Race news: The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® - August 30, 2012
At 7am on Thursday August 30, the, the fourth edition of the TDS ™ (Traces des Ducs de Savoie) departed at Courmayeur (ITA). Under a threatening sky, 1,464 competitors (including 125 women) set off in the opening race and, as forecast, the rain appeared an hour into the race. The route over 114 km and 7150 vertical meters through the Valle d'Aosta to Chamonix, via Bourg Saint-Maurice and la Savoie. Two kilometers were added to the original program. Competitors made the ascent of the Col du Petit Saint Bernard on the left bank of the river to avoid pavement and take advantage of the wild and authentic scenery.
Very quickly a group of favorites found themselves at the head of the race. Around 13:00 Dawa Sherpa, the winner of the first UTMB in 2003, was in the lead at Fort La Platte with an 8 minute lead ahead of Thomas Saint Girons, second in the event in 2009, 11 minutes on the duo Antoine Guillon - Lionel Trivel, and 21 minutes on Swiss Ryan Baumann. With the 10 leading runners in a close-knit pack, the end of the race should be thrilling. The winner will be celebrated this evening at the Triangle D'Amitié square in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc at approximately 21:30.
For the women Juliette Blanchet (FRA) was in the lead at13:00 in Bourg Saint Maurice, a quarter of an hour ahead of Italy's Alessandra Carlini and France's Agnes Hervé.
The heart of the pack will be confronted with running through the night.
Tomorrow morning (Friday, August 31) at 10 am Courmayeur will once again host a festive welcome for the start of the CCC ®. 1800 runners are expected for this 100km event (5,950m vertical meters).
Then it will be the turn of the pinnacle event, the UTMB ®, whose departure is scheduled for 18:30 in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (168 km and 9600 vertical meters).
In la Petite Trotte à Leon - PTL ™ - (284 km and 21500 vertical meters), the 67 teams began their journey last Monday. This non-timed, non-ranking team event offers a long itinerary in complete autonomy around Mont- Blanc on an unmarked route. Today, the most advanced team on this 284 km tour has almost arrived in Morgex (ITA). 12 teams have already given up the fight against the Petite Trotte à Leon.
The organization has informed all runners, volunteers, and post leaders of the difficult weather conditions. The temperature is dropping Thursday through Saturday with patchy fog, rain, sleet and snow flakes at 2000 m. Real mountain weather. The organizing committee has insisted that the equipment required is minimal in these particular conditions. It is highly recommended to take sturdier gear, whether it be the waterproof jacket, protection for the head, hands and/or base-layers.
The North Face ® Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc ® race weekend is launched! To the delight of the 6,000 participants (73 nations) and thousands of spectators gathered around Mont-Blanc and even more around the WebTV!
Follow events live via competitors live on www.utmb.livetrail.net/ or watch them on ultratrail.tv
Click here to find out more about the covearge
