








EVENT PARTNERS – VAL D ARAN BY UTMB®
Extreme traction for those who choose the toughest terrain
EDITORIAL P.09
UTMB® WORLD SERIES
MORE MOUNTAIN, MORE LIFE
ONLINE MONITORING
P.120
TRACK POINTS
HOW TO MOVE AROUND P.23
REMINDERS
P.29
COMPANIONS
P.117
P.124
TRAIL FESTIVAL BAQUEIRA BERET
P.125
Val d’Aran by UTMB® is organised by UTMB® Group.
All technical specifications, programmes and conditions are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.
Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher UTMB® Iberia SLU is prohibited. The images are protected by copyright.
Photography team: Carlos Llerandi /Adri Martínez / Dani Martínez / José Miguel Muñoz / Sergi Colomé / Oriol Batista / Borja Iban / Marti Alonso.
Web: valdaran.utmb.world/es
Contact: valdaran@service.utmb.world
Facebook: Val d’Aran by UTMB®
Instagram: @aranbyutmb
Twitter: @aranbyutmb
Youtube: Val d’Aran by UTMB®
Dear friends, Welcome to the third edition of Val d’Aran by UTMB®. This exceptional event, held in the heart of the Spanish Pyrenees, marks a key moment for the UTMB® World Series as the only European Major in 2023.
It is the second time Val d’Aran by UTMB® will hold the Major status, positioning it as the pinnacle event in Europe and offering the opportunity for even more runners to qualify for the UTMB® World Series Finals.
Over the last three years, the event has grown into an international success, attracting runners from more than 70 different countries who come with their friends and family to discover a beautiful destination, wild nature, and exceptional landscapes. A nature lovers paradise, Val d’Aran’s unique climate, perpetual snow, exquisite gastronomy and strong cultural heritage are all ingrained in the events DNA guaranteeing a unique experience on the trails.
As well as being a huge sporting success, Val d’Aran by UTMB® has succeeded in becoming a platform to positively promote the region internationally, and it an example of the positive economic impact events can have on a territory, while always respecting the natural environment.
Respect for the environment and for others, fair-play and solidarity are the values on which the UTMB® World Series has been built. We are proud to partner with an event like Val d’Aran by UTMB® which embodies these values so closely.
We hope you, along with your friends and your family, will take this opportunity to explore the wonderful Val d’Aran region and all that it has to offer, and we look forward to sharing the adventure with you. We’d also like to take the chance to thank all the partners, public and volunteers whose involvement help guarantee the success of the event, and make the runners experience all the more memorable.
We wish you all an amazing experience on the Val d’Aran trails.
Catherine y Michel Poletti Co-Founders, UTMB® GroupIn just three years of existence, Val d’Aran by UTMB ® has become the trail race with the most registered participants in Spain. But, with this environment, it is not surprising. Because all of you who have been on our starting lines to run through this incredible valley have told us so. “There is no other place like the Val d’Aran” .
And our aim, every time the bell stops ringing after 5 days of racing, is always the same: that next year will be even better. For those who dream to infinity and beyond, daring to face the hardness of the VDA, only suitable for the brave (or the unconscious), but also for those who want to live a great experience and risk falling in love with these mountains, with this wonderful sport that is trail running, and, perhaps, set their sights on future horizons such as the PDA or the CDH.
This 2023 we are incorporating a new distance, the EXP, Experiéncia d’Aran, 32 kilometres, with an exceptional route. On a Sunday. The perfect plan to experience Nature and close (or continue) a week that promises to generate great memories, the kind you never forget.
VDA, 163 km; CDH, 110 km; PDA, 55 km; EXP, 32 km; SKY and SKY Promesas, 15 km; TR2, 6 km in tribute to our volunteers, without whom Val d’Aran by UTMB ® would not be possible (thank you very much!); and, of course... our Trail Festival Baqueira Beret, because our kids also run, and we love to see them enjoy it!
Because in the Val d’Aran there are goals for everyone, and we all have our place.
Xavier Pocino Moga CEO de UTMB® IberiaTHIRD EDITION... AND WE WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED IT WOULD BE LIKE THIS!
Uniting the sport’s biggest stars and amateur runners through the best, leading international events in the most stunning locations, the UTMB World Series gives all trail runners the chance to experience the UTMB adventure across the world, and gain access to the UTMB World Series Finals at the pinnacle UTMB Mont- Blanc.
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, the mythic UTMB Mont-Blanc is the world’s most well-known and revered trail running event on the globe. In the heart of the Alps, the prestigious UTMB World Series Finals is held in 3 categories: the OCC (50K), CCC(100K) and UTMB (100M) every year at the end of August in Chamonix, France.
Three UTMB World Series Majors, are held each year across the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Collect double the amount of Running Stones compared to other UTMB World Series Events for the UTMB World Series Finals lottery. In total 225 runners are also granted automatic qualification for the UTMB World Series Finals through each Major. This includes age-group category winners and the top 10 male and female runners in the 100M, 100K and 50K categories.
DO YOU HAVE YOUR MY UTMB ACCOUNT ?
THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT ALL.
CHECK
OUT AT:
You can only collect Running Stones by finishing races in the 20K, 50K, 100K or 100M category at a UTMB World Series Event or UTMB World Series Major. Only 1 Running Stone acquired in the past two years is mandatory to enter the lottery. Running Stones are cumulative, have no expiration date, and each Running Stone gives you an additional chance to be drawn in the UTMB World Series Finals lottery.
The UTMB Index is calculated for each of the 4 UTMB World Series race categories: 20K, 50K,100k and 100M. Trail runners are also given a General UTMB Index calculated by combining results from all race categories. A valid UTMB Index is mandatory to enter the UTMB World Series Finals lottery, along with a minimum of 1 Running Stone.
- See your Running Stones count
- Check your UTMB Index
- View your race results
- Get detailed performance statistics
- See your upcoming race registrations
Today 90 percent of our neckwear, caps and knits are made in Barcelona - with the goal to take the full production home in the following years. Our ability to produce in-house allows greater control over both environmental and social standards and our facility is run by 100% renewable electricity.
For us – the protection of the planet is a lifelong commitment with the aim to do better every day.
10:00 – 22:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
10:00 – 21:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
17:00
Carrèr Major
Tredòs
19:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
THE DELIVERY OF BIBS FOR THE VDA, CDH, PDA, EXP AND SKY REQUIRES PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT
PDA bibs delivery
TR2 6 Km departure
Official Presentation and elite athletes
Carrèr Arroduets
Salardú
10:00 – 21:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
10:00 – 22:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
Finish Area
Vielha
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
Finish Area
Vielha
PDA departure
VDA and CDH bibs delivery
Scheduled arrival first runner PDA
PDA Awards Ceremony
Scheduled arrival last runner PDA
FRIDAY 7 JULY 10:00 – 14:00 16:30 – 22:00
– 21:00 18:00
Plaça deth Haro Les
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
Finish Area
Vielha
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
Finish Area Vielha
CDH departure
VDA bibs delivery
VDA departure
SKY and EXP bibs delivery
Scheduled arrival first runner CDH
Pla de Beret
10:00 – 21:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
– 15:00
Pla de Beret Pla de Beret Pla de Beret
10:00 – 21:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
10:30
Finish Area
11:15
Vielha Pla de Beret Pla de Beret Pla de Beret
15:00
Finish Area
Vielha
SKY and Trail Festival Baqueira Beret
bibs delivery
EXP bibs delivery
SKY PROMESAS departure
SKY MASTER departure
Trail Festival Baqueira Beret
Scheduled arrival last runner CDH
Scheduled arrival first runner SKY
SKY Awards Ceremony
Scheduled arrival last runner SKY
Scheduled arrival first runner VDA
08:00
Passeg dera Libertat
Vielha EXP departure
10:00 – 14:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
10:30
Finish Area
Vielha
12:30
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
15:40
Finish Area
Vielha
16:00
Finish Area
Vielha
Scheduled arrival first runner EXP
VDA, CDH, and EXP Awards Ceremony
Scheduled arrival last runner EXP
Scheduled arrival last runner VDA
This programme is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. #VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
An idyllic natural environment for running and climbing its beautiful peaks. Preserving its biodiversity is everyone’s responsibility.
Tredós
The nearest airport is Toulouse, in France, 166kms away.
There are 3 ways to get from Toulouse to the Val d’Aran:
By bus (3h40): TOULOUSE - ST. GAUDENS - VAL - Regular line. Frequency: two per day.
By car (2h00): TOULOUSE - VAL D’ARAN - Hire or Taxi.
On-demand service : TOULOUSE - VAL D’ARAN - OLPERER: Reservation required.
There are two ways to get from Barcelona to the Val d’Aran:
By bus (5h00): BARCELONA-VIELHA
*From 1 July until 10 July there will be a special bus line: Departure at 15:15 from Barcelona airport.
Departure at 5:00 a.m. from Vielha, destination Barcelona Nord (bus station) and Airport T1.
Regular ALSA line. Check rates and schedules at www.alsa.es.
By car (3h30): BARCELONA - VAL D’ARAN - Car rental or Taxi.
The closest towns to the Val d’Aran with train stations are: Lleida (AVE ) at 165kms, Montrejeau ( SNCF ) at 60kms, and Toulouse ( TGV ) at 165kms. Communications from these locations to the Val d’Aran are by road.
You can check rates and shedules at: www. renfe.es and www.sncf.com .
The closest airport in Spain is Barcelona, 350kms away (recommended for international flights) #VALDARANBYUTMB
There are other secondary airports nearby: Pau (Fr), Lourdes-Tarbes (Fr), Lleida (Es), and Zaragoza (Es).
| 2023
DUE TO THE PARTICULAR MOUNTAINOUS OROGRAPHY OF THE VAL D’ARAN, ALL ACCESS TO THE VALLEY ARE BY ROAD.
The UTMB-Pass is the valid transport ticket for unlimited access to the UTMB-Bus and the UTMB Mountain shuttles to aid stations. It gives access to the UTMB-Bus and the Intervalle service from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 July. For runners, companions and public.
We help you to be sustainable by providing you with a wide network of buses so that you can reach the towns and important points of the race without complications.
• Book and purchase your UTMB-Pass on the registration platform. You can pick it up at the Information Stand located in the Ultra-Trail® Village (Av. Pas d’Arro).
• UTMB-Passes will be available for sale at the Information Stand, but will be very limited . Please purchase it prior to the event to secure your place on the bus.
• Number of UTMB-Passes limited while stocks last.
CHILDREN:
Children under 4 years of age do not need to book a place as they can be seated with a parent or guardian. Children over 4 years old must purchase a UTMB-Pass.
ANIMALS:
Pets are not allowed on buses, except assistance dogs, always accompanied and under the responsibility of their owners.
For more information, please visit our website.
If you choose a more sustainable mode of transport to move around the Valley, this is the most comfortable, easy and safe option for you.
This transport will connect almost all the villages, from Les to Beret, with frequencies every hour or 30 minutes (depending on the time) , except at peak times when the frequency can be as low as 15 minutes.
This bus service will operate:
• Wednesday 5, from 10:00 to 22:00.
• Thursday 6, from 07:00 to 22:00.
• Uninterrupted from Friday 7 at 07:00h until Sunday 9 at 20:00h.
The UTMB-Pass will allow unlimited rides on the UTMB-Bus for its holders every day, and will also give access to the shuttles.
The UTMB-Bus will be free of charge for runners who withdrawal during the race, and to get to the departures in Les (CDH) and Salardú (PDA), prior reservation.
To access the VDA and EXP departures in Vielha, runners do not need a reservation. They can use the UTMB-Bus line showing their bib number.
“UTMB Mountain shuttles”. Special shuttle services to aid stations connected to the UTMB-Bus stops:
• Artiga de Lin Aid Station. Friday 18:00 hours: Stop ES BÒRDES. (Reservation required for companions).
• Banhs de Tredòs Aid Station.
Timetable races: Stop ARTIES.
These special lines will connect the UTMBBus with the following aid stations: Artiga de Lin (VDA) and Banhs de Tredòs (VDA, CDH and PDA).
Attention! Those accompanying PDA runners who wish to access the Banhs de Tredòs aid station area must reserve their place beforehand by purchasing their UTMB-Pass or PDA ticket.
We remind you that, once the car parks are full, the local authorities may close or regulate the accesses from time to time for the safety of the traffic of people and vehicles.
The shuttles will have permanent access to the aid stations. You can consult the information on access to these aid stations on our website: valdaran.utmb.world/es.
And remember! Access to the shuttles is free with the UTMB-Pass. No tickets will be sold per journey.
The PDA Ticket is the valid transport ticket for companions to access the PDA departure in Salardú and to follow the race. Runners must purchase it for their companions on the registration platform and it can only be used on Thursday 6 July.
The SKY Ticket is the return ticket for both runners and companions to access the SKY departure in Pla de Beret, and return. This ticket will only allow the return journey to Beret on Saturday 8 July.
• Book and purchase your PDA or SKY Ticket on the registration platform. You can pick it up at the Information Stand located in the Ultra-Trail® Village (Av. Pas d’Arro).
• PDA and SKY Tickets will be available for sale at the Information Stand, but will be very limited. Please purchase them prior to the event to secure your place on the bus.
• Number of PDA and SKY Tickets limited while stocks last.
From 5 July to 9 July you can use the UTMB-Bus to get around most of the towns in the Valley.
Check the location of the stops and their timetables in the weeks leading up to the event.
Only accessible with the UTMB-Pass. Unlimited rides.
Mountain shuttles. To get to the start of the CDH (Les) and the PDA (Salardú), the organization has arranged free buses for runners from all the UTMB-Bus stops, as these races are not circular.
To reach the departure (and return journey after your participation) of the SKY in Beret, you must buy the special SKY Ticket.
There is no specific service for the VDA and the EXP, but you can use the UTMB-Bus to get to Vielha.
If you withdraw at an aid station with a stop on the UTMB-Bus line, you can take the buses back to Vielha or to any of the other stops.
If there is no bus stop at the aid station, the organisation will take you to the nearest bus stop or to Vielha.
At the end of the race, in Vielha, runners have access to the UTMB-Bus to return to the place where they took the bus.
Free for all runners with the bib number and the identification wristband.
Free for CDH and PDA runners. But be careful, you must make your reservation on the registration platform. SKY: you must purchase a return ticket and book your seat. VDA and EXP: you can access to the UTMB-Bus to go to the departures showing your bib.
Free for all runners with the bib number and the identification wristband.
The bus will go to the same stops where it picked up the runners to go to the different departures (indicated on the map).
From the 5th of July until the 9th of July you can use the UTMB-Bus to get around most of the towns in the Valley.
Check the location of the stops and their timetables in the weeks leading up to the event.
