Mountain Ultra Trail by UTMB
Mountain Ultra Trail by UTMB – MUT 60 by UTMB
George
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The MUT 60 is the 58 km race at Mountain Ultra Trail by UTMB, run out of George in South Africa's Western Cape. With 2738 m of positive climbing and a high point of 986 m, it delivers a big-vertical mountain day at modest altitude, crossing the Outeniqua Mountains that rise behind the coastal town and taking in the historic Montagu Pass. What defines the MUT 60 is the amount of climbing it squeezes out of relatively low ground: nearly 2740 m of ascent across 58 km without ever topping 1000 m means steep, repeated climbs rather than one long alpine haul. It is a race for runners who enjoy sustained gradient, technical Cape mountain terrain and the fynbos-clad slopes of the Outeniquas, run as a loop that starts and finishes at 238 m.
The Course and Terrain
From the start at 238 m the route heads for its first major landmark, Montagu Pass at 15 km and 738 m, gaining roughly 500 m over the opening section as it climbs into the Outeniqua Mountains. Montagu Pass is a historic route over the range, and reaching it marks your entry into the high, rugged heart of the course. From there the trail rolls and pitches through the mountains to Herold Wines at 32.3 km (653 m) and on to Tierkop at 43.4 km (673 m). The closing quarter drops back toward town, passing the Trail Kiosk at 56.1 km (250 m) before the finish at 58 km and 238 m. Because the high point is only 986 m, the climbing is delivered as a succession of sharp ascents and descents rather than a single sustained pull, so the profile between checkpoints hides far more vertical than the checkpoint altitudes alone suggest. Expect typical Cape mountain terrain: rocky trail, fynbos slopes, forested sections and steep, hand-built paths.
Where the Race Is Won or Lost
The MUT 60's difficulty is spread across its whole length rather than concentrated in one climb, which is exactly what makes it deceptive. The checkpoint altitudes, from 738 m at Montagu Pass to 653 m at Herold Wines to 673 m at Tierkop, look almost flat on paper, yet 2738 m of total ascent means the terrain between them repeatedly climbs and drops. The race is won by staying strong on these unremitting rolling climbs rather than by any single decisive ascent. The first climb to Montagu Pass sets your day up, and the long middle section from the pass through Herold Wines to Tierkop, roughly 28 km of mountain trail between 15 km and 43.4 km, is where the accumulated vertical grinds runners down. This is the stretch to manage patiently. The final descent from Tierkop past the Trail Kiosk to the finish gives back the height you have been fighting for all day, so anyone who keeps their legs intact through the middle can close hard on the drop back into George.
Pacing and Fuelling
The cut-offs are Montagu Pass at Sat 11:00 (15 km), Herold Wines at Sat 15:00 (32.3 km), Tierkop at Sat 19:00 (43.4 km) and the finish at Sat 21:30 (58 km). They step down at a steady rhythm, so use the early climb to Montagu Pass to establish a sustainable effort rather than chasing time, and treat Herold Wines and Tierkop as the two checkpoints that gate a safe finish. The 4-hour window from the start to the Montagu Pass cut-off is comfortable for most, but the constant climbing in the middle can quietly erode your buffer. The aid gaps are substantial mountain sections: roughly 15 km from the start to Montagu Pass, another 17 km to Herold Wines, then 11 km to Tierkop. Carry enough fluid and calories to run self-sufficient across each of those climbing blocks, and drink to the effort of the ascents rather than the distance. With so much cumulative vertical, fuelling steadily on the climbs while your stomach cooperates is what keeps the middle third from becoming a slow crawl toward the Tierkop cut-off.
Conditions to Expect
The Outeniqua Mountains behind George sit close to the coast, and Western Cape mountain weather can be changeable, so conditions on the tops around the 986 m high point can differ from the sheltered valley start at 238 m. The range is known for catching cloud and mist off the ocean as well as delivering warm, dry, sun-exposed running on clear days, so prepare for both heat on the exposed fynbos slopes and the chance of cool, damp weather higher up. Because the course never climbs above 1000 m there is no altitude to contend with, but the technical Cape trail underfoot demands attention, especially on the descents where rock and loose footing can turn slick if any moisture is present. Grippy trail shoes and layers that handle a swing from coastal warmth to misty mountain cool will serve you well. Plan for a long day on your feet in genuine mountain terrain, judged by its 2738 m of climbing rather than its modest peak height.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 238 m · —
15 km · 738 m · Sat 11:00
32.3 km · 653 m · Sat 15:00
43.4 km · 673 m · Sat 19:00
56.1 km · 250 m · —
58 km · 238 m · Sat 21:30
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