It’s one of the most famous events on the trail world: the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). Every year at the end of August, some 10,000 runners from over 100 countries gather in Chamonix to tackle the legendary slopes, passes and trails of the Mont-Blanc massif. On the program: 170 kilometers, 10,000 meters of ascent, and an extraordinary route that crosses France, Italy and Switzerland before returning to the foot of the roof of Europe.
France’s most legendary race
Created in 2003 by Michel and Catherine Poletti, the UTMB is now the world’s leading ultra-trail race. The flagship event is aimed at the most seasoned runners, capable of enduring 20 to 46 hours of continuous effort. But the festival also includes several more accessible formats, such as the CCC (Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix) and the TDS, renowned for its rugged alpine course.
The event, broadcast live in many countries, attracts huge crowds to Chamonix every year. Streets are transformed into grandstands, locals cheer night and day, and the finish line is electrically charged.
Between glistening glaciers, suspended villages and dizzying passes, the UTMB crosses some of the most grandiose landscapes in the Alps. Runners cross the Col de la Seigne between France and Italy, and the Grand Col Ferret on the Swiss border. Day and night, the panoramas change, punctuated by fatigue, rain and sometimes snow. Each edition offers its share of unforgettable images, which inspire dreams far beyond the circle of trailers.
Some of the biggest names in trail running take to the starting line: Kilian Jornet, François D’Haene, Courtney Dauwalter, Jim Walmsley… all have made their mark on the event’s history. But above and beyond its success, the UTMB is above all a human adventure, where amateurs and the elite share the same trails, the same passion, and often the same emotions at the finish line.