In reply to alastairmac:
Bad luck on the lottery - I read this year there were 32000 entrants (I guess spread across all races) as opposed to 25000 last year. I got turned down for the UTMB unfortunately so in the middle of reorganising my goals for 2020.
I've now entered the Echappée Belle for the 149km version, but there's a shorter version open (Traversée Nord). It's a lottery as well though.
http://echappeebelle.inscr.livetrail.net/
There's the UT4M (again, Grenoble area), which has loads of different permutations including a 100km version. A friend is running that one and I might too, unless I don't get into EB in which I'll go for the 160. There's no draw though and you can sign up now.