Only accessible with the UTMB-Pass. Unlimited rides.
In order to be able to follow your runners in a comfortable way, you have the following combination:
• The UTMB-Bus that runs through most of the aid stations. Included in the UTMB-Pass.
• UTMB “Mountain shuttles”, included in the UTMBPass, to access the Artiga de Lin and Banhs de Tredòs aid stations.
Only accessible with the UTMB-Pass. Unlimited rides.
The PDA Ticket will only be valid on Thursday 6 July to track the event.
CDH, PDA and SKY: If you want to accompany your runner to the departure on the same bus, your runner must reserve your seat at the same time that she/he makes her/his reservation.
Included in the UTMB-Pass. You must have the UTMBPass to be able to get on the runner buses, and thus you can also return and do an unlimited tracking of the runner.
For the PDA, the runner’s companions can purchase the PDA Ticket (this ticket will only allow travel on Thursday 6 July). To access the shuttle to the Banhs de Tredòs aid station, a reservation must be made in advance.
For the SKY, the runner’s companions can purchase the SKY Ticket (this ticket will only allow the return journey to Beret on Saturday 8 July).
By purchasing the UTMB-Pass, from 5 July, at the Information stand located in the Ultra-Trail® Village (Av. Pas d’Arro), in Vielha, the UTMB-Bus and shuttles are at my disposal every day.
Val d’Aran by UTMB® is an important environmental challenge for our territory.
Help us to take care of the territory! Opt for a sustainable mobility model by reducing private vehicle journeys and limiting CO2 emissions in the Valley. Together we can make Val d’Aran by UTMB® an unforgettable experience without “bad fumes”.
The organisers recommend accessing the PDA departure by the UTMB-Bus as parking spaces in Salardú will be very limited.
REMEMBER! You must have a medical assistance insurance that you must upload on the registration platform, or purchase the one offered by the race organisers on the registration platform. The race bib will not be given to those runners who do not have medical assistance insurance uploaded on the registration platform.
REMEMBER! Book your appointment to pick up your VDA, CDH, PDA, EXP, and SKY bib during the month prior to the event at valdaran.utmb.world.
REMEMBER! Book your place on the shuttle to go to the PDA and the CDH departures.
REMEMBER! So that your companions and assistants can travel comfortably through the Valley and follow you at the various aid stations, book the UTMB-Pass for them on the registration platform.
PLEASE NOTE! It will not be possible to exchange the runner’s T-shirt that you will receive with your race bib. Please remember to confirm the size you want.
REMEMBER! If you have contracted a mobile phone line when you arrive in Spain, remember to communicate your new phone number to the organisation. You can change it by logging into the registration platform, or request a change at the Information stand or at the bibs delivery in the Ultra-Trail® Village.
REMEMBER! Download the free apps for tracking and reporting. LIVEINFO / LIVERUN. You can purchase a SIM card for your phone from VIELHA. If you purchase a SIM card from the country, remember to enter your new phone number on the registration platform.
From Val d’Aran by UTMB® we would like to propose a series of good practices so that our dream, your dream, remains a reality. Thank you for your collaboration!
Have fun while practising sport, but always respect the regulations of the area. Try to follow the routes marked in advance, and avoid shortcuts that cause unnecessary soil erosion.
Follow the indications and signs when you enter the peripheral area of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. Check the Park’s regulations here.
Don’t waste water. Buy only what you need and avoid single-use plastics and disposable materials.
If you have already taken part in an edition of Val d’Aran by UTMB® and you still have your life bag, give it a second chance and reuse it in your race. Be sustainable.
Deposit the waste in the selective collection containers provided. Outside the aid stations, take them with you in your backpack to the nearest bin.
Do not litter fountains and streams with your biological waste. Make sure your stools are well covered and away from trails and water areas. Use the least amount of toilet paper possible to reduce waste, and remember to take it with you and deposit it in the containers provided. In the envelope with your race bib you will find a small bag for this purpose, but it is a good idea to bring another one with you.
While running or walking, do not disturb wildlife, especially in the mountains.
Noise pollution can disturb both people and native species. Avoid unnecessary noise and don’t disturb, especially in mountain areas.
When passing through a barrier or gate, always leave it closed. And remember, if you pass through private land, do not pick fruit from trees without the owner’s permission.
Take care of the natural environment and leave it as it would be if you had not been there.
Avoid unnecessary CO2 emissions. Use public transport when travelling within the Valley, if possible. If you need to use your vehicle, park it in the car parks set up for this purpose.
When you are not driving, always turn off the engines.
Help boost rural economies by using local services and consuming local products.
DISTANCE 163 KM
D+ 10.000M
D10.000M
DEPARTURE FRIDAY 7 JULY 16:00 HOURS
DEPARTURE VIELHA
Torn dera Val d’Aran means Tour around the Val d’Aran in Aranese, the local language. We like to dream big, so why not go all the way around the valley?
Air, fire, earth and water are the elements that you will find along the route. The geometric shapes of the race logo and its colour represent fire, so present in Aranese culture because of the Fire Festivities.
ARRIVAL VIELHA
MAXIMUM RACE TIME 48 HOURS
FIRST RUNNER TIME FORECAST 23 HOURS
#VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
Participation in the Val d’Aran by UTMB® races implies the express and unreserved acceptance of the Regulations published on the website valdaran.utmb.world and of any instructions given by the organiser and his team to the participants.
It also entails acceptance of the basic rules of companionship and help between runners, and of eco-responsibility measures.
In order to avoid unnecessary waiting times and crowds, the organisers will set up a PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT for bib collection. A few weeks before the event it will be possible to book through the registration platform the time slot for the bib collection that best suits the runner’s needs. No bibs will be handed out without a PRIOR APPOINTMENT. Runners will be informed of the opening of the period for booking a PRIOR APPOINTMENT by email and through the Val d’Aran by UTMB® information channels.
For bib collection, which will take place at the Ultra-Trail® Village, in Vielha, it will be compulsory to present an ID card, supporting document or PASSPORT.
In addition, runners must have uploaded their accident insurance on the registration platform prior to the event, or have purchased the insurance proposed by the organisation. NO RACE BIB WILL BE GIVEN TO A RUNNER WITHOUT ACCIDENT INSURANCE.
The collection of bib numbers will be personal. No bib number may be collected by a third party for security reasons. We must check in person the veracity of the data and each of you will be given a runner’s wristband that gives access to the race services.
The bib must be worn on the chest or belly and must be visible permanently and in its entirety throughout the race. It must always be positioned on top of any clothing and under no circumstances may it be attached to the backpack or a leg. The bib is the necessary pass to access the buses, aid stations, infirmaries, bag deposit areas, bag retrieval, etc.
Except in the case of refusal to obey the decision of a race official, the bib is never removed, but in the case of withdraw it is deactivated and marked.
Each runner will be given 2 electronic chips (front bib and backpack bib) and an identification bracelet . Some checkpoints will be automatic and others manual. There will be other surprise checkpoints carried out by the organisation. Runners who are not in possession of their chips and wristband will be penalised.
The use of the chip is very important to be able to control your times.
You must place the chip in your race backpack, in a visible place, with a clip that you will find in the envelope of your race bib.
Each runner receives three 30-litre bags at the bibs delivery, as well as material for personal identification with their bib. After filling them with the necessities of your choice and closing them, you can leave them from 14:00 to 15:30 on Friday 7 July at the Ultra-Trail® Village (Av. Pas d’Arro - Vielha).
Only the bags provided by the organisation will be transported. Poles cannot be carried in the bags. The contents of the bags will not be checked and no complaints about their contents will be dealt with. We recommend not to bring valuables.
The bags will be deposited in Vielha. During the race, the runner will be able to recover the first bag at the Bossòst aid station, the second at the Beret aid station, and the third at the Arties aid station. Once returned, they will be transported to be collected later in Vielha.
When collecting the bibs, runners will find an identification sticker on their envelope with their bib number to identify the bag that goes to Bossòst, the one that goes to Beret, and the one that goes to Arties.
Runners, or their relatives, will be able to collect their bags on presentation of the bib. They must be collected at the Ultra-Trail® Village in the following time slots:
Saturday 8 July: 09:00 to 00:00 hours. Sunday 9 July: 08:00 to 18:00 hours.
The organisation ensures the return of the bags of runners who have withdrawn, provided that the abandonment has been registered. The time taken to return the bag will depend on logistical requirements, and the organisation cannot guarantee the delivery of all the bags before the end of the race.
In case of withdraw at any point of the race other than Bossòst, Beret and Arties, we cannot guarantee that the runner will have the bag when he/she arrives in Vielha. We thank you for being patient and respecting the work of the volunteers.
In order to avoid wasting disposable plastic cups, plates and cutlery during the race, everyone must bring their own, with a minimum capacity of 15 cl.
Attention! No canteens or containers with stoppers are accepted instead of cups.
The organisation will not distribute any disposable tableware (cutlery, glasses, bowls) at the life bases or aid stations.
You are obliged to bring your own cutlery if you want to eat hot food (soup, pasta...) during the race.
Fine, but you can only display it on clothing or equipment worn during the race. Any other advertising accessory (flag, banner...) is forbidden at any point along the course, including the finish line. #VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
Help us to preserve natural spaces, don’t throw your rubbish on the routes! We all share the responsibility of keeping our playground clean. Don’t forget to bring a bag to carry your rubbish between two points equipped with bins.
Check the regulations of the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park here.
The volunteers are there to help you, but also to ensure that the rules are respected. Among them, the race marshals will have precise orders, especially with regard to the immediate application of penalties in real time in the event of non-compliance with the rules.
Downtime penalties are applied during the race. Specifically, this penalty leads to a regression in the ranking for those at the head of the race, and the risk of not passing the time barrier for those who are further behind.
T he race commissaires are empowered to check the mandatory equipment at the departures and at various points along the route. The absence of any of the obligatory safety equipment (no water reserve of at least 1.5 litres at an aid station, no jacket with hood, no torch, no emergency blanket, no mobile phone, etc.) will result in immediate disqualification.
To know the penalties applied you can read the complete Set of Rules at valdaran.utmb.world.
The most important cases will be discussed in coordination with the race management.
The organisation will provide liquid and solid provisioning along the routes. The organisation provides mineral water or energy drink to refill the obligatory liquid bags and individual cups. It is the responsibility of the runner to have, when leaving the aid station, the necessary amount of drink and food to reach the next aid station.
Only runners wearing a visible race bib on their chest or belly and their wristband will have access to the aid stations. The organisation will only provide water or energy drinks to fill the flasks or hydration bags. Other drinks must only be consumed at the aid stations.
There will be 3 types of aid stations::
All races are run on a semi-autonomous basis and therefore runners will also have to provide for their own reserves. Runners must be able to organise their own survival between two aid stations. For this reason, at the departure of the aid station, only liquids may be provided.
• Drinks only.
• Full supply.
• Hot food supply in Bossòst, Beret and Arties.
Runners will have a final aid station at the Ultra-Trail® Village. In addition, there will also be a food truck area for companions.
COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES SUPPLEMENTS
WATER
SPARKLING WATER
DRINK MIX NÄAK
COLA SOFT DRINK
These time barriers are calculated to allow participants to reach the finish line in the maximum time imposed, with possible stops (lunch, rest...). To be authorised to continue the race, participants must leave the checkpoint before the set time limit (regardless of the time of arrival at the checkpoint).
Participants are obliged to pass through the checkpoints, which are clearly visible and coincide, for the most part, with the aid stations. At each checkpoint there will be staff from the organisation who will verify the passage of the runners. Participants are responsible for ensuring that the controller has verified their passage through each checkpoint.
A team from the organisation will close the races. The instructions of the organisers and security personnel must be followed at all times. No runner will be allowed to leave a checkpoint behind the broom team.
The entire course will be marked with orange ribbons or orange flags, and reinforced with signage. All beacons are equipped with a reflective material that reflects the light from the front.
WARNING: If you don’t see any markers, turn back! The point of the marker does not indicate the direction to follow. It is compulsory to follow the marked routes, without shortening them.
Except in case of injury or accident, a participant may not abandon the race except at an aid station set up for withdraw.
In case of withdraw, the organisation staff must be informed as soon as possible at the nearest aid station or, if not, by calling the Race Control Centre (CECOR) number on the bib. In this case, the bib will be marked as “withdraw”. The runner will keep his/her bib as it is the passport to access the buses and other services.
The participant will also have to inform the aid station how he/she will return to his/her place of origin, or if he/she needs transport to the departure point or to the
nearest point with a public transport service. All runners who have withdrawn will be evacuated to Vielha or to a point with a public transport service (free of charge for runners). However, it must be taken into account that the logistics in these cases is complicated, and it is possible that the runner may have to wait for a while before the transport. We ask for your understanding, bear in mind that this is a high mountain.
Runners who withdraw at another point on the course, or at an aid station where no transport is possible (high mountain), but whose state of health does not require evacuation, must reach the nearest transport/ return point by their own means as soon as possible.
In case of unfavourable weather conditions that justify the partial or total suspension of the race, the organisers will ensure that the runners return to the finish line in the shortest possible time.
In case of withdraw due to injury or accident that prevents the participant from walking to the nearest checkpoint, the participant must communicate the situation to the race emergency centre, whose telephone number can be found on the race bib
(AranByUTMB emergency telephone +34 973 643 651) , or to the following emergency telephone numbers:
AranByUTMB emergency telephone number +34 973 643 651
Pompièrs d’Aran emergency telephone number +34 973 640 080 o
112 Emergencies
We advise you to save these numbers in your address book as “aa VDA” to make it easier to find them if necessary, with the prefix +34 in front, as we are in a border area.
Solidarity among participants is key in these cases. Collaboration must take precedence over competitiveness. Solidarity and respect between runners will be crucial in this type of situation.
Personal assistance is only allowed at certain aid stations. The aid stations where assistance is allowed are: BOSSÒST, BERET, ARTIES.
Assistance will be provided by a single person, in the area specifically reserved for this use, after identifying themselves by means of a “SUPPORTER - BIB Number” accreditation and at the discretion of the aid station manager (the rest of the aid station area is strictly reserved for runners).
SUPPORTER accreditations are provided at the time of collecting the bib. The runner is free to give them to any person he/ she wishes.
Your assistance is entitled only to access with a hand bag (maximum 30 litres) to carry the necessary products (food, clothes...). Assistance provided by professionals, or any medical or paramedical professional, is strictly forbidden. This measure is a guarantee of fairness between runners. Naturally, this does not prevent your family and friends from supporting you throughout the race.
Simply, in order to ensure a good atmosphere and harmony, ask them to respect the instructions of the aid station manager.
