The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® The 7th year : an Exceptional International Plateau
The countdown has begun, those enrolled for the different races of The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® are adding the final touches to their preparations with less than two months to go before the start of the 7th event.
More than ever, the thousands of amateurs will be able to rely on the greatest world running race specialists: they will be there to lead the way for them.
All the winners of the 6 previous years of the UTMB will be on the starting line: Dawa Sherpa (NP), Vincent Delebarre (FRA), Christophe Jaquerod (CH), Marco Olmo (ITA) 1st in 2006 & 2007, attempting to regain their titles in the face of one Kilian Jornet (ESP) (2008 winner) who is on top form. In actual fact, he has beaten the record for the GR20 in Corsica and has just gained the victory for the “Andorra sky race”. But look out for the increasing number of outsiders : the Hungarian Nemeth Csaba, the Japanese Tsuyoshi Kaburaki, the German Jens Lukas and the French Samuel Bonaudo and Julien Chorrier.
Indeed, it will also be necessary to watch out for a score of series leaders coming from the four corners of the world, who are all capable of creating a surprise result.
Of the women’s side, Elizabeth Hawker (GB) The North Face® team, 1st woman in 2005 and 2008, Karine Herry (FRA) 1st woman in 2006 & Christine Moehl (USA) 1st woman in 2003, who will be pursued by numerous adversaries: Monica Aguilera (ESP), Catherine Dubois (FRA) and equally Maud Giraud (FRA) who has just won the Mont-Blanc Marathon.
The CCC® is also producing a higher and higher level of sporting competence. This 4th year demonstrates the passion for the 98km which represents a double marathon run in the mountains! The race leader may well create several surprises and record times! Guillaume Lenormand, winner in 2008 & 2nd in the Libyan Challenge will have to have PRESS RELEASE SPORT/ADVENTURE courage to maintain his place in front of Thomas Lorblanchet who would like to add this race to his already impressionable list of conquests! 1st in Templiers in 2008 & 2nd in the Merrell Oxygen Challenge. Look out for the British Nick Sharp and the Swiss Jean-Yves Rey, and don’t forget that Thierry Técher from Reunion could surprise everybody! Alexandra Rousset 1st in the Libyan Challenge (2008) and 3rd in the Grand Raid of Reunion (2007) is training to win. Jasmine Rivière, 2nd in Reunion (2008) & Marielle Hoareau are certain to be notable adversaries.
The new race, Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie, is attracting renowned runners who are choosing new ground on which to achieve a good victory. Renaud Rouannet (FRA), 2nd in the CCC® in 2008, the Brit Alun Powell 3rd in the 2008 CCC® & 8th in the 2007 UTMB® 2007 will be there, also the American Kim Gaylord ( 4th in the 2007 CCC®).
La Petite Trotte à Léon : second “Grand” tour of Mont-Blanc
Once again this year 60 teams will be on the starting line for the Petite Trotte à Léon on Tuesday 25th August at 22:00 in the centre of Chamonix. An event without final classification, which unfolds at altitude (between 2,500m/2,900m) and is based on total autonomy, team spirit, adventure, escapism and pleasure.
An event for teams of 3 “inseparable” people (of whom at least 2 are UTMB finishers), the object is to run around a very large tour of Mont-Blanc, which this year will be 245km over around 21,000 metres of positive height gain. This “ultra-trek” is undertaken in total autonomy along mapped paths but which do not have specific markers, with refreshments and rest in the different mountain huts along the way.
This event is without final classification. Actually, to finish this tour is already an achievement in itself; final positions could give rise to security problems. However a diploma will be given to each team member who finishes the event. The team of three are inseparable from start to finish.
A new route marks this 2nd year. From Chamonix, it takes the direction of the Col du Tricot (2,120m) then the Truck hut, Mont Joly (2,525m), the col de la Fenêtre (2,245 m), the col du Bonhomme (2,329 m) and the Tête des Fours at 2756 m. Stop if required at the Robert Blanc hut before crossing the col de Bassaserra (2,737m). Then it heads in the direction of the col de la Louie Blanche (2,567m) before the Deffeyes hut, then the Haut Pas at 2,859m and the town of Morgex in Italy.
But there is still a long way to go with the crossing of the Tête de Licony (2,961m) and the Luigi Pascal hut. Passing by the Bonatti hut, towards the col du Ban Darray (2,695 m), then the col du Neve de la Rousse in Switzerland (2,752m), the collet de Revedin (2,510m) towards the Cabane d’Orny at 2,826 m. Crossing by the Fenêtre d’Arpette (2,665m), the col de Balme (2,191 m), before the village of Vallorcine.
Crossing the French frontier makes the end seem closer but it is necessary to pass by the Loraiz hut towards Buet(3,096m), the highest point of the course, before the descent by the Col Anterne hut. Chamonix isn’t very far away. Last col, the col du Brévent is at 2,368 m before the descent into the Chamonix valley and the finish line!
The race HQ permanently follows the progression of the teams during event from start to finish. Each team will be equipped with a GPS/GSM tag which will emit a signal every 15 minutes or so giving the exact location of the team at that moment. This information will also be available on the Internet and will allow one to continually follow the progression of the teams on Google Earth. Each team will have at their disposition 1:25,000 maps and the GPS routes and characteristic waypoints, to help identify their routes, supplied by Garmin®.
For more info www.ultratrailmb.com
To learn more about The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®, visit the dedicated micro-site: www.thenorthface.com/ultratrail/
