HOW TO FOLLOW FROM AUGUST 26 TO SEPTEMBER 1, 2024
Three ways to follow the UTMB ® adventure from the inside: either follow the women’s or men’s race leaders, or enjoy the spectacle with a focus on the alpine landscape and lighting!
AT THE HEART OF THE UTMB®
The «At the Heart of the UTMB®» race follow programmes begin on Friday, August 30, at 6:00 PM and end on Saturday, August 31, in the afternoon, after the first finishers arrive.
These programmes are managed by mountain professionals, guides, and leaders who are experts on the Mont-Blanc region. They are equipped to react quickly and have the initiative to adapt to events as they unfold. They will share their knowledge of the area and its mountain culture. Some of them are runners and have taken part in the UTMB®
TRACK THE LEADERS
Follow only the race leaders (both men and women) and those close behind, at different points along the course in France, Switzerland, and Italy, from aid station to aid station, and experience the competition live: race management, fatigue, questions, team assistance…
TWO POSSIBILITIES:
• Follow the women’s race leaders: a race follow programme with guidance from a mountain guide.
• Follow the men’s race leaders: with or without the Bovine Alpage option. The men’s race leader follow programme is offered in two formats depending on your physical condition: - either a full tracking with shuttle assistance - or a combination of shuttle assistance and night hiking to reach the Bovine Alpage for a breathtaking viewpoint. This option is strictly reserved for experienced walkers who are well equipped for night-time mountain hiking.
NEW FOR 2024: “BOVINE ALPAGE” OPTION
The Bovine Alpage offers a unique and different viewpoint from the classic image of a trail runner with glaciers as a backdrop. The atmosphere at Bovine is that of a lush alpine meadow situated above a stunning line of larches. The view stretches far down the Rhône Valley, flanked by the Bernese Oberland ridges to the north and the 45 peaks over 4000 meters in the Valais Alps to the south. Black cows, of the Herens breed—famous for their traditional battles to crown the “queen of queens,” the dominant cow in a herd—will be in the foreground. troupeau.
• Stop at the Alpages farm for a coffee break before the first elite men pass through.
• Before heading to Bovine, visit the Courmayeur sports center, a strategic gathering point for runners.
• After Bovine, experienced hikers can join the race leaders at Vallorcine and then naturally proceed to the finish in Chamonix.
Experienced hiking level required.
CHASE THE LIGHT
Light is the watchword of this programme.
• Guests will follow the Elite runners for the first quarter of their race as far as Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge. Here, you will experience the unique atmosphere of the runners’ progress through crowds of spectators as they leave the mythical light of the Roman Way behind and enter the darkness of the mountain at night.
• It will be a short night in Chamonix (4 hours).
• Before experiencing the magic of sunrise over Lake Combal in Italy.
• Guests then resume tracking the race leaders at Trient in Switzerland and on to Chamonix
• Via the lush green Alpine pastures of the Col des Montets pass, with Mont-Blanc in the background.
• Finally, guests will witness the winner crossing the finish line in Chamonix.
PLEASE BRING HIKING GEAR THAT IS SUITABLE FOR HOT AND COLD WEATHER, A RUCKSACK AND A WATER BOTTLE – THIS EQUIPMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THESE TRAILS.
THESE PROGRAMMES WILL BE MONITORED AND SUPERVISED BY MOUNTAIN GUIDES.
UTMB® TRACK THE WOMEN’S RACE LEADERS
The estimated times are provided for reference. Your guide will know how to manage the timings based on the actual race progression.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
3:00 PM
5:30 PM
6:00 PM
6:15 - 7:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:05 PM
8:20 PM
8:45 PM
10:00 PM
Meet-up at the press center at the Majestic
Briefing for UTMB® runners at the starting line
UTMB® Race Start
Tansfer by press shuttle to Saint-Gervais
Quick stop in Saint-Gervais town center.
See the first women come through at approximately 7:50 PM
Shuttle transfer to the aid station at Les Contamines-Montjoie or Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge (depending on the race)
First assistance zone in the center of Les Contamines.
See the first women come through at approximately 8:50 PM
Passage at Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge.
See the first women come through at approximately 9:10 PM
Shuttle transfer to Italy
UTMB® TRACK THE WOMEN’S RACE LEADERS
The estimated times are provided for reference. Your guide will know how to manage the timings based on the actual race progression.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
01:15 AM
01:30 AM
02:30 - 03:00 AM
05:30 AM
08:00 AM
08:30 AM
09:30 AM
10:00 AM
11:15 AM
01 :45 PM
02 :00 PM
03 :30 PM
04 :30 PM
Arrival of the shuttle at Val Veny, near Lake Combal
Aid station at Lake Combal.
See the first women come through at approximately 2:00 AM
Shuttle transfer to Courmayeur
Passage through Courmayeur/Dolonne, the 2nd base camp.
See the first women come through at approximately 3:40 AM – Time for rest, reports, etc.
Departure to Switzerland
Shuttle departure to La Fouly
See the first women come through at approximately 8:30 AM
Shuttle transfer to the Trient aid station
Shuttle departure to the Champex aid station
Aid station at Champex-Lac.
See the first women come through at approximately 10:20 AM
Aid station at Trient.
See the first women come through at approximately 12:30 PM
Shuttle transfer to the final aid station at Vallorcine
Aid station at Vallorcine.