Aid stations with allowed assistance :
AV. 5 BOSSÒST (KM. 49)
AV. 10 BERET (KM. 104)
AV. 15 ARTIES (KM. 149)
In order to ensure equality between competitors, whatever their level, it is forbidden to be accompanied on any part or all of the race by a non-registered person, outside the clearly identified tolerance zones near the aid stations. This authorises small family walks at the meeting points, but forbids “hares”.
Race marshals will be present at various points along the course and will be able to impose penalties in real time in case of non-compliance with the rules.
ACCOMPANIMENT AND ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
-500 M
ASSISTANCE AREA TOLERATED ASSISTANCE (1 PERSON)
ACCOMPANIMENT TOLERATED ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
ACCOMPANIMENT AND ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
In the Pyrenees, and in the Val d’Aran, the weather can change very quickly. In order to ensure the correct evolution of the race, please pay special attention to this section.
All runners undertake to carry the mandatory equipment. All participants, without exception, must ensure that they have, as a minimum, the material marked as mandatory in the following table, in order to be able to take part in the race. On the 5th July, and according to what the Safety Committee determines on the basis of the latest meteorological report, it will be communicated if any of the items on the list are not compulsory for the whole race, or if any of the recommended items become mandatory.
Random control of mandatory equipment will be carried out to access the closed starting area, and at any point along the route between the departure and arrival (included), where bibs, chips and mandatory equipmen t will be checked. Not wearing it implies immediate disqualification from the race.
All garments must be of the participant’s size and unaltered after leaving the factory.
All the material will be transported in a backpack, or similar, which the runner will mark with the chip that will be given to him/her at the race-bib collection, and which cannot be changed during the race.
Any participant who chooses to carry poles must carry them throughout the race. It is forbidden to start without poles and to obtain and use poles during the race. Walking poles will not be allowed in the spare bag.
Closed shoes suitable for trail running.
Backpack or similar to carry the mandatory equipment. The timing chip delivered along with the bib number must be added to the backpack.
Food reserve. Recommended: 800kcal (2 gels + 2 energy bars of 65g each).
Cap or bandana.
Warm, waterproof gloves.
Jacket with hood to withstand bad weather in the mountains and made with a waterproof membrane mini- mum 10,000 mm water column and breathable (recommended RET less than 13).
Waterproof overtrousers
Dishes and eating utensils.
Smartphone with LiveRun App installed and parameterized that allows its use in Spain and France. The runner must be available and answer the phone at any time before, during and after the race. Keep your phone on, airplane mode is prohibited and can be penalized. An external battery is recommended.
• The jacket must imperatively have an integrated or attached hood with a system provided of origin by the manufacturer.
• The seams must be heat-sealed.
• The jacket must not have parts made of a nonwaterproof fabric, only the ventilation provided by the manufac- turer (under the arms, on the back) and as long as they do not obviously alter impermeability, are accepted.
Personal glass of at least 15cl. (Drums or containers with stoppers not accepted).
Water reserve of 1.5l minimum.
2 headlamps with batteries or spare batteries for one headlamp. Recommendation: 200 lumens or more for the main lamp.
Survival blanket of 1.40m x 2m minimum.
Whistle.
Adhesive elastic band (min. 100 cm x 6 cm).
• It is the responsibility of the runner to judge, according to these criteria, if his jacket adapts to the regulations and therefore to the bad weather in the mountains, but in a control, the judgment of the person in charge of the control or the commissioner will prevail.
Long-legged running pants or tights.
*If you want to eat hot it is mandatory. This material is not provided at the aid stations.
Poles.
Vaseline or anti-scratch cream.
GPS watch with race course uploaded.
Knife or scissors to cut the elastic tape.
Sewing kit.
Second additional thermal layer: A longsleeved second layer thermal garment (cotton excluded) weighing at least 180g (men, size M). OR the combination of a long-sleeved thermal undergarment (first or second layer, cotton excluded) of aminimum weight of 110g (men, size M) and a windbreaker* with water-repellent protection resistant (DWR protection).
*the windbreaker is not a substitute for the waterproof jacket with hood, and vice versa.
Drinking water tablets or Soft flask with filter.
Sunscreen.
Sunglasses.
The Val d’Aran by UTMB® races take place in the middle of nature, in mountainous areas, in isolated areas (far from the main road networks, telecommunications...), with weather that can change very quickly and become adverse.
Instructions to be taken into account during the tour:
- Don’t stop at high altitudes.
- If you miss the markers, turn around to look for the last one.
- Stay on the roads.
Some common sense tips for dealing with difficult weather:
• Be prepared for extreme heat and cold.
• Don’t wait until you’re shivering to get warm.
• Don’t change exposed in the wind: Anticipate it or wait until you are under cover.
• Protect yourself from the sun.
Be careful with the poles, especially in the first part of the race, where the density of runners is particularly high. Do not use the strap poles during the descents because, in the event of a heavy fall, the strap
poles prevent you from recovering properly with your hands (injuries to shoulders, wrists, forearms, etc., or your head).
Hydration and energy intake must be adapted to the weather conditions and enriched with salts throughout the effort. Maintain a good balance between slow and fast sugars.
At the aid stations there are places to rest and sleep for a period of time. We recommend that runners rest at the aid stations where there is a place to sleep.
All runners must stay on the marked path, even to sleep. If you need to sleep on the route, it is highly recommended that you use the “sleep bib” provided by the organisation. This bib allows you to indicate that you feel like getting some sleep without being disturbed. It can be dangerous to stop alone in the middle of nature to sleep.
Tiredness and lack of concentration can be the cause of an accident. Run according to your possibilities in order to reserve energy to overcome a difficult si -
tuation, such as a sudden change in the weather.
Any runner who voluntarily departs from the marked route is no longer under the responsibility of the organisation.
In order to take the departure, we remind you that all participants must be in possession of an individual accident insurance that covers the costs of rescue and evacuation in the mountains, in Spanish and French territory, up to an altitude of at least 3,000 metres, as well as the probable costs of hospitalisation. The insurance must cover the practice of trail running and participation in long distance races in the mountains. The insurance can be taken out by any organisation, federation or insurance company of the participant’s choice.
However, the organisation offers runners who have not taken out insurance that meets the requirements, or who wish to extend their cover, the possibility of taking out insurance by going to the registration platform. Highly recommended for all runners.
The bib will not be given to those runners who have not uploaded their accident insurance on the registration platform or, if they do not have it, who have not taken out the insurance offered by the organisation. Having accident insurance is a requirement for running in Val d’Aran by UTMB®.
LiveTrail will be used for the timing and tracking of the runners. The bibs will incorporate a single-use chip attached to the bib (which must not be returned), as well as an additional chip that each runner must place in their backpack.
At the checkpoints (identified on the map) you will have to pass the chip control, which will be carried out manually by a duly identified volunteer, or automatically by radio frequency.
Each participant must ensure that he/she passes the chip, and assists in its control, at all the checkpoints established by the organisation. Failure to pass a timing checkpoint will result in disqualification of the participant.
The identification of the runner at the checkpoints depends on the chip control and not on the passing judges.
Runners can be tracked online through the website https://live.utmb.world. There is also the LiveRun APP, valid for Android and IOS.
The application is a reference interface for your safety, providing important race information (real-time tracking of your race and that of your friends). In case of SOS, there is a function that allows you to send your GPS position directly by SMS to the organisation. This represents a vital time saving for the rescue.
Caution! Under no circumstances should it replace a call to the Race Control Centre (CECOR).
The mobile phone is mandatory and must have the international option during the race, have a battery, and be operational. Under no circumstances put it on aeroplane mode as we may need to contact you before, during and after the race. We recommend smartphones to be able to use the LiveRun by LiveTrail® application. It is essential for your safety. For runners who will be running for more than 15 hours, it is advisable to bring an external battery. Check that the number you have indicated us as an emergency contact number is the person you wish to be contacted in case of problems.
Very important: To avoid aggravating circumstances in case of accident, make sure your details are correct on the registration platform. You can update it until the start of your race.
There are several help and control points along the route. These points are communicated by radio or telephone with the Race Control Centre (the number of the Control Centre, CECOR, +34 973 643 651, will be printed on the bib), where there will be a medical team throughout the race.
The help points are intended to provide assistance to any person with the organisation’s own or public means. It is the responsibility of a runner in difficulty to ask for help:
• Reporting to the help point.
• Calling the Control Centre (CECOR).
• Asking another runner to request assistance.
• Using the SOS function of the LiveRun application.
Every runner must assist any person in difficulty and ask for help. In addition, they must stay with the runner in distress until the arrival of the organisation’s staff.
If it is impossible to contact the Race Control Centre, +34 973 643 651, it is possible to call the emergency services directly (particularly in areas where only emergency calls are possible) by calling 112 or +34 973 640 080 Pompièrs d’Aran.
We must not forget the difficulties of all kinds, linked to the environment and the race, which can make you wait longer than expected for help. Safety will therefore depend on the quality of the equipment carried in the backpack.
Before you start, make sure you register the emergency numbers on your mobile phone!
WEDNESDAY 5 JULY
19:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
THURSDAY 6 JULY
10:00 – 22:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
FRIDAY 7 JULY
10:00 – 14:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
16:00
SATURDAY 8 JULY
15:00
Finish area
Vielha
Finish area
Vielha
Official Presentation and elite athletes
Bibs delivery VDA
Bibs delivery VDA
VDA departure
Scheduled arrival first runner VDA
SUNDAY 9 JULY
VDA, CDH, and EXP Awards Ceremony
FRIDAY 7 JULY
SATURDAY 8 JULY
SUNDAY 9 JULY
Remember to choose the time to pick up your race bib on the registration platform.
#VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
Scheduled arrival last runner VDA
Finish / Departure
Motorhome Parking Parking WC Hospital Bus Stop
Ultra-Trail Village
Runner Info / Tourist Info
Race bib pick-up
Official Store
Final aid station
Shuttles to the CDH and PDA departures
UTMB-Bus at night:
Timetable: 22:00 - 8:00 hours
On Friday 7th and Saturday 8th, from 22h00 to 8h00, the bus stop will be moved to the Ultra-Trail Village.
Showers
Palai d’Espòrts (only on race days)
Official Technology Sponsors, Val d'Aran by UTMB 2023
Camins d’Hèr means Iron Roads in Aranese, the local language. The Valley’s old mining past comes to the fore in this spectacular race, where you will cross tunnels and abandoned mines at the foot of the imposing Mauberme.
The ochre colour of the logo, and the geometric shapes representing nuts, pay homage to our roots, to the earth.
DISTANCE 110 KM
D+ 6.400M D6.050M
DEPARTURE FRIDAY 7 JULY 06:00 HOURS
#VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
DEPARTURE LES ARRIVAL VIELHA
MAXIMUM RACE TIME 26 HOURS
FIRST RUNNER TIME FORECAST 12 HOURS
Participation in the Val d’Aran by UTMB® races implies the express and unreserved acceptance of the Regulations published on the website valdaran.utmb.world and of any instructions given by the organiser and his team to the participants.
It also entails acceptance of the basic rules of companionship and help between runners, and of eco-responsibility measures.
In order to avoid unnecessary waiting times and crowds, the organisers will set up a PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT for bib collection. A few weeks before the event it will be possible to book through the registration platform the time slot for the bib collection that best suits the runner’s needs. No bibs will be handed out without a PRIOR APPOINTMENT. Runners will be informed of the opening of the period for booking a PRIOR APPOINTMENT by email and through the Val d’Aran by UTMB® information channels.
For bib collection, which will take place at the Ultra-Trail® Village, in Vielha, it will be compulsory to present an ID card, supporting document or PASSPORT.
In addition, runners must have uploaded their accident insurance on the registration platform prior to the event, or have purchased the insurance proposed by the organisation. NO RACE BIB WILL BE GIVEN TO A RUNNER WITHOUT ACCIDENT INSURANCE.
The collection of bib numbers will be personal . No bib number may be collected by a third party for security reasons. We must check in person the veracity of the data and each of you will be given a runner’s wristband that gives access to the race services.
The bib must be worn on the chest or belly and must be visible permanently and in its entirety throughout the race. It must always be positioned on top of any clothing and under no circumstances may it be attached to the backpack or a leg. The bib is the necessary pass to access the buses, aid stations, infirmaries, bag deposit areas, bag retrieval, etc.
Except in the case of refusal to obey the decision of a race official, the bib is never removed, but in the case of withdraw it is deactivated and marked.
Each runner will be given 2 electronic chips (front bib and backpack bib) and an identification bracelet . Some checkpoints will be automatic and others manual. There will be other surprise checkpoints carried out by the organisation. Runners who are not in possession of their chips and wristband will be penalised.
The use of the chip is very important to be able to control your times.
You must place the chip in your race backpack, in a visible place, with a clip that you will find in the envelope of your race bib.
The departure will take place in two waves, at 06:00 and 06:30, ordered according to the UTMB® Index of each runner. Runners who do not have UTMB® Index will start the race in the last wave.
Each runner will be informed in advance of their corresponding wave.
Each runner receives two 30-litre bags at the bib pick-up , as well as material for personal identification with their bib. After filling them with the necessities of your choice and closing them, you can leave them in the space provided next to the start line up to 40 minutes before the start.
Only the bags provided by the organisation will be transported. Poles cannot be carried in the bags. The contents of the bags will not be checked and no complaints about their contents will be dealt with. We recommend not to bring valuables.
The bags will be deposited in Les, next to the start line. During the race the runner will be able to recover them at the aid stations in Beret and Arties. Once returned, they will be transported to be collected later in Vielha.
In case of withdraw at any point of the race other than Beret or Arties, we cannot guarantee that the runner will have the bag when he/she arrives in Vielha. We thank you for being patient and respecting the work of the volunteers.
When collecting the bibs, runners will find an identification sticker on their envelope with their bib number to identify the bag that goes to Beret and the one that goes to Arties.
Runners, or their relatives, will be able to collect their bags on presentation of the bib. They must be collected at the Ultra-Trail® Village (Av. Pas d’Arro - Vielha) in the following time slots:
Friday 7 July: From 12:00 to 00:00. Saturday 8 July: 06:00 to 18:00 hours.
The organisation ensures the return of the bags of runners who have withdrawn, provided that the abandonment has been registered. The time taken to return the bag will depend on logistical requirements, and the organisation cannot guarantee the delivery of all the bags before the end of the race.
In order to avoid wasting disposable plastic cups, plates and cutlery during the race, everyone must bring their own, with a minimum capacity of 15 cl.
Attention! No canteens or containers with stoppers are accepted instead of cups.
The organisation will not distribute any disposable tableware (cutlery, glasses, bowls) at the life bases or aid stations. You are obliged to bring your own cutlery if you want to eat hot food (soup, pasta...) during the race.
