1 sport 1 place: Chamonix, the mecca of ultra-trailers

In the heart of the [French Alps](<https://www.lokki.rent/location/alpes/velo>), [Chamonix](<https://www.lokki.rent/location/chamonix/raquettes>) has been vibrating to the rhythm of the ultra-trail since 2003. In less than 20 years, the Mont-Blanc ultra-trail - the famous "UTMB", for those in the know - has become a **major event on the sporting scene**, on a par with the New York marathon. However, its founder, local boy Michel Poletti, also a trail enthusiast, could never have imagined the scale of this event, which he set up to replace the 150 km race around the highest point of the Alps, in seven-person relays. How did the UTMB become so legendary? What does it mean for Chamonix's \*\*economy\*\* today? ** the race of superlatives**: 171km and 10,000 metres of ascent, no less!

The link between **Chamonix and the** ultra-trail dates back more than a century, when the first **alpinists set foot on these unexplored lands**. The town quickly earned a reputation as an outpost for adventurers seeking to conquer the "roof of Europe", Mont Blanc. Originally, the competition was run on sections of road. But the tragic fire in the Mont-Blanc tunnel in March 1999 put the event on hold until 2002, when it came to a definitive halt, a victim of declining participation .

 *The Poletti couple, founders of the UTMB* In October 2002, faced with this void, a group of nine people, led by the couple **Michel and Catherine Poletti**, revived the tradition. Owners of a record store in Chamonix and **Nordic skiing enthusiasts**, the Polettis, already involved in the organization of local sporting events,\_ launched the Mont-Blanc ultra-trail \_ never imagining that it would become a worldwide event. ## A totally autonomous, no-competition adventure On Monday at 8 a.m., from the starting point in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, participants in the race must cover a distance of **300 km** with a **cumulative positive vertical drop of around 25,000 metres**. The race, which must be completed in a maximum of **152 hours**, is totally autonomous. It is conceived as a\*\* non-competitive\*\* adventure, carried out in \**binomial or trio*\*, where the members of each team must remain together from the start to the end of the journey. ## The first successes The first edition immediately exceeded \*\*expectations \*\*: the initial target of 300 participants was smashed: there were already **722 runners at the start!** During this inaugural edition, participants faced extremely harsh weather, with cold temperatures, rain showers and hail falling along the route. So much so that only **67 of them managed to cross the finish line.** By 2004, there were almost **1,400 competitors** and \*\*2,000 \*\* in 2005. Such was the enthusiasm for the event that registrations for the 2007 edition filled up **in just ten hours** and, in 2008, in just **eight minutes** for the flagship UTMB race! This growing success even forced the organizers to limit registrations to 2,500 participants to \*\*preserve the quality of the experience and safety \*\*on the trails.

In 2019, with the cancellation of the 2020 edition due to Covid, the organization registered 26,022 candidates for the 10,000 places available. The entries reflect **a remarkable diversity**, with **111 nationalities represented**, runners coming not only from France and Europe, but also from China, the USA and Japan, underlining the**universal appeal of this mythical race.** For all these reasons, the UTMB is often called: *"the race of all superlatives".*

 Since its inception, the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) has been the scene of **extraordinary performances**. Italy's **Marco Olmo**, at the age of 58, captivated the world by winning the UTMB in 2006 in a time of 21h06'06", defying age limits in endurance sport. In 2008, a young Catalan, \*\*Kilian Jornet \*\*, took the ultra-trail world by storm. At the age of 20, Jornet triumphed in his first participation in the UTMB with a time of 20:56:59, despite losing time at refuelling points and a 15-minute penalty. However, his victory sparked controversy because of his **minimalist equipment**, including a simple fanny pack and ultralight accessories inspired by ski-mountaineering. Other racers were outraged. In 2021, American Courtney Dauwalter's victory made a lasting impression. She set a breathtaking record of 22h30'54", beating the previous women's record held by Rory Bosio. François D'Haene is another iconic UTMB name. He marked the 15th edition in 2017 by winning his third, 15 minutes ahead of Kilian Jornet, despite stomach pains and cramps.

With its international resonance, the UTMB is today a major economic landmark for Chamonix and its valley. During the week of the event, the town welcomes tens of thousands of visitors, which de facto leads to a significant increase in local economic activity, particularly for\*\* shopkeepers, hoteliers and restaurateurs\*\*. [Economic spin-offs for the region have been estimated at around 23 million euros for 2023. ](<https://www.lyoncapitale.fr/actualite/utmb-mont-blanc-23-millions-d-euros-de-retombees-economiques#google_vignette>) The event also attracts a great deal of media attention, with the presence of numerous journalists and a large television audience. All this contributes to the \*\*notoriety of Chamonix \*\*as a tourist destination and the world capital of trail running. A godsend for "Cham", already so famous for its snow sports and mountaineering, but in the midst of reflection [on the future of its tourism in the face of melting glaciers.](<https://www.euractiv.fr/section/energie-climat/news/a-chamonix-le-tourisme-se-reinvente-face-a-la-fonte-des-glaces/>) However, this influx also has negative consequences , [such as **overcrowding and congestion**](<https://www.pro-mont-blanc.org/les-menaces-sur-le-mont-blanc/la-surfrequentation/#:~:text=La%20surfr%C3%A9quentation%20est%20la%20menace,'est%20le%20Mont%2DBlanc.>), particularly in natural areas and on trails. This raises **environmental concerns** and questions about the region's ability to manage such an influx of visitors.

Proof that the UTMB never ceases to intrigue, since early January it has been the scene of a **real controversy** concerning the 2024 edition to be held in August. Kilian Jornet and Zach Miller have launched a **call for a collective** boycott of the top fifteen male and female runners for the 2024 edition, with the aim of putting pressure on the organizers. While acknowledging the importance and greatness of the UTMB for the ultra-running world, the two runners express concern at what they perceive as a profit-centric\*\* approach at the expense of the well-being of athletes and the sport itself\*\*. They also deplore the lack of exchange and transparency on \**the environmental impact of the event and its accessibility.*\* These few days of high-profile tensions have opened up the debate. In a press release published on January 29, the [UTMB management explained](<https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/haute-savoie/chamonix/polemique-utmb-apres-l-appel-au-boycott-la-mise-au-point-entre-kilian-jornet-et-l-ultra-trail-du-mont-blanc-2912582.html>) that *"the event has grown considerably in barely two years, from around 20 races in 2022, to 37 races by the end of 2023; but it will reach a stabilization phase in 2024 (41 races)".*