Club will have plenty to follow throughout the weekend.
Live tracking and official race information are available through Kullamannen by UTMB.