Fine, but you can only display it on clothing or equipment worn during the race. Any other advertising accessory (flag, banner...) is forbidden at any point along the course, including the finish line.
Help us to preserve natural spaces, don’t throw your rubbish on the routes! We all share the responsibility of keeping our playground clean. Don’t forget to bring a bag to carry your rubbish between two points equipped with bins.
Check the regulations of the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park here.
The volunteers are there to help you, but also to ensure that the rules are respected. Among them, the race marshals will have precise orders, especially with regard to the immediate application of penalties in real time in the event of non-compliance with the rules.
Downtime penalties are applied during the race. Specifically, this penalty leads to a regression in the ranking for those at the head of the race, and the risk of not passing the time barrier for those who are further behind.
The race commissaires are empowered to check the mandatory equipment at the departures and at various points along the route. The absence of any of the obligatory safety equipment (no water reserve of at least 1.5 litres at an aid station, no jacket with hood, no torch, no emergency blanket, no mobile phone, etc.) will result in immediate disqualification.
To know the penalties applied you can read the complete Set of Rules at valdaran.utmb.world .
The most important cases will be discussed in coordination with the race management.
All races are run on a semi-autonomous basis and therefore runners will also have to provide for their own reserves. Runners must be able to organise their own survival between two aid stations. For this reason, at the departure of the aid station, only liquids may be provided.
The organisation will provide liquid and solid provisioning along the routes. The organisation provides mineral water or energy drink to refill the obligatory liquid bags and individual cups. It is the responsibility of the runner to have, when leaving the aid station, the necessary amount of drink and food to reach the next aid station.
Only runners wearing a visible race bib on their chest or belly and their wristband will have access to the aid stations. The organisation will only provide water or energy drinks to fill the flasks or hydration bags. Other drinks must only be consumed at the aid stations.
There will be 3 types of aid stations:
• Drinks only.
• Full supply.
• Hot food supply in Beret and Arties.
Runners will have a final aid station at the Ultra-Trail® Village. In addition, there will also be a food truck area for companions.
PRODUCTS FAMILY DRINKS
WATER
SPARKLING WATER
DRINK MIX NÄAK
COLA SOFT DRINK
ORANGE
JUICES
INFUSIONS
TEA
COFFEE
BANANAS
WATERMELON
MELON
ORANGE
DRIED FRUIT AND NUTS
SWEETS
RAISINS
DRIED APRICOT
ASSORTED NUTS AND DRIED FRUIT
JELLY BEANS
MILK CHOCOLATE
QUINCE
BISCUITS
HEART-SHAPED PUFF PASTRY
BAKERY AND SANDWICHES
SLICED BREAD
PAGES BREAD
COCOA CREAM
PEANUT CREAM
CHEESE
SALAMI/IBERIAN SPICY SAUSAGE
FUET
PICOS
CRACKERS
COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES SUPPLEMENTS
NÄAK WAFERS
CEREAL BARS
HOT PASTA
HOT RICE
COLD RICE SALAD
GREEN OLIVES
BROTH
NÄAK ENERGY BARS
These time barriers are calculated to allow participants to reach the finish line in the maximum time imposed, with possible stops (lunch, rest...). To be authorised to continue the race, participants must leave the checkpoint before the set time limit (regardless of the time of arrival at the checkpoint).
Participants are obliged to pass through the checkpoints, which are clearly visible and coincide, for the most part, with the aid stations. At each checkpoint there will be staff from the organisation who will verify the passage of the runners. Participants are responsible for ensuring that the controller has verified their passage through each checkpoint.
A team from the organisation will close the races. The instructions of the organisers and security personnel must be followed at all times. No runner will be allowed to leave a checkpoint behind the broom team.
The entire course will be marked with orange ribbons or orange flags, and reinforced with signage. All beacons are equipped with a reflective material that reflects the light from the front.
WARNING: If you don’t see any markers, turn back! The point of the marker does not indicate the direction to follow. It is compulsory to follow the marked routes, without shortening them.
Except in case of injury or accident, a participant may not abandon the race except at an aid station set up for withdraw.
In case of withdraw, the organisation staff must be informed as soon as possible at the nearest aid station or, if not, by calling the Race Control Centre (CECOR) number on the bib. In this case, the bib will be marked as “withdraw”. The runner will keep his/her bib as it is the passport to access the buses and other services.
The participant will also have to inform the aid station how he/she will return to his/her place of origin, or if he/she needs transport to the departure point or to the
nearest point with a public transport service. All runners who have withdrawn will be evacuated to Vielha or to a point with a public transport service (free of charge for runners). However, it must be taken into account that the logistics in these cases is complicated, and it is possible that the runner may have to wait for a while before the transport. We ask for your understanding, bear in mind that this is a high mountain.
Runners who withdraw at another point on the course, or at an aid station where no transport is possible (high mountain), but whose state of health does not require evacuation, must reach the nearest transport/ return point by their own means as soon as possible.
In case of unfavourable weather conditions that justify the partial or total suspension of the race, the organisers will ensure that the runners return to the finish line in the shortest possible time.
In case of withdraw due to injury or accident that prevents the participant from walking to the nearest checkpoint, the participant must communicate the situation to the race emergency centre, whose telephone number can be found on the race bib
(AranByUTMB emergency telephone +34 973 643 651) , or to the following emergency telephone numbers:
We advise you to save these numbers in your address book as “aa VDA” to make it easier to find them if necessary, with the prefix +34 in front, as we are in a border area.
Solidarity among participants is key in these cases. Collaboration must take precedence over competitiveness. Solidarity and respect between runners will be crucial in this type of situation.
Personal assistance is only allowed at certain aid stations. The aid stations where assistance is allowed are: BERET and ARTIES.
Assistance will be provided by a single person, in the area specifically reserved for this use, after identifying themselves by means of a “SUPPORTER - BIB Number” accreditation and at the discretion of the aid station manager (the rest of the aid station area is strictly reserved for runners).
SUPPORTER accreditations are provided at the time of collecting the bib. The runner is free to give them to any person he/ she wishes.
Your assistance is entitled only to access with a hand bag (maximum 30 litres) to carry the necessary products (food, clothes...). Assistance provided by professionals, or any medical or paramedical professional, is strictly forbidden. This measure is a guarantee of fairness between runners. Naturally, this does not prevent your family and friends from supporting you throughout the race.
Simply, in order to ensure a good atmosphere and harmony, ask them to respect the instructions of the aid station manager.
Aid stations with allowed assistance:
AV. 5 BERET (KM. 53)
AV. 10 ARTIES (KM. 96)
In order to ensure equality between competitors, whatever their level, it is forbidden to be accompanied on any part or all of the race by a non-registered person, outside the clearly identified tolerance zones near the aid stations. This authorises small family walks at the meeting points, but forbids “hares”.
Race marshals will be present at various points along the course and will be able to impose penalties in real time in case of non-compliance with the rules.
ASSISTANCE AREA TOLERATED ASSISTANCE (1 PERSON)
ACCOMPANIMENT AND ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
ACCOMPANIMENT TOLERATED ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
ACCOMPANIMENT AND ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
In the Pyrenees, and in the Val d’Aran, the weather can change very quickly. In order to ensure the correct evolution of the race, please pay special attention to this section.
All runners undertake to carry the mandatory equipment. All participants, without exception, must ensure that they have, as a minimum, the material marked as mandatory in the following table, in order to be able to take part in the race. On the 5th July, and according to what the Safety Committee determines on the basis of the latest meteorological report, it will be communicated if any of the items on the list are not compulsory for the whole race, or if any of the recommended items become mandatory.
Random control of mandatory equipment will be carried out to access the closed starting area, and at any point along the route between the departure and arrival (included), where bibs, chips and mandatory equipmen t will be checked. Not wearing it implies immediate disqualification from the race.
All garments must be of the participant’s size and unaltered after leaving the factory.
All the material will be transported in a backpack, or similar, which the runner will mark with the chip that will be given to him/her at the race-bib collection, and which cannot be changed during the race.
Any participant who chooses to carry poles must carry them throughout the race. It is forbidden to start without poles and to obtain and use poles during the race. Walking poles will not be allowed in the spare bag.
Closed shoes suitable for trail running.
Backpack or similar to carry the mandatory equipment. The timing chip delivered along with the bib number must be added to the backpack.
Food reserve. Recommended: 800kcal (2 gels + 2 energy bars of 65g each).
Cap or bandana.
Warm, waterproof gloves.
Jacket with hood to withstand bad weather in the mountains and made with a waterproof membrane mini- mum 10,000 mm water column and breathable (recommended RET less than 13).
Waterproof overtrousers.
Dishes and eating utensils.
Smartphone with LiveRun App installed and parameterized that allows its use in Spain and France. The runner must be available and answer the phone at any time before, during and after the race. Keep your phone on, airplane mode is prohibited and can be penalized. An external battery is recommended.
• The jacket must imperatively have an integrated or attached hood with a system provided of origin by the manufacturer.
• The seams must be heat-sealed.
• The jacket must not have parts made of a nonwaterproof fabric, only the ventilation provided by the manufac- turer (under the arms, on the back) and as long as they do not obviously alter impermeability, are accepted.
Personal glass of at least 15cl. (Drums or containers with stoppers not accepted).
Water reserve of 1.5l minimum.
2 headlamps with batteries or spare batteries for one headlamp. Recommendation: 200 lumens or more for the main lamp.
Survival blanket of 1.40m x 2m minimum.
Whistle.
Adhesive elastic band (min. 100 cm x 6 cm).
• It is the responsibility of the runner to judge, according to these criteria, if his jacket adapts to the regulations and therefore to the bad weather in the mountains, but in a control, the judgment of the person in charge of the control or the commissioner will prevail.
Long-legged running pants or tights.
*If you want to eat hot it is mandatory. This material is not provided at the aid stations.
Poles.
Vaseline or anti-scratch cream.
GPS watch with race course uploaded.
Knife or scissors to cut the elastic tape.
Sewing kit.
Second additional thermal layer: A longsleeved second layer thermal garment (cotton excluded) weighing at least 180g (men, size M). OR the combination of a long-sleeved thermal undergarment (first or second layer, cotton excluded) of aminimum weight of 110g (men, size M) and a windbreaker* with water-repellent protection resistant (DWR protection).
*the windbreaker is not a substitute for the waterproof jacket with hood, and vice versa.
Drinking water tablets or Soft flask with filter.
Sunscreen.
Sunglasses.
The Val d’Aran by UTMB® races take place in the middle of nature, in mountainous areas, in isolated areas (far from the main road networks, telecommunications...), with weather that can change very quickly and become adverse.
Instructions to be taken into account during the tour:
- Don’t stop at high altitudes.
- If you miss the markers, turn around to look for the last one.
- Stay on the roads.
Some common sense tips for dealing with difficult weather:
• Be prepared for extreme heat and cold.
• Don’t wait until you’re shivering to get warm.
• Don’t change exposed in the wind: Anticipate it or wait until you are under cover.
• Protect yourself from the sun.
Be careful with the poles, especially in the first part of the race, where the density of runners is particularly high. Do not use the strap poles during the descents because, in the event of a heavy fall, the strap
poles prevent you from recovering properly with your hands (injuries to shoulders, wrists, forearms, etc., or your head).
Hydration and energy intake must be adapted to the weather conditions and enriched with salts throughout the effort. Maintain a good balance between slow and fast sugars.
At the aid stations there are places to rest and sleep for a period of time. We recommend that runners rest at the aid stations where there is a place to sleep.
All runners must stay on the marked path, even to sleep. If you need to sleep on the route, it is highly recommended that you use the “sleep bib” provided by the organisation. This bib allows you to indicate that you feel like getting some sleep without being disturbed. It can be dangerous to stop alone in the middle of nature to sleep.
Tiredness and lack of concentration can be the cause of an accident. Run according to your possibilities in order to reserve energy to overcome a difficult si -
tuation, such as a sudden change in the weather.
Any runner who voluntarily departs from the marked route is no longer under the responsibility of the organisation.
In order to take the departure, we remind you that all participants must be in possession of an individual accident insurance that covers the costs of rescue and evacuation in the mountains, in Spanish and French territory, up to an altitude of at least 3,000 metres, as well as the probable costs of hospitalisation. The insurance must cover the practice of trail running and participation in long distance races in the mountains. The insurance can be taken out by any organisation, federation or insurance company of the participant’s choice.
However, the organisation offers runners who have not taken out insurance that meets the requirements, or who wish to extend their cover, the possibility of taking out insurance by going to the registration platform. Highly recommended for all runners.
The bib will not be given to those runners who have not uploaded their accident insurance on the registration platform or, if they do not have it, who have not taken out the insurance offered by the organisation. Having accident insurance is a requirement for running in Val d’Aran by UTMB®.
LiveTrail will be used for the timing and tracking of the runners. The bibs will incorporate a single-use chip attached to the bib (which must not be returned), as well as an additional chip that each runner must place in their backpack.
At the checkpoints (identified on the map) you will have to pass the chip control, which will be carried out manually by a duly identified volunteer, or automatically by radio frequency.
Each participant must ensure that he/she passes the chip, and assists in its control, at all the checkpoints established by the organisation. Failure to pass a timing checkpoint will result in disqualification of the participant.
The identification of the runner at the checkpoints depends on the chip control and not on the passing judges.
Runners can be tracked online through the website https://live.utmb.world. There is also the LiveRun APP, valid for Android and IOS.
The application is a reference interface for your safety, providing important race information (real-time tracking of your race and that of your friends). In case of SOS, there is a function that allows you to send your GPS position directly by SMS to the organisation. This represents a vital time saving for the rescue.
Caution! Under no circumstances should it replace a call to the Race Control Centre (CECOR).
The mobile phone is mandatory and must have the international option during the race, have a battery, and be operational. Under no circumstances put it on aeroplane mode as we may need to contact you before, during and after the race. We recommend smartphones to be able to use the LiveRun by LiveTrail® application. It is essential for your
safety. For runners who will be running for more than 15 hours, it is advisable to bring an external battery. Check that the number you have indicated us as an emergency contact number is the person you wish to be contacted in case of problems.
Very important: To avoid aggravating circumstances in case of accident, make sure your details are correct on the registration platform. You can update it until the start of your race.
There are several help and control points along the route. These points are communicated by radio or telephone with the Race Control Centre (the number of the Control Centre, CECOR, +34 973 643 651, will be printed on the bib), where there will be a medical team throughout the race.
The help points are intended to provide assistance to any person with the organisation’s own or public means.
It is the responsibility of a runner in difficulty to ask for help:
• Reporting to the help point.
• Calling the Control Centre (CECOR).
• Asking another runner to request assistance.
• Using the SOS function of the LiveRun application.
Every runner must assist any person in difficulty and ask for help. In addition, they must stay with the runner in distress until the arrival of the organisation’s staff.
