The North Face Ultra-Trail du Tour du Mont-Blanc.

The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc ® : An eco-responsible event!

Les Trailers du Mont Blanc (organising association for The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®) is aware of the difficulties in managing a large number of people around Mont-Blanc. In fact, to take several thousand people simultaneously on the paths of the Tour du Mont Blanc, without taking particular measures, creates many problems, as much on the level of the protection of the sites, as with respect for the fauna, the flora and the people of the region.

From the first event, the organisation involved itself in actions aiming not only at minimising the impact of the race on the environment but also in making runners, volunteers and those taking part in the event, aware through educational activities and of the respect for the environment.

L'Espace Mont Blanc, created 20 years ago, brings together 33 French, Italian and Swiss communities and takes in about 100,000 inhabitants. Its objective is the setting-up a policy of active promotion of the mountain incorporating the protection of natural habitats with the promotion of socio-economic activities whilst ensuring sustainable development.

For 2007 the organisation of The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® is exemplary. A completely new charter, specifically adapted to the event has been set up and will serve as a framework for the communities in the territory.
The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® has thus been retained as pilot event for this project, having become in the focus of attention, a real link between the communities in the tour du Mont Blanc.

The environmental objectives:

• Ground conservation (Do not leave the signposted itineraries …)
• Management of rubbish: recyclable or biodegradable (peelings, papers, bottles …), toxic (batteries...) and organic.
• The optimisation of public transport (to get to the bus stops, and to suggest to supporters that they follow the race by bus …). A very ambitious public transport plan has in addition been developed to enable each one to follow their runner around the entire circuit by using the buses at ultra-competitive rates.

An exceptional sports plateau

As for each year, many anonymous and top-level sportspersons will together make the start to participate in this fantastic adventure. However, faced with the success of the event, rules have been laid down by the organisation. In fact, to enrol in the "big circuit", each runner must have finished a trail of at least 80 km, or 2 trials of at least 50 km. The declarations of each one of the 2,200 runners have been scrupulously and systematically checked out. Only 1% of the enrolled will not finally be able to make the start of the complete circuit. The level of the 2007 event appears very high!
Many exceptional runners will be present at the start, such as:
Dawa SHERPA (NEP) 1st in the 2003 UTMB; Vincent DELEBARRE (F) 1st in the 2004 UTMB; Scott JUREK (USA) 1st in 2006 on the Badwater Ultramarathon Race 2006 and 1st in the 2004;Western states 100 miles Endurance Run Carl MELTZER (USA) several times winner of the Hard-Rock 100 miles ; …
You will also see many women: Karine HERRY (F) 8 victories in the big race of the Templiers, le Grand Raid de la Réunion and 1st in the 2006 UTMB, Elisabeth HAWKER (UK) 1st in the 2004UTMB, Ginette MORETTO-RUMEAU (F)…

10 % of the 2008 enrolments from a draw

The 2007 enrolments having been completed in record time (after 10h for the complete circuit and, after 28 hours for the CCC®), the organisation is confirming its respect for the great number of those "disappointed" who have not found a place this year. It has thus decided to organise exclusively by internet, a draw reserved for people who have not been able to enrol for the 2007 edition. It is from now on possible to any non-enrolled person to take part in the draw at www.ultratrailmb.com until the end of June 2007. The runners drawn will be advised by mail during the month of November about their possibility of enrolling before the official opening. As for those who will not be drawn, they will simply be able to follow the usual procedure.

Programme

• Thursday 23rd August 2007

  10h00 - 19h00 : Exhibition Hall -
  Handing-out of race numbers and control of obligatory material
• 
  

• Friday 24 August 2007

  12h00 : Start of the North Face Ultra-Trail Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix
  in the centre of Courmayeur.
  18h30 : Start of the North Face Ultra-Trail du Tour du Mont-Blanc ®
  in the centre of Chamonix
  21h00 : 1st arrival of the North Face Ultra-Trail Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix
  in the centre of Chamonix.
• 
  

• Saturday 25 August 2007

  12h00 : last arrival of the North Face Ultra-Trail Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix
  15h00 : prize-giving for Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix
  of the North Face Ultra-Trail du Tour du Mont-Blanc ® in the centre of Chamonix
  19h00 : Press Conférence with the winners
• 
  

• Sunday 26 August 2007

  14h00 : Prize-giving for the North Face Ultra-Trail du Tour du Mont-Blanc ®
  16h30 : last arrival of the North Face Ultra-Trail du Tour du Mont-Blanc ®
  19h30 : Closing buffet
• 
  

For further information on the race, visit www.ultratrailmb.com.

Contact:
thenorthface.eu@vfc.com