From The Rio Times · Mateo Cruz · · 3m
Ultra-Trail Cape Town 2026 Guide
US runners can qualify for Western States 2028 by finishing Ultra-Trail Cape Town 2026 within set times.
In brief
US runners can qualify for Western States 2028 by finishing Ultra-Trail Cape Town 2026 within set times. US runners finishing Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100 km in 21 hours or 100 miles in 45 hours qualify for Western States 2028. Originally reported by The Rio Times.
Quick answers
- When does Ultra-Trail Cape Town run?
- The race runs from Friday, 20 November to Sunday, 22 November 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Where does it take place?
- All six races finish at Gardens Rugby Football Club in Oranjezicht, below Table Mountain, crossing Table Mountain National Park and the Cape Peninsula.
- When do the races start?
- The 100-mile race starts on Friday at 5 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET). The 100 km race starts on Saturday at 4 a.m. local time (9 p.m. ET Friday).
- How many races and what are their distances?
- The organiser stages six races from 16 km to 100 miles, all finishing at Gardens Rugby Football Club in Cape Town.
- What are the entry prices?
- The 100 km entry costs about US$331 (R5,495) and the 100-mile entry about US$392 (R6,495). Shorter races cost from US$66 (R1,095) to US$245 (R4,055).
When does Ultra-Trail Cape Town run?
The race runs from Friday, 20 November to Sunday, 22 November 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Where does it take place?
All six races finish at Gardens Rugby Football Club in Oranjezicht, below Table Mountain, crossing Table Mountain National Park and the Cape Peninsula.
When do the races start?
The 100-mile race starts on Friday at 5 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET). The 100 km race starts on Saturday at 4 a.m. local time (9 p.m. ET Friday).
How many races and what are their distances?
The organiser stages six races from 16 km to 100 miles, all finishing at Gardens Rugby Football Club in Cape Town.
What are the entry prices?
The 100 km entry costs about US$331 (R5,495) and the 100-mile entry about US$392 (R6,495). Shorter races cost from US$66 (R1,095) to US$245 (R4,055).
What does it mean for US runners?
Finishing the 100 km in 21 hours or 100 miles in 45 hours qualifies runners for the 2028 Western States Endurance Run.
Who has won recently?
Jeff Mogavero of the United States won the 2025 UT100 in 11 hours, 4 minutes and 53 seconds, beating Dmitry Mityaev by 31 seconds.
How many runners participate?
The 2025 edition drew 2,800 runners from 66 countries, according to IOL.
What is the Western States qualification?
The Western States Endurance Run lists both the Cape Town 100 km and 100-mile races as qualifiers for its 2028 race.
What are the qualifying times?
The 100 km must be finished in 21 hours or the 100 miles in 45 hours to qualify for Western States 2028.
What is the prize money?
The 100-mile winner receives R80,000 (about US$4,825) and the UT100 winner R75,000 (about US$4,524).
When is registration open?
Registration and the race expo open on Thursday, 19 November at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
What are the deadlines?
Refunds and substitutions close at midday on 28 October, with the 100-mile qualifier deadline also ending then.
How can US fans watch?
No US television broadcast or live stream had been announced by 15 October, but runners' progress appears on live tracking.
What is the race course like?
The courses cross Table Mountain National Park and the Cape Peninsula with steep, technical trails.
What is the weather like?
Weather on the mountain can swing sharply, with single-digit Celsius mornings and afternoons above 30°C (86°F).
In short
US runners finishing Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100 km in 21 hours or 100 miles in 45 hours qualify for Western States 2028.
