If someone says to you they are going to do the UTMB, unless they are a ultra trail runner they are probably talking about the tour du mont blanc. This is a walking trail that circumnavigates the Mont Blanc massive and usually takes 7-8 days on a normal itinerary. This mistake is often made because the race that follows the same course has become more famous than the route itself.
To those in the running community the UTMB is like Wimbledon to tennis. This prestigious event is on the bucket list of most Ultra trail runners and several normal trail runners too. Each year thousands of people flock to Chamonix to take part in or spectate the marvel of these ultra runners.
Most people think of the UTMB as just one big race when there is actually a week of races, so we’ve provided a quick guide to the UTMB and the races that accompany it. There are six adult races which are all on mountain trails where stamina and light feet mean everything. There is no road running here. Each race finishes in Chamonix where you get to run through the famous UTMB archway in the centre of town.
UTMB
This landmark race is the most prestigious of races and the whole week is named after it. The Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc is a ultra marathon mountain race of 170km with approx. 10,000 m of altitude gain, this is the equivalent of climbing from base camp to the top of Everest three times. This race is only for the prepared, with runners spending two nights on the mountain they will start and finish in Chamonix working anti-clockwise around the mont blanc massif.
Average time to complete – 40hrs
Technical difficulty –Quite difficult
Terrain – Steep trails and paths that become boulder fields, up to altitudes of 2500/2600m
Requirements – A lot of middle mountain hiking experience is required. Must be able to be autonomous for 4 – 5 hours and be able to deal with difficult weather conditions (wind, cold, rain & snow) both day and night
2019 UTMB
Starts Friday 30th August 18.00
Place Triangle de l’Amitié, Chamonix
MCC
This is the shortest of the adult races and is purely for volunteers of the UTMB or local residents as an opportunity to compete in this legendary weekend. The MCC stands for Martigny-Combe to Chamonix. This ‘short’ race is around 40 km with 2300m of altitude gain which is more than climbing Snowdonia… twice. Leaving Martigny-Combe running by the Col de la Forclaz to the top of the Col de Balme then it is all downhill to Chamonix.
Average time to complete – 6hrs 30mins
Technical difficulty – some difficulties
Terrain – Technical steep paths with some scree slopes
Requirements – middle mountain hiking experience is required. Must be able to be autonomous for 4 – 5 hours and be able to deal with difficult weather conditions (wind, cold, rain & snow) both day and night
2019 MCC
Starts Monday 26th August 10.00
Place Centrale, Martigny-Combe
OCC
For medium ultra-runners the OCC is the perfect place to join in the UTMB weekend. Running from Orsières, Switzerland crossing the franco swiss frontier on the way back to Chamonix. This race is a lot more undulating that the MCC but don’t be fooled, there is 3500m of altitude gain over 55km. This is more than the climb to Mont Blanc (leaving from Bellevue).
Average time to complete – 10hrs 30mins
Technical difficulty – some difficulties
Terrain – Steep trails and paths that become boulder fields, up to altitudes of 2500/2600m
Requirements – – middle mountain hiking experience is required. Must be able to be autonomous for 4 – 5 hours and be able to deal with difficult weather conditions (wind, cold, rain & snow) both day and night
2019 OCC
Starts Thursday 29th August 08.15
Place centrale, Orsières
CCC
This race heads along the Grande Randonnée du Tour du Mont-Blanc. Runners of the CCC head off from Courmayeur where the Italians create an atmospheric send off and join up with the UTMB route to continue through Italy, Switzerland then finishing back in Chamonix, France. The little sister of the UTMB is often on a trail runners’ tick list covering 101km and over 6100m of altitude gain, equivalent to climbing Ben Nevis 4.5 times!
Average time to complete – 22hrs
Technical difficulty – Quite difficult
Terrain – Steep trails and paths that become boulder fields, up to altitudes of 2500/2600m
Requirements – – middle mountain hiking experience is required. Must be able to be autonomous for 4 – 5 hours and be able to deal with difficult weather conditions (wind, cold, rain & snow) both day and night
2019 CCC
Starts Friday 30th August 09.00
Place Brocherel, Courmayeur
TDS
Completing the other side of the UTMB circle the TDS starts in Courmayeur and works clockwise around Mont Blanc back to Chamonix. However it involves more technical paths than all the other races and at 145km with 9100m of altitude gain it is arguably as difficult than the UTMB itself and double the height of climbing Kilimanjaro. The TDS stands for “Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie” (the footprints of the Dukes of Savoie) and is about discovering the villages from Aosta valley through to the Savoie through technical, demanding and wild terrain.
Average time to complete – 32hrs
Technical difficulty –difficult
Terrain – Unclearly marked paths; long ascents and descents; exposed areas made secure with rope scambling in parts ;remote location; up to altitudes of 2700m ; very few refreshment stops
Requirements – Some experience of the mountains. Must be able to be autonomous for 5 -6 hours and be able to deal with difficult weather conditions (wind, cold, rain & snow) both day and night
2019 TDS
Starts Wednesday 28th August 04.00
Place Brocherel, Courmayeur
PTL
The PTL (Petite Trotte à Léon) is different to all the other races of the UTMB week, this is a team event that takes mental engagement and physical stamina to the extreme. This tour of the Mont Blanc range covers 300km and 25,000m of altitude gain – (2.5 times the ascent of the UTMB!) taking participants off marked routes making navigation skills paramount. Although always starting and finishing in Chamonix, each year the route is very different and the challenge of completing is all that is asked – there is no leader-board for this event. Applicants are individually selected depending on experience and this is a completely autonomous event with no support team allowed and no refreshment stops other than mountain refuges. This is a pure test of strength, endurance and team work.
Average time to complete – 136hrs
Technical difficulty –Very difficult
Terrain – Often no paths; exposed difficult terrain; steep slopes some grassy;
easy rock climbing/scrambling; glaciers and snow; very remote location;
altitudes greater > 3000 m; no refreshment points
Requirements – Must have experience of the mountains and able to navigate/orientate. Must be able to be autonomous for the full day and be able to deal with severe weather conditions that altitude can bring (high winds, extreme cold – lower than -10oC, heavy rain & snow) both day and night
2019 PTL
Starts Monday 26th August 08.00
Place Triangle de l’Amitié, Chamonix
YCC
The YCC (Youth Chamonix Courmayeur) allows young people to get involved with the week’s events, in Chamonix the races start at 1400m (distance) and in Courmayeur there are longer races with more altitude gain. It’s the perfect opportunity for the next generation to experience the magic of the UTMB week. There is also a Mini UTMB with races for children aged 3+ with races from 300m long.
2019 YCC
Tuesday 27th August 18.00, Place Triangle de l’Amitié, Chamonix
700m loop done 2,3 or 4 times.
or
Wednesday 28th August 10.00, Place Brocherel, Courmayeur
4km +200m, 8km +600m, 15km +1000m
The lengths of all the races (adults and youth) can change slightly each year depending on the route chosen, which itself can depend on weather conditions and the conditions of the trails. However no year is easier or harder as each route/year brings its own set of challenges to test the strongest of minds and bodies.