If it is impossible to contact the Race Control Centre, +34 973 643 651, it is possible to call the emergency services directly (particularly in areas where only emergency calls are possible) by calling 112 or +34 973 640 080 Pompièrs d’Aran.
We must not forget the difficulties of all kinds, linked to the environment and the race, which can make you wait longer than expected for help. Safety will therefore depend on the quality of the equipment carried in the backpack.
Before you start, make sure you register the emergency numbers on your mobile phone!
WEDNESDAY 5 JULY
19:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
THURSDAY 6 JULY
10:00 – 22:00
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
FRIDAY 7 JULY
Official Presentation and elite athletes
18:00
SATURDAY 8 JULY
06:00 10:30
Plaça deth Haro Les Finish area Vielha
Bibs delivery CDH CDH departure
Scheduled arrival first runner CDH
Finish area
Vielha
Scheduled arrival last runner CDH
Remember to choose the time to pick up your race bib on the registration platform.
VDA, CDH, and EXP Awards
CDH runners will be provided with free transport to the START line in Le s. The free transport ticket will be accredited with the bib and wristband. It is necessary to reserve a place on the bus during the month of May and until 18 June.
The main villages of the Val d’Aran. UTMBBus line stops.
Departure times will be confirmed prior to the race.
It is essential to reserve your place on the registration platform and indicate the departure stop.
1st: 06:00 hours.
2nd: 06:30 hours.
The runner will be informed of the wave that corresponds to him/her prior to the departure.
Peades d’Aigua means Water Footsteps in Aranese, the local language. One of the most impressive parts of this route is its passage through Colomèrs, the largest cirque of glacial lakes in the Pyrenees.
On this fast and demanding race, you will pass over more than 20 lakes and the ancient thermal baths already known to the Romans: Banhs de Tredòs. The colour and shapes of the logo refer to the predominant element of this route: water.
D+ 3.300M D3.700M
DISTANCE 55 KM DEPARTURE SALARDÚ
VIELHA
MAXIMUM RACE TIME 14 HOURS
FIRST RUNNER TIME FORECAST 05:30 HOURS
DEPARTURE THURSDAY 6 JULY 07:00 #VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
Participation in the Val d’Aran by UTMB® races implies the express and unreserved acceptance of the Regulations published on the website valdaran.utmb.world and of any instructions given by the organiser and his team to the participants.
It also entails acceptance of the basic rules of companionship and help between runners, and of eco-responsibility measures.
In order to avoid unnecessary waiting times and crowds, the organisers will set up a PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT for bib collection. A few weeks before the event it will be possible to book through the registration platform the time slot for the bib collection that best suits the runner’s needs. No bibs will be handed out without a PRIOR APPOINTMENT. Runners will be informed of the opening of the period for booking a PRIOR APPOINTMENT by email and through the Val d’Aran by UTMB® information channels.
For bib collection, which will take place at the Ultra-Trail® Village, in Vielha, it will be compulsory to present an ID card, supporting document or PASSPORT.
In addition, runners must have uploaded their accident insurance on the registration platform prior to the event, or have purchased the insurance proposed by the organisation. NO RACE BIB WILL BE GIVEN TO A RUNNER WITHOUT ACCIDENT INSURANCE.
The collection of bib numbers will be personal. No bib number may be collected by a third party for security reasons. We must check in person the veracity of the data and each of you will be given a runner’s wristband that gives access to the race services.
The bib must be worn on the chest or belly and must be visible permanently and in its entirety throughout the race. It must always be positioned on top of any clothing and under no circumstances may it be attached to the backpack or a leg. The bib is the necessary pass to access the buses, aid stations, infirmaries, bag deposit areas, bag retrieval, etc.
Except in the case of refusal to obey the decision of a race official, the bib is never removed, but in the case of withdraw it is deactivated and marked.
Each runner will be given 2 electronic chips (front bib and backpack bib) and an identification bracelet. Some checkpoints will be automatic and others manual. There will be other surprise checkpoints carried out by the organisation. Runners who are not in possession of their chips and wristband will be penalised.
The use of the chip is very important to be able to control your times.
You must place the chip in your race backpack, in a visible place, with a clip that you will find in the envelope of your race bib.
The start will take place in three waves, at 07:00, 07:30 and 08:00, ordered according to the UTMB® Index of each runner. Runners who do not have UTMB® Index will start the race in the last wave.
Each runner will be informed in advance of their corresponding wave.
Each runner receives a 30-litre bag at the bib pick-up, as well as personal identification material with their race-bib number. After filling it with the necessities of your choice and closing it, you can leave it until 40 minutes before the start in the space provided next to the start.
Only the bags provided by the organisation will be transported. Poles cannot be carried in the bags. The contents of the bags will not be checked and no complaints about their contents will be dealt with. We recommend not to bring valuables.
The bag will be deposited in Salardú, next to the start line, and will be transported to Vielha. It will not be possible to retrieve it during the race.
Runners, or their relatives, will be able to collect their bags on presentation of the race bib. They must be collected at the Ultra-Trail® Village (Av. Pas d’Arro - Vielha) in the following time slots:
Thursday 6 July: From 13:00 to 23:00.
The organisation ensures the return of the bags of runners who have withdrawn, provided that the abandonment has been registered. The time taken to return the bag will depend on logistical requirements, and the organisation cannot guarantee the delivery of all the bags before the end of the race.
In case of withdraw at any point of the race, we cannot guarantee that when the runner arrives at the finish line, the bag will be there. We thank you for being patient and respecting the work of the volunteers.
In order to avoid wasting disposable plastic cups, plates and cutlery during the race, everyone must bring their own, with a minimum capacity of 15 cl.
Attention! No canteens or containers with stoppers are accepted instead of cups.
The organisation will not distribute any disposable tableware (cutlery, glasses, bowls) at the life bases or aid stations. You are obliged to bring your own cutlery if you want to eat hot food (soup, pasta...) during the race.
Fine, but you can only display it on clothing or equipment worn during the race. Any other advertising accessory (flag, banner...) is forbidden at any point along the course, including the finish line.
Help us to preserve natural spaces, don’t throw your rubbish on the routes! We all share the responsibility of keeping our playground clean. Don’t forget to bring a bag to carry your rubbish between two points equipped with bins.
Check the regulations of the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park here.
The volunteers are there to help you, but also to ensure that the rules are respected. Among them, the race marshals will have precise orders, especially with regard to the immediate application of penalties in real time in the event of non-compliance with the rules.
Downtime penalties are applied during the race. Specifically, this penalty leads to a regression in the ranking for those at the head of the race, and the risk of not passing the time barrier for those who are further behind.
The race commissaires are empowered to check the mandatory equipment at the departures and at various points along the route. The absence of any of the obligatory safety equipment (no water reserve of at least 1 litre at an aid station, no jacket with hood, no torch, no emergency blanket, no mobile phone, etc.) will result in immediate disqualification.
To know the penalties applied you can read the complete Set of Rules at valdaran.utmb. world.
The most important cases will be discussed in coordination with the race management.
All races are run on a semi-autonomous basis and therefore runners will also have to provide for their own reserves. Runners must be able to organise their own survival between two aid stations. For this reason, at the departure of the aid station, only liquids may be provided.
The organisation will provide liquid and solid refreshments along the routes. The organisation provides mineral water or energy drink to refill the obligatory liquid bags and individual cups. It is the responsibility of the runner to have, when leaving the refreshment point, the necessary amount of drink and food to reach the next refreshment point.
The organisation will provide liquid and solid provisioning along the routes. The organisation provides mineral water or energy drink to refill the obligatory liquid bags and individual cups. It is the responsibility of the runner to have, when leaving the aid station, the necessary amount of drink and food to reach the next aid station.
Only runners wearing a visible race bib on their chest or belly and their wristband will have access to the aid stations. The organisation will only provide water or energy drinks to fill the flasks or hydration bags. Other drinks must only be consumed at the aid stations.
There will be 3 types of aid stations:
• Drinks only.
• Full supply.
• Hot food supply in Arties.
Runners will have a final aid station at the Ultra-Trail® Village. In addition, there will also be a food truck area for companions.
PRODUCTS FAMILY DRINKS
WATER
SPARKLING WATER
DRINK
FRUIT
#VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
These time barriers are calculated to allow participants to reach the finish line in the maximum time imposed, with possible stops (lunch, rest...). To be authorised to continue the race, participants must leave the checkpoint before the set time limit (regardless of the time of arrival at the checkpoint).
Participants are obliged to pass through the checkpoints, which are clearly visible and coincide, for the most part, with the aid stations. At each checkpoint there will be staff from the organisation who will verify the passage of the runners. Participants are responsible for ensuring that the controller has verified their passage through each checkpoint.
A team from the organisation will close the races. The instructions of the organisers and security personnel must be followed at all times. No runner will be allowed to leave a checkpoint behind the broom team.
The entire course will be marked with orange ribbons or orange flags, and reinforced with signage. All beacons are equipped with a reflective material that reflects the light from the front.
WARNING: If you don’t see any markers, turn back! The point of the marker does not indicate the direction to follow. It is compulsory to follow the marked routes, without shortening them.
Except in case of injury or accident, a participant may not abandon the race except at an aid station set up for withdraw.
In case of withdraw, the organisation staff must be informed as soon as possible at the nearest aid station or, if not, by calling the Race Control Centre (CECOR) number on the bib. In this case, the bib will be marked as “withdraw”. The runner will keep his/her bib as it is the passport to access the buses and other services.
The participant will also have to inform the aid station how he/she will return to his/her place of origin, or if he/she needs transport to the departure point or to the
nearest point with a public transport service. All runners who have withdrawn will be evacuated to Vielha or to a point with a public transport service (free of charge for runners). However, it must be taken into account that the logistics in these cases is complicated, and it is possible that the runner may have to wait for a while before the transport. We ask for your understanding, bear in mind that this is a high mountain.
Runners who withdraw at another point on the course, or at an aid station where no transport is possible (high mountain), but whose state of health does not require evacuation, must reach the nearest transport/ return point by their own means as soon as possible.
In case of unfavourable weather conditions that justify the partial or total suspension of the race, the organisers will ensure that the runners return to the finish line in the shortest possible time.
In case of withdraw due to injury or accident that prevents the participant from walking to the nearest checkpoint, the participant must communicate the situation to the race emergency centre, whose telephone number can be found on the race bib
(AranByUTMB emergency telephone +34 973 643 651) , or to the following emergency telephone numbers:
We advise you to save these numbers in your address book as “aa VDA” to make it easier to find them if necessary, with the prefix +34 in front, as we are in a border area.
Solidarity among participants is key in these cases. Collaboration must take precedence over competitiveness. Solidarity and respect between runners will be crucial in this type of situation.
No assistance is allowed at any point along the course.
In order to ensure equality between competitors, whatever their level, it is forbidden to be accompanied on any part or all of the race by a non-registered person, outside the clearly identified tolerance zones near the aid stations. This authorises small family walks at the meeting points, but forbids “hares”.
Race marshals will be present at various points along the course and will be able to impose penalties in real time in case of non-compliance with the rules.
ACCOMPANIMENT AND ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
ACCOMPANIMENT TOLERATED ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
ACCOMPANIMENT AND ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
In the Pyrenees, and in the Val d’Aran, the weather can change very quickly. In order to ensure the correct evolution of the race, please pay special attention to this section.
All runners undertake to carry the mandatory equipment. All participants, without exception, must ensure that they have, as a minimum, the material marked as mandatory in the following table, in order to be able to take part in the race. On the 5th July, and according to what the Safety Committee determines on the basis of the latest meteorological report, it will be communicated if any of the items on the list are not compulsory for the whole race, or if any of the recommended items become mandatory.
Random control of mandatory equipment will be carried out to access the closed starting area, and at any point along the route between the departure and arrival (included), where bibs, chips and mandatory equipment will be checked. Not wearing it implies immediate disqualification from the race.
All garments must be of the participant’s size and unaltered after leaving the factory.
All the material will be transported in a backpack, or similar, which the runner will mark with the chip that will be given to him/her at the race-bib collection, and which cannot be changed during the race.
Any participant who chooses to carry poles must carry them throughout the race. It is forbidden to start without poles and to obtain and use poles during the race. Walking poles will not be allowed in the spare bag.
Closed shoes suitable for trail running.
Backpack or similar to carry the mandatory equipment. The timing chip delivered along with the bib number must be added to the backpack.
Food reserve. Recommended: 800kcal (2 gels + 2 energy bars of 65g each).
Smartphone with LiveRun App installed and parameterized that allows its use in Spain. The runner must be available and answer the phone at any time before, during and after the race. Keep your phone on, airplane mode is prohibited and can be penalized. An external battery is recommended.
Jacket with hood to withstand bad weather in the mountains and made with a waterproof membrane mini- mum 10,000 mm water column and breathable (recommended RET less than 13).
• The jacket must imperatively have an integrated or attached hood with a system provided of origin by the manufacturer.
• The seams must be heat-sealed.
• The jacket must not have parts made of a nonwaterproof fabric, only the ventilation provided by the manufac- turer (under the arms, on the back) and as long as they do not obviously alter impermeability, are accepted.
Personal glass of at least 15cl. (Drums or containers with stoppers not accepted).
Water reserve of 1l minimum.
1 headlamp with batteries or spare batteries. Recommendation: 200 lumens or more.
• It is the responsibility of the runner to judge, according to these criteria, if his jacket adapts to the regulations and therefore to the bad weather in the mountains, but in a control, the judgment of the person in charge of the control or the commissioner will prevail.
Long-legged running pants or tights.
Second additional thermal layer: A longsleeved second layer thermal garment (cotton excluded) weighing at least 180g (men, size M). OR the combination of a long-sleeved thermal undergarment (first or second layer, cotton excluded) of aminimum weight of 110g (men, size M) and a windbreaker* with water-repellent protection resistant (DWR protection).
*the windbreaker is not a substitute for the waterproof jacket with hood, and vice versa.
Dishes and eating utensils.
*If you want to eat hot it is mandatory. This material is not provided at the aid stations.
Poles.
Vaseline or anti-scratch cream.
GPS watch with race course uploaded.
Knife or scissors to cut the elastic tape.
Survival blanket of 1.40m x 2m minimum.
Whistle.
Adhesive elastic band (min. 100 cm x 6 cm).
Cap or bandana.
Warm, waterproof gloves.
Waterproof overtrousers.
Sewing kit.
Drinking water tablets or Soft flask with filter.
Sunscreen.
Sunglasses.
The Val d’Aran by UTMB® races take place in the middle of nature, in mountainous areas, in isolated areas (far from the main road networks, telecommunications...), with weather that can change very quickly and become adverse.
