Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc delivers as one of the world’s toughest trail races
The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, often known as UTMB, was this weekend in Chamonix, France and proved once again to be one of the world's toughest trail races (photo: Salomon Running).
One of the world’s most challenging and exciting races took place in the Alps this weekend. The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, commonly known as UTMB, is a 170K trail race that begins in Chamonix, France and features upwards of 10,000m of elevation gain.
With a 46:30 time limit, many runners experience two sunsets as the race begins on Friday and extends into Sunday. The course circumnavigates Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, and crosses into Switzerland and Italy before runners return to France where they began.
Because the race passes through such a wide array of terrain and elevation, the weather is often unpredictable. In addition to UTMB, race weekend also hosts four other events that vary in distance and time required to complete depending on a trail runner’s skill level.
There are aid stations positioned on course but runners are required to carry all their own gear throughout the race. The style of race is known as semi-autonomous, according to the event’s website.
Men’s winner, Ludovic Pommeret, crossing the finish line
There were three runners from the United States who placed in the top-six including David Laney, Zach Miller and Tim Tollefson. Ludovic Pommeret of France won the event on home soil in 22-hours-flat finishing with a 26-minute gap over second-place runner Gediminas Grinius.
According to IRunFar.com, Pommeret fell back to 50th place at one point in the race due to stomach problems. Faced with a DNF, he was able to battle back and form a large gap by the race’s conclusion.
Women’s winner, Caroline Chaverot, crossing the finish line
Caroline Chaverot made it a French-sweep for the local runners as she won the women’s race in 25:14:40. Magdalena Boulet of the United States, a 2008 Olympic marathon runner, was the top North American in fifth.
The seven-minute gap between first and second was the slimmest margin of victory in UTMB’s history.
RELATED: VIDEO: The 10 essentials for trail running and backcountry adventure.
One of Canada’s top trail runners, Alissa St Laurent, withdrew from the race at the 14.5-hour mark. The Canadian is the only woman to have ever won the Canadian Death Race after accomplishing that feat in 2015.
RELATED: Pro and amateur runners team up to race the sunset on French mountains.
La championne 2015 de la Canadian Death Race Alissa ST LAURENT déclare forfait du parcours de 170km après 14h51 d'effort. @alissastlaurent
— Distances+ (@distancesplus) August 27, 2016
Quebec’s David Jeker, who currently resides in Switzerland, was also in the field on the weekend but was forced to withdraw at the 80K mark.
Abandon de l'ultra-traileur québécois @DavidJeker à mi-course à Courmayeur (km 80)
— Distances+ (@distancesplus) August 27, 2016
Canadian Calum Neff, the world record holder for fastest half-marathon with a stroller, was at the race and posting regular updates to Instagram. He did not race in this year’s event but is expected to run at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon at the beginning of October.
Canadian results
Rank First name, Family name Cat. Country
203. Benoit LETOURNEAU V1 H CAN (34:58:34)
231. Nick SUNDERLAND SE H CAN (35:34:29)
300. Sebastien ROULIER V1 H CAN (36:47:21)
301. Nicolas ST-VINCENT V1 H CAN (36:47:45)
329. Richard TURGEON V2 H CAN (37:19:23)
902. Kevin MATROSOVS V1 H CAN (42:51:56)
915. Bill HUANG V1 H CAN (43:00:42)
1204. Ludovic BOURE V2 H CAN (44:53:30)
RELATED: Trail running video of the year candidate: Racing in the Alps.
Photos
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