UTMB® week: T-minus 3 days and counting until it all starts!

Published by Mountainblog on .

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On Monday, August 27, at 08:00 in the morning, the festivities for UTMB® week will start off with a bang! Runners in each of the two races, with two different formats, will be standing their respective starting lines: one new race (the MCC) and the 11th edition of a “leisurely stroll” that has now become legendary for those seeking a truly unique adventure.

The PTL®: “Petite Trotte à Léon”
The name has its own unique history. Leon Lovey, a longtime friend and the Swiss co-president of the non-profit association, Trailers du Mont-Blanc, had yet to decide what to call this new adventure. With his obvious Swiss sense of humor, he proposed a name that also included a personal touch this “leisurely stroll”. The Petite Trotte (à Léon) was born: approximately 300km long, with 25,000m of vertical gain, and to be run as a fully self-sufficient team in under 151 hours and 30 minutes. This year 113 teams of 2 to 3 people (285 total runners including 31 women) from 29 countries will participate. France counts among the most well-represented nationalities (123 participants), alongside Italy (33 participants) and China (23 participants)!

An all-new course
As with every year, the course and theme change. After Switzerland, Italy, the Aiguilles Rouges Mountains, and the Savoie, this year’s race will weave its way through the Beaufortain. The all-new course circumnavigates the Mont-Blanc range via technical, rarely-traveled, little-known trails that are difficult to access but offer breathtaking views. This adventure is not a competition (no ranking), and explores the outer limits of trail running. The truly unique aspects of the PTL include registration by application only, a specific framework and set of rules, a team only event, its own detailed list of required gear, and the presence of high-mountain guides along certain sections of the course.

With the Beaufortain Range taking center stage, runners will scramble beneath the mighty Pierra Menta, climb the legendary Grand-Mont (2686m), and enjoy other incredible high points such as Grande Journée Peak or Mount Mirantin. Before they enter the Beaufortain, teams will revel in a fantastic technical section through Italy that offers truly spectacular views, and includes a visit to the Monzino Hut (2590m). Last but certainly not least, the Fiz Massif, Platé Desert, and Tré l’Epaule Pass will provide the icing on the cake for the final stretch to Chamonix. Year after year this event continues to instill a strong sense of team spirit among participants, and most team names reflect this tradition.

Please note: even though most participants are amateurs, this year, for the first time, two high-level teams will participate in the PTL® and might cross the finish line earlier than initial estimates.

Team “Ibai Eki Taldea” includes runner Iker Karrera, UTMB® second place finisher in 2011 and 2014, and Zigor Iturrieta Ruiz. Thierry Bochet and Sebastien Gérard make up team “Les Beaufortains”. Thierry is part of the UTMB® course committee and participated in plotting several sections of the course. He won the Échappée Belle in 2017 and also finished the Tor des Géants (79th place). Even if certain top runners will be on the course, the PTL® still represents a personal challenge to conquer as part of a team.

The first MCC!
While the alphorns play, runners will start climbing the longest uphill section of the race (1300m of vertical gain), first to Col de la Forclaz Pass and then to Chalet des Grands. From there, they will take on another short climb to the course’s high point, Col de Balme Pass. While comparatively easygoing, the MCC is a genuine mountain trail race, with 2300m of total vertical gain over the 40km course. Participating runners will definitely enjoy trail running UTMB® style.

Organized primarily for volunteers, local runners, and event partners, the MCC is a festive race where runners are encouraged to put on their favorite costume. Participants include volunteers from the three UTMB® partner countries (FR, IT, CH), locals, and families, and they will receive assistance during the race from more than fifty volunteers who work for Columbia Sportswear, and who, for the occasion, will do their part to share in the spirit of helping others.

Keep an eye on local elite runners César Costa and Robbie Britton. In addition, 86 year old René Bachelard, the man behind the MCC and a UTMB® founder, will attempt to reach the finish line in less than ten hours (the final cutoff time).

Runners with the most original costumes and the top 3 times will receive an award!

In just three days, this incredibly exciting week will start!

As with every year, the event will be filled with emotion, victories, defeats, tears, joy, and thousands of smiles from ear to ear.

2018 UTMB® Schedule

Monday, August 27 – Martigny-Combe and Chamonix

  • 08:00: Start, PTL®, Place du Triangle de l’Amitié, Chamonix
  • 10:00: Start, MCC, Place Centrale, Martigny-Combe (Switzerland)
  • 13:30: First MCC finishers, Chamonix
  • 18:30: Walk of Fame opens
  • 19:30: MCC awards ceremony.

Tuesday, August 28- Chamonix

  • 13:00-19:00: Salon Ultra-Trail® expo village and bib pickup for the TDS®
  • 16:00-20:00: Bib pickup for the TDS® in Courmayeur.

Wednesday, August 29 – Courmayeur and Chamonix

  • 06:00: Start, TDS®, Courmayeur (Italy)
  • 10:00: Start, YCC
  • 10:00-20:00: Salon Ultra-Trail® expo village and bib pickup for the OCC
  • 16:00-20:00: Bib pickup for the OCC in Orsières
  • 20:20: First TDS® finishers.

Thursday, August 30 – Chamonix

  • 08:15: Start, OCC, Orsières (Switzerland). All day long, runners finish the TDS®
  • 10:00-19:00: Salon Ultra-Trail® expo village and bib pickup for the CCC® and UTMB®
  • 16:00-20:00: Bib pickup for the CCC® and UTMB® in Courmayeur for runners who made this specific request
  • 16:00-17:30: Official press conference at the Majestic Hotel
  • 13:30: First OCC finishers
  • 17:30: Evening event for solidarity.

Friday, August 31 – Courmayeur and Chamonix

  • 09:00: Start, CCC®, Courmayeur (Italy)
  • 10:00-14:00: Salon Ultra-Trail® expo village
  • 18:00: Start, UTMB®
  • 20:00: First CCC® finishers.

Saturday, September 1 – Chamonix

All morning long, runners finishing the CCC®. 15:00: First UTMB® finishers.

Sunday, September 2 – Chamonix

All day long, runners finish the UTMB®

  • 10:00-11:00: final press conference
  • 16:00: official UTMB® closing ceremony
  • 16:30: last runners finish the UTMB® & PTL®.

INFO: UTMB®