Instructions to be taken into account during the tour:
- Don’t stop at high altitudes.
- If you miss the markers, turn around to look for the last one.
- Stay on the roads.
Some common sense tips for dealing with difficult weather:
• Be prepared for extreme heat and cold.
• Don’t wait until you’re shivering to get warm.
• Don’t change exposed in the wind: Anticipate it or wait until you are under cover.
• Protect yourself from the sun.
Be careful with the poles, especially in the first part of the race, where the density of runners is particularly high. Do not use the strap poles during the descents because, in the event of a heavy fall, the strap poles prevent you from recovering properly with your hands (injuries to shoulders, wrists, forearms, etc., or your head).
Hydration and energy intake must be adapted to the weather conditions and enriched with salts throughout the effort. Maintain a good balance between slow and fast sugars.
Tiredness and lack of concentration can be the cause of an accident. Run according to your possibilities in order to reserve energy to overcome a difficult situation such as a sudden change in the weather. Any runner who voluntarily departs from the marked route is no longer under the responsibility of the organisation.
In order to take the departure, we remind you that all participants must be in possession of an individual accident
insurance that covers the costs of rescue and evacuation in the mountains, in Spanish territory, up to an altitude of at least 3,000 metres, as well as the probable costs of hospitalisation. The insurance must cover the practice of trail running and participation in long distance races in the mountains. The insurance can be taken out by any organisation, federation or insurance company of the participant’s choice.
However, the organisation offers runners who have not taken out insurance that meets the requirements, or who wish to extend their cover, the possibility of taking out insurance by going to the registration platform. Highly recommended for all runners.
The bib will not be given to those runners who have not uploaded their accident insurance on the registration platform or, if they do not have it, who have not taken out the insurance offered by the organisation. Having accident insurance is a requirement for running in Val d’Aran by UTMB®.
LiveTrail will be used for the timing and tracking of the runners. The bibs will incorporate a single-use chip attached to the bib (which must not be returned), as well as an additional chip that each runner must place in their backpack.
At the checkpoints (identified on the map) you will have to pass the chip control, which will be carried out manually by a duly identified volunteer, or automatically by radio frequency.
Each participant must ensure that he/she passes the chip, and assists in its control, at all the checkpoints established by the organisation. Failure to pass a timing checkpoint will result in disqualification of the participant.
The identification of the runner at the checkpoints depends on the chip control and not on the passing judges.
Runners can be tracked online through the website https://live.utmb.world . There is also the LiveRun APP, valid for Android and IOS.
The application is a reference interface for your safety, providing important race information (real-time tracking of your race and that of your friends). In case of SOS, there is a function that allows you to send your GPS position directly by SMS to the organisation. This represents a vital time saving for the rescue.
Caution! Under no circumstances should it replace a call to the Race Control Centre (CECOR).
The mobile phone is mandatory and must have a battery, and be operational. Under no circumstances put it on aeroplane mode as we may need to contact you before, during and after the race. We recommend smartphones to be able to use the LiveRun by LiveTrail® application. It is essential for your safety. For runners who will be running for more than 15 hours, it is advisable to bring an external battery. Check that the number you have indicated us as an emergency contact number is the person you wish to be contacted in case of problems.
Very important: To avoid aggravating circumstances in case of accident, make sure your details are correct on the registration platform. You can update it until the start of your race.
There are several help and control points along the route. These points are communicated by radio or telephone with the Race Control Centre (the number of the Control Centre, CECOR, +34 973 643 651, will be printed on the bib), where there will be a medical team throughout the race.
The help points are intended to provide assistance to any person with the organisation’s own or public means.
It is the responsibility of a runner in difficulty to ask for help:
• Reporting to the help point.
• Calling the Control Centre (CECOR).
• Asking another runner to request assistance.
• Using the SOS function of the LiveRun application.
Every runner must assist any person in difficulty and ask for help. In addition, they must stay with the runner in distress until the arrival of the organisation’s staff.
If it is impossible to contact the Race Control Centre, +34 973 643 651, it is possible to call the emergency services directly (particularly in areas where only emergency calls are possible) by calling 112 or +34 973 640 080 Pompièrs d’Aran.
We must not forget the difficulties of all kinds, linked to the environment and the race, which can make you wait longer than expected for help. Safety will therefore depend on the quality of the equipment carried in the backpack.
Before you start, make sure you register the emergency numbers on your mobile phone!
WEDNESDAY 5 JULY
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
THURSDAY 6 JULY
Carrèr Arroduets
Salardú
Finish area
Vielha
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
Finish area
Vielha
SPARE BAGS
THURSDAY 6 JULY
05:30 - 06:30
13:00 - 23:00
Next to the departure
Salardú
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
Remember to choose the time to pick up your race bib on the registration platform.
Bibs delivery PDA
Official Presentation and elite athletes
PDA departure
Scheduled arrival first runner PDA
PDA Awards Ceremony
Scheduled arrival last runner PDA
DEPOSIT
RECOVERY
PDA runners will be provided with free transport to the START line in Salardú. Companions may purchase the PDA Ticket to access the start line and follow the race. It is recommended to use the UTMB-Bus as the town of Salardú does not have enough parking spaces for private vehicles. Those who decide to go by private vehicle (not recommended) may park in the Baqueira 1,500 car park. Shuttles will be available from 6:00 to 8:30 a.m. to transport runners and companions, and to take the companions back to their vehicles.
It is necessary to reserve a place on the bus during the month of May and until 18 June.
The main villages of the Val d’Aran. UTMBDA-Bus line stops.
UTMB-Bus.
Start times will be confirmed prior to the race.
It is essential to reserve your place on the registration platform and indicate the departure stop.
Companions will be able to purchase the PDA Ticket to access the departure in Salardú and follow the race. This ticket will be valid only on Thursday 6 July.
1st: 07:00 hours.
2nd: 07:30 hours.
3rd: 08:00 hours.
The departures will be organised according to the UTMB® Index of each runner. Runners who do not have a UTMB® Index will start the race in the last wave.
The runner will be informed of the wave that corresponds to him/her prior to the start.
Experiéncia d’Aran is a race for middle-distance runners, or for those who want to get started in the world of trail running, that has been created with the aim of encouraging participation in long-distance races.
A circular route with about 2,100 metres of positive height gain, starting and finishing in Vielha. A circuit that passes through some of the best sections of the valley, in just 32 kilometres.
DISTANCE 32 KM
D+ 2.100M
D2.100M
DEPARTURE
SUNDAY 9 JULY 08:00
#VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
MAXIMUM RACE TIME 07:45 HOURS
FIRST RUNNER TIME FORECAST 02:30 HOURS
Participation in the Val d’Aran by UTMB® races implies the express and unreserved acceptance of the Regulations published on the website valdaran.utmb.world and of any instructions given by the organiser and his team to the participants.
It also entails acceptance of the basic rules of companionship and help between runners, and of eco-responsibility measures.
In order to avoid unnecessary waiting times and crowds, the organisers will set up a PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT for bib collection. A few weeks before the event it will be possible to book through the registration platform the time slot for the bib collection that best suits the runner’s needs. No bibs will be handed out without a PRIOR APPOINTMENT. Runners will be informed of the opening of the period for booking a PRIOR APPOINTMENT by email and through the Val d’Aran by UTMB® information channels.
For bib collection, which will take place at the Ultra-Trail® Village, in Vielha, it will be compulsory to present an ID card, supporting document or PASSPORT.
In addition, runners must have uploaded their accident insurance on the registration platform prior to the event, or have purchased the insurance proposed by the organisation. NO RACE BIB WILL BE GIVEN TO A RUNNER WITHOUT ACCIDENT INSURANCE.
The collection of bib numbers will be personal. No bib number may be collected by a third party for security reasons. We must check in person the veracity of the data and each of you will be given a runner’s wristband that gives access to the race services.
The bib must be worn on the chest or belly and must be visible permanently and in its entirety throughout the race. It must always be positioned on top of any clothing and under no circumstances may it be attached to the backpack or a leg. The bib is the necessary pass to access the buses, aid stations, infirmaries, bag deposit areas, bag retrieval, etc.
Except in the case of refusal to obey the decision of a race official, the bib is never removed, but in the case of withdraw it is deactivated and marked.
Each runner will be given 2 electronic chips (front bib and backpack bib) and an identification bracelet. Some checkpoints will be automatic and others manual. There will be other surprise checkpoints carried out by the organisation. Runners who are not in possession of their chips and wristband will be penalised.
The use of the chip is very important to be able to control your times.
You must place the chip in your race backpack, in a visible place, with a clip that you will find in the envelope of your race bib.
Each runner receives a 30-litre bag at the bib pick-up, as well as material for personal identification with their race-bib number. After filling it with the necessities of your choice and closing it, you can leave it from 06:30 to 07:30 on Sunday 9 July at the Ultra-Trail® Village (Av. Pas d’Arro - Vielha).
The bag will remain in Vielha, and runners will be able to retrieve it until 18:00 at the Ultra-Trail® Village (Av. Pas d’Arro).
In order to avoid wasting disposable plastic cups during the race, everyone must bring their own, with a minimum capacity of 15 cl.
Attention! No canteens or containers with stoppers are accepted instead of cups.
The organisation will not distribute any disposable tableware (cutlery, glasses, bowls) at the life bases or aid stations.
Fine, but you can only display it on clothing or equipment worn during the race. Any other advertising accessory (flag, banner...) is forbidden at any point along the course, including the finish line.
Help us to preserve natural spaces, don’t throw your rubbish on the routes! We all share the responsibility of keeping our playground clean. Don’t forget to bring a bag to carry your rubbish between two points equipped with bins.
The volunteers are there to help you, but also to ensure that the rules are respected. Among them, the race marshals will have precise orders, especially with regard to the immediate application of penalties in real time in the event of non-compliance with the rules.
Downtime penalties are applied during the race. Specifically, this penalty leads to a regression in the ranking for those at the head of the race, and the risk of not passing the time barrier for those who are further behind.
The race commissaires are empowered to check the mandatory equipment at the departures and at various points along the route. The absence of any of the obligatory safety equipment (no water reserve of at least 1 litre at an aid station, no jacket with hood, no emergency blanket, no mobile phone, etc.) will result in immediate disqualification.
The organisation will provide liquid and solid provisioning along the routes. The organisation provides mineral water or energy drink to refill the obligatory liquid bags and individual cups. It is the responsibility of the runner to have, when leaving the aid station, the necessary amount of drink and food to reach the next aid station.
To know the penalties applied you can read the complete Set of Rules at valdaran.utmb.world.
The most important cases will be discussed in coordination with the race management.
All races are run on a semi-autonomous basis and therefore runners will also have to provide for their own reserves. Runners must be able to organise their own survival between two aid stations. For this reason, at the departure of the aid station, only liquids may be provided.
Only runners wearing a visible race bib on their chest or belly and their wristband will have access to the aid stations. The organisation will only provide water or energy drinks to fill the flasks or hydration bags. Other drinks must only be consumed at the aid stations.
There will be 2 types of aid stations:
• Drinks only.
• Full supply.
Runners will have a final aid station at the Ultra-Trail® Village. In addition, there will also be a food truck area for companions.
PRODUCTS FAMILY
DRINKS
WATER
SPARKLING WATER
DRINK MIX NÄAK
COLA SOFT DRINK
ORANGE
JUICES
FRUIT
BANANAS
WATERMELON ORANGE
DRIED FRUIT AND NUTS SWEETS
RAISINS
DRIED APRICOT
ASSORTED NUTS AND DRIED FRUIT
JELLY BEANS
MILK CHOCOLATE
QUINCE
BISCUITS
HEART-SHAPED PUFF PASTRY
BAKERY AND SANDWICHES
SLICED BREAD
PAGES BREAD
COCOA CREAM
PEANUT CREAM
CHEESE
SALAMI/IBERIAN SPICY SAUSAGE
CRACKERS
CARBOHYDRATES
CEREAL BARS
#VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
These time barriers are calculated to allow participants to reach the finish line in the maximum time imposed, making any necessary stops (lunch, rest, etc.). To be authorised to continue the race, participants must leave the checkpoint before the set time limit (regardless of the time of arrival at the checkpoint).
Participants are obliged to pass through the checkpoints, which are clearly visible and coincide, for the most part, with the aid stations. At each checkpoint there will be staff from the organisation who will verify the passage of the runners. Participants are responsible for ensuring that the controller has verified their passage through each checkpoint.
A team from the organisation will close the races. The instructions of the organisers and security personnel must be followed at all times. No runner will be allowed to leave a checkpoint behind the broom team.
The entire course will be marked with orange ribbons or orange flags, and reinforced with signage. All beacons are equipped with a reflective material that reflects the light from the front.
WARNING: If you don’t see any markers, turn back! The point of the marker does not indicate the direction to follow. It is compulsory to follow the marked routes, without shortening them.
Except in case of injury or accident, a participant may not abandon the race except at an aid station set up for withdraw.
In case of withdraw, the organisation staff must be informed as soon as possible at the nearest aid station or, if not, by calling the Race Control Centre (CECOR) number on the bib. In this case, the bib will be marked as “withdraw”. The runner will keep his/her bib as it is the passport to access the buses and other services.
The participant will also have to inform the aid station how he/she will return to his/her place of origin, or if he/she needs transport to the departure point or to the
nearest point with a public transport service. All runners who have withdrawn will be evacuated to Vielha or to a point with a public transport service (free of charge for runners). However, it must be taken into account that the logistics in these cases is complicated, and it is possible that the runner may have to wait for a while before the transport. We ask for your understanding, bear in mind that this is a high mountain.
Runners who withdraw at another point on the course, or at an aid station where no transport is possible (high mountain), but whose state of health does not require evacuation, must reach the nearest transport/ return point by their own means as soon as possible.
In case of unfavourable weather conditions that justify the partial or total suspension of the race, the organisers will ensure that the runners return to the finish line in the shortest possible time.
In case of withdraw due to injury or accident that prevents the participant from walking to the nearest checkpoint, the participant must communicate the situation to the race emergency centre, whose telephone number can be found on the race bib
(AranByUTMB emergency telephone +34 973 643 651) , or to the following emergency telephone numbers:
AranByUTMB emergency telephone number +34 973 643 651
Pompièrs d’Aran emergency telephone number +34 973 640 080 o
112 Emergencies
We advise you to save these numbers in your address book as “aa VDA” to make it easier to find them if necessary, with the prefix +34 in front, as we are in a border area.
Solidarity among participants is key in these cases. Collaboration must take precedence over competitiveness. Solidarity and respect between runners will be crucial in this type of situation.
No assistance is allowed at any point along the course.
In order to ensure equality between competitors, whatever their level, it is forbidden to be accompanied on any part or all of the race by a non-registered person, outside the clearly identified tolerance zones near the aid stations. This authorises small family walks at the meeting points, but forbids “hares”.
