Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc 2014

The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc is a single stage mountain ultra marathon through seven valleys, over 71 glaciers and 400 summits; a complete tour of the Mont-Blanc Massif which passes through 3 countries: France, Switzerland and Italy.

 

The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc is actually formed of five different races under the single UTMB brand: 

 

1) The UTMB: With 168km, 9.600 metres of positive height gain and partially autonomous routing this race is limited to 2,300 runners with a minimum of 7 qualification points. The 7 points must have been acquired from a maximum of 3 races. At sunrise runners will cross Col de la Seigne into Italy and Val Veny overlooked by Noire du Peuterey and the glaciers descending Mont Blanc. Later runners will reach the Val Ferret, guarded by Dent du Géant and Grandes Jorasses before finally turning into Switzerland.

 

2)The CCC (Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix) : created in 2006, with a distance of 100km, 5,950 metres of positive height gain, in semi-autonomy, it is one of the most difficult challenges in Ultra-Trail. This race is limited to 1,800 runners who have a minimum of 2 qualification points. The start line of the race is at the centre of Courmayeur on the Brocherel Place.

 

3)The TDS (sur le Traces des Ducs de Savoie) : wilder and more technical than the UTMB and the CCC this is a semi-tour with 119km, 7,250 metres of positive height gain and with partially autonomous routing. This race is limited to 1200 runners with a minimum of 2 qualification points. The start of the race is from the centre of Courmayeur on the Brocherel Place. There is a long ascent of Val Veny. After there is a long descent on the slopes of the Vallon de Chavannes'. Then you leave the Aosta Valley. 

 

4)The PTL (La Petite Trotte a Leon) : an adrenaline packed, non competitive race, without final positions and in complete autonomy the race is limited to 80 teams of 2 or 3 inseparable runners. With a distance of  approximately 300 km and 24,000 metres of positive height gain, this race has a different route each year. Teams to include one finish line competitor from the UTMB as a minimum. Time limit: 136 hours.

 

5)The OCC (Orsières - Champex - Chamonix) : for the less "ultra" runners wishing to get into the event of The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® will find a race suitable for them to start the adventure. Orsières will finally experiment the rhythm of a start of a race desired for several years.