See the first women come through at approximately 2:30 PM
Shuttle transfer to Chamonix
Finish line at Chamonix
First UTMB® women finishers cross the finish line at approximately 5:30 PM
UTMB® TRACK THE MEN’S RACE LEADERS WITH OR WITHOUT BOVINE ALPAGE OPTION
The estimated times are provided for reference. Your guide will know how to manage the timings based on the actual race progression.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
3:00 PM
5:30 PM
6:00 PM
6:15 – 7:00 PM
7:00 PM
7:45 PM
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:45 PM
Meet-up at the press center at the Majestic
Briefing for UTMB® runners at the starting line
UTMB® Race Star
Transfer by press shuttle to Saint-Gervais
Quick stop in Saint-Gervais town center.
See the first men come through at approximately 7:35 PM
Shuttle transfer to the aid station at Les Contamines-Montjoie or Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge (depending on the race)
8:00 PM: First assistance zone in the center of Les Contamines.
See the first men at around 8:22 PM
Passage at Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge.
See the first men come through at approximately 8:40 PM
Shuttle transfer to Italy
UTMB® TRACK THE MEN’S RACE LEADERS WITH OR WITHOUT BOVINE ALPAGE OPTION
The estimated times are provided for reference. Your guide will know how to manage the timings based on the actual race progression.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
12:00 AM
12:15 AM
1:15 - 1:45 AM
4:00 AM:
5:30 AM
Arrival of the shuttle at Val Veny, near Lake Combal
Aid station at Lake Combal.
See the first men come through at approximately 12:48 AM
Shuttle transfer to Courmayeur
Passage through Courmayeur/Dolonne, the 2nd base camp.
See the first men come through at approximately 2:16 AM – Time for rest, reports, etc.
Departure to Switzerland, either on foot or shuttle.
FULL FOLLOW PROGRAM OPTION ACCOMPANIED BY AMM (MOUNTAIN GUIDE)
Group of very experienced hikers – 4 hours 30 minutes of hiking between 5:30 AM and 11:00 AM
Ascend to the Bovine Alpage - 1,975 m – 600 m of elevation gain, 2 hours 15 minutes of hiking
See the first men come through at approximately 9:00 AM
9:45 AM
Descend to the Col de la Forclaz, 600 m of elevation gain, 1 hour 15 minutes of hiking
MIXED FOLLOW PROGRAM with Bovine Alpage Shuttle Group
3:30 AM Shuttle departure to La Fouly
Shuttle arrival at the La Fouly aid station
5:45 AM
06:45 AM
07:15 AM
08:30 AM
09:15 AM
10:45 AM
11:00 AM
12:15 AM
See the first men come through at approximately 6:20 AM
Shuttle departure to Champex aid station
Aid station at Champex-Lac
See the first men come through at approximately 7:47 AM
Shuttle transfer to the Trient aid station
Aid station at Trient
See the first men come through at approximately 9:45 AM
Shuttle transfer to the final aid station at Vallorcine
Aid station at Vallorcine
See the first men come through at approximately 11:15 AM
Shuttle transfer to Chamonix
First UTMB® runners cross the finish line at approximately 1:50 PM
UTMB® CHASE THE LIGHT
The estimated times are provided for reference. Your guide will know how to manage the timings based on the actual race progression.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
03:00 PM
05:30 PM
06:00 PM
06:15 - 07:00 PM
07:00 PM
08:05 PM
08:40 – 08 :50 PM
08:50 PM
10:30 PM
11:15 PM
Meet-up at the press center at the Majestic
Briefing for UTMB® runners at the starting line
UTMB® Race Start
Transfer by press shuttle to Saint-Gervais
Quick stop in Saint-Gervais town center.
See the first men come through at approximately 7:50 PM
Shuttle transfer to the aid station at Les Contamines-Montjoie
See the first men’s come through at approximately 8:22 PM
huttle transfer to Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge
Passage at Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge.
See the first passages at Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge around 8:55 PM –Last leading men’s passages (top 10) around 9:00 PM / Last leading women's passages (top 10) around 9:55 PM
Shuttle transfer to Chamonix
Shuttle arrival in Chamonix
UTMB® CHASE THE LIGHT
The estimated times are provided for reference. Your guide will know how to manage the timings based on the actual race progression.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
05:00 AM
06:00 AM
08:00 AM
08:30 AM
09:00 - 09:45 AM
09:45 AM
11:00 - 11:15 AM
11:15 AM
11:40 - 11:55 AM
11:55 AM
12:15 - 12:45 AM
01:30 PM
Shuttle departure to the aid station at Lake Combal (Italy)
Shuttle arrival at Lake Combal, just before dawn at 6:47 AM – Possible hike towards the Mont Favre ridge for a higher vantage point
Shuttle transfer to Courmayeur (Italy)
Shuttle arrival at the Courmayeur base camp
Shuttle transfer to Trient (Switzerland)
Aid station at Trient.
See the first men come through at approximately 10:00 AM
Shuttle transfer to the final aid station at Vallorcine
Aid station at Vallorcine.
See the first men come through at approximately 11:30 AM
Shuttle transfer to the Col des Montet
Passages at the Col des Montets.
See the first men come through at approximately 12:00 PM
Shuttle transfer to Chamonix
Finish line in Chamonix.
First UTMB® runners cross the finish line at approximately 1:50 PM