Race marshals will be present at various points along the course and will be able to impose penalties in real time in case of non-compliance with the rules.
ACCOMPANIMENT AND ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
ACCOMPANIMENT TOLERATED ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
ACCOMPANIMENT AND ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
In the Pyrenees, and in the Val d’Aran, the weather can change very quickly. In order to ensure the correct evolution of the race, please pay special attention to this section.
All runners undertake to carry the mandatory equipment. All participants, without exception, must ensure that they have, as a minimum, the material marked as mandatory in the following table, in order to be able to take part in the race. On the 5th July, and according to what the Safety Committee determines on the basis of the latest meteorological report, it will be communicated if any of the items on the list are not compulsory for the whole race, or if any of the recommended items become mandatory.
Random control of mandatory equipment will be carried out to access the closed starting area, and at any point along the route between the departure and arrival (included), where bibs, chips and mandatory equipment will be checked. Not wearing it implies immediate disqualification from the race.
All garments must be of the participant’s size and unaltered after leaving the factory.
All the material will be transported in a backpack or similar that must be marked during the delivery of the race-bibs, and that cannot be changed during the race.
Any participant who chooses to carry poles must carry them throughout the race. It is forbidden to start without poles and to obtain and use poles during the race. Walking poles will not be allowed in the bag.
Closed shoes suitable for trail running.
Smartphone with LiveRun App installed and parameterized that allows its use in Spain. The runner must be available and answer the phone at any time before, during and after the race. Keep your phone on, airplane mode is prohibited and can be penalized. An external battery is recommended.
Personal glass of at least 15cl. (Drums or containers with stoppers not accepted).
Essential thermal clothing in case of cold or rain or in case of injury.
Poles.
Vaseline or anti-scratch cream.
GPS watch with race course uploaded.
Sunscreen.
Water reserve of 1l minimum.
Survival blanket of 1.40m x 2m minimum.
Whistle.
Jacket with hood to withstand bad weather in the mountains and made with a waterproof membrane mini- mum 10,000 mm water column and breathable (recommended RET less than 13).
• The jacket must imperatively have an integrated or attached hood with a system provided of origin by the manufacturer.
• The seams must be heat-sealed.
• The jacket must not have parts made of a nonwaterproof fabric, only the ventilation provided by the manufac- turer (under the arms, on the back) and as long as they do not obviously alter impermeability, are accepted.
• It is the responsibility of the runner to judge, according to these criteria, if his jacket adapts to the regulations and therefore to the bad weather in the mountains, but in a control, the judgment of the person in charge of the control or the commissioner will prevail.
Sunglasses.
The Val d’Aran by UTMB® races take place in the middle of nature, in mountainous areas, in isolated areas (far from the main road networks, telecommunications...), with weather that can change very quickly and become adverse.
Instructions to be taken into account during the tour:
- Don’t stop at high altitudes.
- If you miss the markers, turn around to look for the last one.
- Stay on the roads.
Some common sense tips for dealing with difficult weather:
• Be prepared for extreme heat and cold.
• Don’t wait until you’re shivering to get warm.
• Don’t change exposed in the wind: Anticipate it or wait until you are under cover.
• Protect yourself from the sun.
Be careful with the poles, especially in the first part of the race, where the density of runners is particularly high. Do not use the strap poles during the descents because, in the event of a heavy fall, the strap poles prevent you from recovering properly with your hands (injuries to shoulders, wrists, forearms, etc., or your head).
Hydration and energy intake must be adapted to the weather conditions and enriched with salts throughout the effort. Maintain a good balance between slow and fast sugars.
Tiredness and lack of concentration can be the cause of an accident. Run according to your possibilities in order to reserve energy to overcome a difficult situation such as a sudden change in the weather. Any runner who voluntarily departs from the marked route is no longer under the responsibility of the organisation.
In order to take the start, we remind you that all participants must be in possession of an individual accident insurance that covers the costs of rescue and evacuation in the mountains, in Spanish territory, up to an altitude of at least 3,000 metres, as well as the probable costs of hospitalisation. The insurance must cover the practice of trail running and participation in long distance races in the mountains. The insurance can be taken out by any organisation, federation or insurance company of the participant’s choice.
However, the organisation offers runners who have not taken out insurance that meets the requirements, or who wish to extend their cover, the possibility of taking out insurance by going to the registration platform. Highly recommended for all runners.
The race-bib will not be given to those runners who have not uploaded their accident insurance on the registration platform or, if they do not have it, who have not taken out the insurance offered by the organisation. Accident insurance is a requirement for running in Val d’Aran by UTMB®.
LiveTrail will be used for the timing and tracking of the runners. The bibs will incorporate a single-use chip attached to the bib (which must not be returned), as well as an additional chip that each runner must place in their backpack.
At the checkpoints (identified on the map) you will have to pass the chip control, which will be carried out manually by a duly identified volunteer, or automatically by radio frequency.
Each participant must ensure that he/she passes the chip, and assists in its control, at all the checkpoints established by the organisation. Failure to pass a timing checkpoint will result in disqualification of the participant.
The identification of the runner at the checkpoints depends on the chip control and not on the passing judges. Runners can be tracked online through the website https://live.utmb.world. There is also the LiveRun APP, valid for Android and IOS.
The application is a reference interface for your safety, providing important race information (real-time tracking of your race and that of your friends). In case of SOS, there is a function that allows you to send your GPS position directly by SMS to the organisation. This represents a vital time saving for the rescue.
Caution! Under no circumstances should it replace a call to the Race Control Centre (CECOR).
The mobile phone is mandatory and must have a battery, and be operational. Under no circumstances put it on aeroplane mode as we may need to contact you before, during and after the race. We recommend smartphones to be able to use the LiveRun by LiveTrail® application. It is essential for your safety. For runners who will be running for more than 15 hours, it is advisable to bring an external battery. Check that the number you have indicated us as an emergency contact number is the person you wish to be contacted in case of problems.
Very important: To avoid aggravating circumstances in case of accident, make sure your details are correct on the registration platform. You can update it until the start of your race.
There are several help and control points along the route. These points are communicated by radio or telephone with the Race Control Centre (the number of the Control Centre, CECOR, +34 973 643 651 , will be printed on the bib), where there will be a medical team throughout the race.
The help points are intended to provide assistance to any person with the organisation’s own or public means.
It is the responsibility of a runner in difficulty to ask for help:
• Reporting to the help point.
• Calling the Control Centre (CECOR).
• Asking another runner to request assistance.
• Using the SOS function of the LiveRun application.
Every runner must assist any person in difficulty and ask for help. In addition, they must stay with the runner in distress until the arrival of the organisation’s staff.
If it is impossible to contact the Race Control Centre, +34 973 643 651, it is possible to call the emergency services directly (particularly in areas where only emergency calls are possible) by calling 112 or +34 973 640 080 Pompièrs d’Aran.
We must not forget the difficulties of all kinds, linked to the environment and the race, which can make you wait longer than expected for help. Safety will therefore depend on the quality of the equipment carried in the backpack.
Before you start, make sure you register the emergency numbers on your mobile phone!
WEDNESDAY 5 JULY
Ultra-Trail® Village Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
FRIDAY 7 JULY
Ultra-Trail® Village Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
SATURDAY 8 JULY
Ultra-Trail® Village Av. Pas d’Arro Vielha
SUNDAY 9 JULY
Passed dera Libertat
Vielha
Finish area
Vielha
Ultra-Trail® Village Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
Finish area Vielha
SPARE BAGS
SUNDAY 9 JULY
Ultra-Trail® Village Av. Pas d’Arro Vielha Ultra-Trail® Village Av. Pas d’Arro Vielha
Remember to choose the time to pick up your race bib on the registration platform.
Official Presentation and elite athletes
Bibs delivery EXP
Bibs delivery EXP
EXP Departure
Scheduled arrival first runner EXP
VDA, CDH, and EXP Awards Ceremony
Scheduled arrival last runner EXP
DEPOSIT RECOVERY
Runner
Final
SKY Baqueira Beret, an ideal race to enjoy the views of the whole valley and the majesty of the roof of the Pyrenees, running along high mountain trails.
The little sister of the races, and the fourth element: air. Thanks to this aerial route you can enjoy a panoramic view of the valley and the Baqueira Beret ski resort.
DISTANCE 15 KM
D+ 800M
D800M
DEPARTURE SATURDAY 8 JULY 09:30 A.M.
DEPARTURE BERET
ARRIVAL BERET
MAXIMUM RACE TIME 04:00 HOURS
FIRST RUNNER TIME FORECAST 01:15 HOURS
#VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
Participation in the Val d’Aran by UTMB® races implies the express and unreserved acceptance of the Regulations published on the website valdaran.utmb.world and of any instructions given by the organiser and his team to the participants.
It also entails acceptance of the basic rules of companionship and help between runners, and of eco-responsibility measures.
In order to avoid unnecessary waiting times and crowds, the organisers will set up a PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT for bib collection. A few weeks before the event it will be possible to book through the registration platform the time slot for the bib collection that best suits the runner’s needs. No bibs will be handed out without a PRIOR APPOINTMENT. Runners will be informed of the opening of the period for booking a PRIOR APPOINTMENT by email and through the Val d’Aran by UTMB® information channels.
For bib collection, which will take place at the Ultra-Trail® Village, in Vielha, it will be compulsory to present an ID card, supporting document or PASSPORT.
In addition, runners must have uploaded their accident insurance on the registration platform prior to the event, or have purchased the insurance proposed by the organisation. NO RACE BIB WILL BE GIVEN TO A RUNNER WITHOUT ACCIDENT INSURANCE.
The collection of bib numbers will be personal. No bib number may be collected by a third party for security reasons. We must check in person the veracity of the data and each of you will be given a runner’s wristband that gives access to the race services.
The bib must be worn on the chest or belly and must be visible permanently and in its entirety throughout the race. It must always be positioned on top of any clothing and under no circumstances may it be attached to the backpack or a leg. The bib is the necessary pass to access the buses, aid stations, infirmaries, bag deposit areas, bag retrieval, etc. Except in the case of refusal to obey the decision of a race official, the bib is never removed, but in the case of withdraw it is deactivated and marked.
Each runner will be given 2 electronic chips (front bib and backpack bib) and an identification bracelet. Some checkpoints will be automatic and others manual. There will be other surprise checkpoints carried out by the organisation. Runners who are not in possession of their chips and wristband will be penalised.
In order to avoid wasting disposable plastic cups during the race, everyone must bring their own, with a minimum capacity of 15 cl.
Attention! No canteens or containers with stoppers are accepted instead of cups.
The organisation will not distribute any disposable tableware (cutlery, glasses, bowls) at the life bases or aid stations.
Fine, but you can only display it on clothing or equipment worn during the race. Any other advertising accessory (flag, banner...) is forbidden at any point along the course, including the finish line.
Help us to preserve natural spaces, don’t throw your rubbish on the routes! We all share the responsibility of keeping our playground clean. Don’t forget to bring a bag to carry your rubbish between two points equipped with bins.
The volunteers are there to help you, but also to ensure that the rules are respected. Among them, the race stewards will have precise orders, especially with regard to the immediate application of penalties in real time in the event of non-compliance with the rules.
Downtime penalties are applied during the race. Specifically, this penalty leads to a regression in the standings for those at the head of the race, and the risk of not passing the time barrier for those who are further behind.
To know the penalties applied you can read the complete Regulations at valdaran.utmb. world.
The most important cases will be discussed in coordination with the career management.
All races are run on a semi-autonomous basis and therefore runners will also have to provide for their own reserves. Runners must be able to organise their own survival between two aid stations. For this reason, at the departure of the aid station, only liquids may be provided.
The organisation will provide liquid and solid provisioning along the routes. The organisation provides mineral water or energy drink to refill the obligatory liquid bags and individual cups. It is the responsibility of the runner to have, when leaving the aid station, the necessary amount of drink and food to reach the next aid station.
Only runners wearing a visible race bib on their chest or belly and their wristband will have access to the aid stations. The organisation will only provide water or energy drinks to fill the flasks or hydration bags. Other drinks must only be consumed at the aid stations. #VALDARANBYUTMB
PRODUCTS FAMILY DRINKS
WATER
SPARKLING WATER
DRINK MIX NÄAK
COLA SOFT DRINK
ORANGE
FRUIT
BANANAS
MELON ORANGE
DRIED FRUIT AND NUTS
SWEETS BAKERY AND SANDWICHES
C. CARBOHYDRATES SUPPLEMENTS
RAISINS
ASSORTED NUTS AND DRIED FRUIT
MILK CHOCOLATE
QUINCE
BISCUITS
HEART-SHAPED PUFF PASTRY
FUET
PICOS
CRACKERS
CEREAL BARS
GREEN OLIVES
#VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
The entire course will be marked with orange ribbons or orange flags, and reinforced with signage. All beacons are equipped with a reflective material that reflects the light from the front.
WARNING: If you don’t see any markers, turn back! The point of the marker does not indicate the direction to follow. It is compulsory to follow the marked routes, without shortening them.
Except in case of injury or accident, a participant may not abandon the race except at an aid station set up for withdraw.
In case of withdraw, the organisation staff must be informed as soon as possible at the nearest aid station or, if not, by calling the Race Control Centre (CECOR) number on the bib. In this case, the bib will be marked as “withdraw”. The runner will keep his/ her bib as it is the passport to access the buses and other services.
TIn case of unfavourable weather conditions that justify the partial or total suspension of the race, the organisers will ensure that the runners return to the finish line in the shortest possible time.
In case of withdraw due to injury or accident that prevents the participant from walking to the nearest checkpoint, the participant must communicate the situation to the race emergency centre, whose telephone number can be found on the race bib (AranByUTMB emergency telephone +34 973 643 651), or to the following emergency telephone numbers:
We advise you to save these numbers in your address book as “aa VDA” to make it easier to find them if necessary, with the prefix +34 in front, as we are in a border area.
Solidarity among participants is key in these cases. Collaboration must take precedence over competitiveness. Solidarity and respect between runners will be crucial in this type of situation.
No assistance is allowed at any point along the course.
In order to ensure equality between competitors, whatever their level, it is forbidden to be accompanied on any part or all of the race by a non-registered person, outside the clearly identified tolerance zones near the aid stations. This authorises small family walks at the meeting points, but forbids “hares”.
Race marshals will be present at various points along the course and will be able to impose penalties in real time in case of non-compliance with the rules.
In the Pyrenees, and in the Val d’Aran, the weather can change very quickly. In order to ensure the correct evolution of the race, please pay special attention to this section.
