BELGIQUE · Flanders (Antwerp Province)
Ultra Trail Kempen 160km: Belgium's Flat Ultra That Sells Out Every Year
Informations clés
Distance
160 km
Date
Droit d’inscription
130 EUR
€ / km
€0.81
Flat doesn’t mean easy: endless runnable paths through Belgium’s Kempen, built for pacing, grit, and night miles.
Ultra Trail Kempen (UTK) 160 km is a trail race held on October 31 – November 1, 2026, starting from Sporthal Mintjens in Malle, Antwerp Province, Belgium. The race begins on Halloween evening and runs through the night across the flat heathlands and pine forests of the Kempen region. The course covers 160 km with approximately 357 m of total elevation gain — 2.23 m/km — making it one of the flattest 160 km ultras in Europe: for context, even the Autumn 100 (itself among the flattest 100-milers in the DTR database) accumulates 9.3 m/km. There is no meaningful climbing on this course; the challenge is pacing, sleep management, and sustained forward movement across 35–45+ hours. Entry costs €0.81/km (€130). The race sold out for 2026 and operates a waiting list. Organised by Trail Buddies Kempen, the event offers a run or walk variant. Entry requires at least one completed 50 km trail race. Two drop-bag locations and aid stations approximately every 15–20 km (some with hot meals) support the field. Antwerp Airport (ANR) is approximately 36 minutes away by road. It suits experienced endurance runners or hikers comfortable with long flat efforts, night sections, and late-autumn Belgian conditions — cold, wet, and potentially foggy.
Élévation et Terrain
Mètres totaux
357m
D+/KM
2.2m/km
Pour référence, le Tor des Géants 330 km a 73 D+/km.
Ultra Trail Kempen 160km: Belgium's Flat Ultra That Sells Out Every Year
How Flat Is the UTK 160km? (Elevation Data and What It Means for Pacing)▼
Q: How flat is the Ultra Trail Kempen 160km? A: Extremely flat. The course covers 160km with approximately 357m of total elevation gain — 2.23 m per kilometre. There is no meaningful climbing; any elevation change comes from bridge crossings or minor embankments. For comparison, the Autumn 100 (one of the flattest 100-mile races in the DTR database) accumulates more than four times as much gain per kilometre. The challenge on the UTK 160km is not gradient — it is pacing, time-on-feet, sleep management, and late-autumn conditions.
Course Profile — Kempen Heathland, Night Miles, and a Halloween Start▼
Q: Is the Ultra Trail Kempen 160km sold out? A: Yes — the 2026 edition sold out and operates a waiting list as of May 2026. The race fills quickly; check ultra-trail-kempen.be early for future edition registration windows. No mandatory processing fee is added on top of the €130 entry fee.
€0.81/km and a Waiting List: the UTK 160km's Value and Availability▼
Q: How much does the Ultra Trail Kempen 160km cost? A: €130 entry — €0.81 per kilometre. For a 160km race that consistently sells out, this is exceptional value. No mandatory processing fees on top of the registration fee (though bank/payment method fees may apply).
Getting to Ultra Trail Kempen: Antwerp, Brussels, and What to Know About Malle▼
Q: When does the Ultra Trail Kempen 160km take place? A: October 31 – November 1, 2026 — the race starts on Halloween evening from Sporthal Mintjens in Malle, Antwerp Province, Belgium. Runners face significant darkness throughout the course in late-autumn Belgian conditions.
Logistique
Aéroport le plus proche
Antwerp (ANR) / Brussels (BRU) / Eindhoven (EIN)
Notes
Start: ~25 min (ANR) or ~1–1.5 hrs (BRU/EIN) to Malle (Sporthal Mintjens) / Public transport: good from Antwerp (bus ~70–80 min) / Accommodation: easy base in Antwerp; limited in small Kempen towns
