Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc
The Ultra-Trail du Mont -Blanc ( abbreviated UTMB, full name The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont- Blanc to the sponsor The North Face ) is an ultra -marathon, which on Trails from Chamonix counterclockwise around the Mont- Blanc group leads.
First held in 2003 and organized by the Trailers du Mont Blanc, it counts with a length of about 168 km, more than 9000 meters above sea level to be overcome and a time limit of 46 hours of the most challenging mountain marathons worldwide. Since 2006 takes place on the second half of the course the race Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix (CCC) about 98 km instead, and since 2009 the running Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie ( TDS) leads to a distance of 106 km south of Mont - Blanc from Chamonix via Bourg -Saint- Maurice to Courmayeur. There is also the competition since 2008 La Petite Trotte à Léon ( PTL) for two and three teams that has no competitive character. The teams have to independently complete a distance of 240 miles and 18,000 vertical meters together in just five days.
For the course " partial autonomy", ie, the runners must carry a mandatory equipment in a backpack with him and get support only at the official refreshment posts. Although it is not required to participate, that you have collected in other runs on ultra distances a prescribed number of points, the number of interested now exceeds the number of 2,300 available starting places, so that a lottery has been introduced.
Route
The UTMB essentially follows the long-distance trail Tour du Mont- Blanc. From Chamonix, it's all about Les Houches for the first rise in La Charme. Behind Les Contamines-Montjoie it's the first time in the high alpine area, with the Croix du Bonhomme ( 2479 m) as highest point. After a descent to the hamlet of Les Chapieux is reached via the Col de la Seigne ( 2516 m) Italian territory. Above the Val Veny you get to Arête Mont Favre ( 2435 feet) and rises over the Col Chécrouit off to Courmayeur, which you reach after 78 km. About the Grand Col Ferret ( 2537m ) leads into the Swiss Val Ferret. Behind Champex -Lac, which is reached after 123 km, three major climbs are yet to deal with: the hamlet of Bovine (1987 m) and on the Catogne (2011 m) on Swiss Tête aux Vents and on the ( 2130 m) on French territory.
History
When Erstaustragung the total distance was 150 km. Two further competitions were over 110 km ( on the section to Champex- Lac) and about 67 km instead ( on the section to Courmayeur ). About 110 km of Britain's Mark Hartell won ( 15:03:05 h) and the Frenchwoman Irina Malejonock ( 16:59:51 h), more than 67 km, the Frenchman Dominique Bergar ( 8:13:34 h) and Corinne Favre (9: 21:57 ).
Over the subsequent years, the main line was extended for several kilometers so that they are now being 168 km. 2006, because of the rapidly rising numbers with runners Courmayeur - Chamonix introduced a second race that initially 86 km walked ( current length 98 km) - Champex.
2010 was canceled because of bad weather slump on Friday evening, the UTMB after three hours and the CCC for the last part of the rotor field. The TDS was canceled and started a replacement race for this run and the UTMB on the second half of the UTMB from Courmayeur on Saturday morning.