All runners undertake to carry the mandatory equipment. All participants, without exception, must ensure that they have, as a minimum, the material marked as mandatory in the following table, in order to be able to take part in the race. On the 5th July, and according to what the Safety Committee determines on the basis of the latest meteorological report, it will be communicated if any of the items on the list are not compulsory for the whole race , or if any of the recommended items become mandatory.
All garments must be of the participant’s size and unaltered after leaving the factory.
Any participant who chooses to carry poles must carry them throughout the race. It is forbidden to start without poles and to obtain and use poles during the race.
Closed shoes suitable for trail running.
Smartphone with LiveRun App installed and parameterized that allows its use in Spain. The runner must be available and answer the phone at any time before, during and after the race. Keep your phone on, airplane mode is prohibited and can be penalized. An external battery is recommended.
Personal glass of at least 15cl. (Drums or containers with stoppers not accepted).
Water reserve of 1l minimum.
Survival blanket of 1.40m x 2m minimum.
Whistle.
Jacket with hood to withstand bad weather in the mountains and made with a waterproof membrane mini- mum 10,000 mm water column and breathable (recommended RET less than 13).
• The jacket must imperatively have an integrated or attached hood with a system provided of origin by the manufacturer.
• The seams must be heat-sealed.
• The jacket must not have parts made of a nonwaterproof fabric, only the ventilation provided by the manufac- turer (under the arms, on the back) and as long as they do not obviously alter impermeability, are accepted.
• It is the responsibility of the runner to judge, according to these criteria, if his jacket adapts to the regulations and therefore to the bad weather in the mountains, but in a control, the judgment of the person in charge of the control or the commissioner will prevail.
Essential thermal clothing in case of cold or rain or in case of injury.
Poles.
Vaseline or anti-scratch cream.
GPS watch with race course uploaded.
Sunscreen.
Sunglasses.
The Val d’Aran by UTMB® races take place in the middle of nature, in mountainous areas, in isolated areas (far from the main road networks, telecommunications...), with weather that can change very quickly and become adverse.
Instructions to be taken into account during the tour:
- Don’t stop at high altitudes.
- If you miss the markers, turn around to look for the last one.
- Stay on the roads.
Some common sense tips for dealing with difficult weather:
• Be prepared for extreme heat and cold.
• Don’t wait until you’re shivering to get warm.
• Don’t change exposed in the wind: Anticipate it or wait until you are under cover.
• Protect yourself from the sun.
Be careful with the poles, especially in the first part of the race, where the density of runners is particularly high. Do not use the strap poles during the descents because, in the event of a heavy fall, the strap poles prevent you from recovering properly with your hands (injuries to shoulders, wrists, forearms, etc., or your head).
The bib will not be given to those runners who have not uploaded their accident insurance on the registration platform or, if they do not have it, who have not taken out the insurance offered by the organisation. Having accident insurance is a requirement for running in Val d’Aran by UTMB®.
In order to take the departure, we remind you that all participants must be in possession of an individual accident insurance that covers the costs of rescue and evacuation in the mountains, in Spanish territory, up to an altitude of at least 3,000 metres, as well as the probable costs of hospitalisation. The insurance must cover the practice of trail running and participation in long distance races in the mountains. The insurance can be taken out by any organisation, federation or insurance company of the participant’s choice.
However, the organisation offers runners who have not taken out insurance that meets the requirements, or who wish to extend their cover, the possibility of taking out insurance by going to the registration platform. Highly recommended for all runners.
LiveTrail will be used for the timing and tracking of the runners. The race bibs will incorporate a single-use chip attached to the bib (which must not be returned).
The application is a reference interface for your safety, providing important race information (real-time tracking of your race and that of your friends). In case of SOS, there is a function that allows you to send your GPS position directly by SMS to the organisation. This represents a vital time saving for the rescue.
Caution! Under no circumstances should it replace a call to the Race Control Centre (CECOR).
The mobile phone is mandatory and must have the international option during the race, have a battery, and be operational. Under no circumstances put it on aeroplane mode as we may need to contact you before, during and after the race. We recommend smartphones to be able to use the LiveRun by LiveTrail® application. It is essential for your safety. Check that the number you have indicated us as an emergency contact number is the person you wish to be contacted in case of problems.
Very important: To avoid aggravating circumstances in case of accident, make sure your details are correct on the registration platform. You can update it until the start of your race.
There are several help and control points along the route. These points are communicated by radio or telephone with the Race Control Centre (the number of the Control Centre, CECOR, +34 973 643 651, will be printed on the bib), where there will be a medical team throughout the race.
The help points are intended to provide assistance to any person with the organi -
sation’s own or public means. It is the responsibility of a runner in difficulty to ask for help:
• Reporting to the help point.
• Calling the Control Centre (CECOR).
• Asking another runner to request assistance.
• Using the SOS function of the LiveRun application.
Every runner must assist any person in difficulty and ask for help. In addition, they must stay with the runner in distress until the arrival of the organisation’s staff.
If it is impossible to contact the Race Control Centre, +34 973 643 651 , it is possible to call the emergency services directly (particularly in areas where only emergency calls are possible) by calling 112 or +34 973 640 080 Pompièrs d’Aran
We must not forget the difficulties of all kinds, linked to the environment and the race, which can make you wait longer than expected for help. Safety will therefore depend on the quality of the equipment carried in the backpack.
Before you start, make sure you register the emergency numbers on your mobile phone!
WEDNESDAY 5 JULY
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
Vielha
FRIDAY 7 JULY
Ultra-Trail® Village
Av. Pas d’Arro
SATURDAY 8 JULY
Vielha Pla de Beret Pla de Beret Pla de Beret
–
Pla de Beret
Pla de Beret Pla de Beret Pla de Beret
Remember to choose the time to pick up your race bib on the registration platform.
Official Presentation and elite athletes
Bibs delivery EXP
SKY and Trail Festival Baqueira Beret race bibs delivery
SKY PROMESAS departure
SKY MASTER departure
Trail Festival Baqueira Beret
Scheduled arrival first runner SKY
SKY Awards Ceremony
Scheduled arrival last runner SKY
Runners and companions of the SKY race can purchase the SKY Ticket to go to the START line in Beret from the different villages of the valley (see transport information) and return once the race is over.
The main villages of the Val d’Aran. UTMBDA-Bus line stops.
HOW UTMB-Bus.
Start times will be confirmed prior to the race.
It is essential to reserve your place on the registration platform and indicate the departure stop.
RESOLE YOUR SHOES WITH VIBRAM, HIGH PERFORMANCE RUBBER SOLES.
BECOME A TESTER
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Because you are that essential encouragement to cross the finish line. Because without your help and support, we would not have made it this far. Because your presence is just as important as that of those who have decided to add more kilometres to their running shoes.
For all these reasons, at Val d’Aran by UTMB® we have prepared this Companion Guide. So that you can live this experience first hand and enjoy all the possibilities that this magical valley has to offer.
UTMB Live will be your means of real-time monitoring during the event.
The LiveInfo by Livetrail® App is an essential tool for spectators and companions to follow runners. From a single interface, all the information is available in real time to follow the runners and to predict the times of passage, to have lists of favourites, interactive race profiles, comparison between runners, head of the race.
With LiveInfo you have all the information about the event in your pocket! It is the best way to follow the runners along the course and also from the distance..
Our social networks will continually inform you of the latest news of the event allowing you to interact with the UTMB® community.
Facebook: @aranbyutmb
Instagram:@aranbyutmb
Twitter:@aranbyutmb
Youtube: Val d’Aran by UTMB®
A live broadcast of Val d’Aran by UTMB® for the entire world
A broadcast to live all the important moments of the event: departures, live broadcasts, interviews, race head tracking, arrivals, news in real time and much more!
A great team to experience the world of trail running. A team of around 40 people will be part of the broadcasting staff, consisting of camera operators, producers, speakers and technicians, who will be reporting live, minute-by-minute, on what is happening at the VDA, the CDH and the PDA.
During 3 days, 8 speakers will broadcast in Spanish, English, French and Catalan, allowing a large number of countries around the world to follow the event.
2 drone pilots, 4 teams of camera-runners and 2 teams of camera-bikers will cover the different points of the route. .
live.utmb.world/es
#VALDARANBYUTMB | 2023
Are you running together in the same event? Check the app to know their exact position, find out if they are in front or behind, race them to see who is the fastest, or wait to cross the finish line together.
Las notificaciones son sencillas por lo que es muy fácil y cómodo configurar tu smartphone para poder verlas en tu reloj sin necesidad de sacar el teléfono de tu bolsa.
Do you have a goal on your race? You can set up a “ghost runner” according to your UTMB® Index or the goal you have set yourself. You will receive notifications so that you are aware of whether you are meeting your goals.
The LiveRun application is essential for the safety of the runner and, at the same time, provides relevant race information (real-time tracking of your and your friends’ races). In case of SOS, there is a function that allows you to send your GPS position directly by SMS to the organisation. This represents a vital time saving for the rescue.
Receive a notification with your time, ranking, and all the information you need, at each checkpoint.
THE CONTROL CENTRE (CECOR)
On the home page you will find three options that will make it easier for you to manage any problems during the race. You will be able to notify that you withdraw, send an SOS message, or call CECOR.
You can use your smartphone as a GPS. The live tracking information will be kept in your mobile phone. Set it up in private mode, only available to the organisation and to those to whom you have given an access password, for afety reasons.
Personal assistance is only permitted at certain aid stations. The aid stations where assistance is allowed are: BOSSÒST, BERET, and ARTIES . Assistance must be provided by a single person, in the area specifically reserved for this use, after identifying themselves as a “SUPPORTER” by means of their accreditation, and at the discretion of the aid station manager (the rest of the aid station is strictly reserved for runners).
SUPPORTER” accreditations are provided at the time of the bib delivery. The runner is free to give the accreditation to the person of his/her choice.
Your assistance is only entitled to access with a hand bag (maximum 30 litres) to carry the necessary products (food, clothes, etc.). Assistance provided by professionals, or any medical or paramedical professional, is strictly forbidden. This measure is a guarantee of fairness between runners. Naturally, this does not prevent families and friends from supporting the runner throughout the course. Please respect the instructions of the aid station manager.
No assistance is allowed at any point for PDA, EXP and SKY races.
Remember that you can cheer and accompany your runner following the established rules.
You will find bar and restaurant services at the following locations:
• Life Base in Bossòst: in the bars and restaurants in the village of Bossòst, which are open at night, you can have dinner or a bite to eat in the early hours of the morning.
• Life Base in Beret: bar, restaurant and snack services in the Beret cafeteria. You can take the Blanhiblar chairlift.
• Life Base in Arti
Make the most of your stay in the Val d’Aran to enjoy the gastronomy offered by any of its idyllic villages.
In order to ensure equality between competitors, it is forbidden for a non-registered person to accompany a runner during part or all of the race. This is only permitted in the areas close to the refreshment posts. This authorises small family walks at the meeting points, but forbids “hares”. There will be race marshals at several points along the route and they will be able to impose penalties in real time in the event of non-compliance with the rules.
Aid stations with allowed assistance:
AV5 Bossòst (km. 49)
AV10 Beret (km. 104)
AV15 Arties (km. 149)
AV5 Beret (km. 53)
AV10 Arties (km. 96)
In the following tables you will find the points where it is allowed to accompany runners, the best way to get there, and some recommendations to take into account.
It is essential to bring a torch and warm clothes. Connection in Es Bòrdes by UTMB-BUS with Mountain Shuttle Artiga de Lin.
Assistance allowed
Access by forest track.
Assistance allowed
It is essential to bring a torch and warm clothes. Connection in Arties by
Restricted vehicle access from 6:00 to 10:00.
Restricted vehicle access from 6:00 to 10:00.
Access by forest track. Compulsory 4x4.
Assistance allowed VDA and CDH.
Connection in Arties by UTMB-BUS with Mountain Shuttle Banhs de Tredòs.
Assistance to runners on the PDA is not allowed.
It
In Vielha, from 5 to 9 July, the Ultra-Trail® Village will be set up, a fair where all the most important outdoor brands will be represented. Activities, concerts and other attractions will create a festive atmosphere where you can share your passion for trail running and get to know the world of running in general. More than 15,000 people are expected at this fair held in the epicentre of Vielha, just a few metres from the finish line.
It will be a space composed of wooden exhibition booths where interaction between the main players in the world of sport will be the main feature:
• The different brands will get to know the motivations of the runners.
• Runners will discover new products on the market.
• The different sports event organisers will have the opportunity to show their races to the world.
Don’t miss the experience of walking through the streets of Vielha sharing experiences with runners, companions and visitors in general from more than 80 countries.
DATE
FROM WEDNESDAY 5 JULY TO SUNDAY 9 JULY
TIME 10-21 hours
The Trail Festival Baqueira Beret, an outdoor festival dedicated to families and companions, will be held during all the morning, on Saturday 8 July, organized by Baqueira Beret ski resort.
During all day we will be able to encourage and enjoy the pass of VDA 163km runners who will already carry 100km on their legs. Pla de Beret is an aid station and life base with tolerated assistance.
The Trail Festival Baqueira Beret consists in:
Races for the little ones, from 4 to 12 years old. The races, which will take place from 12:00 to 13:00, are free, not timed, and without classification, and will start every 15 minutes. The young runners will receive a medal at the end. There will also be a small aid station. Registration and bibs delivery at Pla de Beret on Saturday from 9 a.m. (Bibs while stocks last).
Childcare service from 8:30 to 14:00 hours for children aged between 4 and 10 years old. The little ones will be able to enjoy a variety of activities: craft workshops, painting, games, inflatables, among many others. Are you going to run the SKY Baqueira Beret 15km? Leave your little one in the hands of professionals, and go out to run and enjoy!
All morning: 18 euros.
Packs of 2 hours: 10 euros.
A 5km route through the Pla de Beret for future ultra runners aged between 12 and 16. It is a non-timed race without classification. It will start at 10:30 am. Runners will receive a medal at the end of the race and will also have a small aid station to recharge their batteries. Registration and bibs delivery at Pla de Beret on Saturday from 9am. Price: 5 euros (bibs while stocks last).
This race is open to the general public from 16 years of age and up. A 15km race of 800m D+ that starts at Pla de Beret and climbs up to Cap des Clòsos, Tuc de Costarjàs and Blanhiblar. It is a timed race with classification. At the end of the race there will be a small aid station. Bibs will be handed in on Friday 7 July from 16:30 to 22:00 at the Ultra-Trail® Village (Av. Pas d’Arro - Vielha), and on Saturday 8 July from 8:00 to 9:00 at the Pla de Beret. Registrations are closed. The Awards Ceremony will take place the same Saturday at 13:00.
Prior reservation is required to pick up your bib.
PLACE Pla de Beret
DATE Saturday 8 July
TIME 08-15 hours