PRESS kit 2020

Ski, Run, Breathe. Since 1987 in Chamonix Mont-Blanc key figures Programme

8 races thursday june 25th 2020 3 days of competition Trail camp Opening at 9 am - Place du Mont-Blanc

10 500 runners friday june 26th 2020 300 elite runners 4 am - 90km Starting at Place du Triangle de l’Amitié 85 participating nations 91 km for 6 220 m +/-

27% of international 4 pm - Vertical km runners Starting at Place du Triangle de l’Amitié The Trail Camp, Mont-Blanc Marathon’s 3.8 km for 1000m + show, gathers more than 60 exhibitors specialized in on Place du Mont-Blanc. 220 millions of TV viewers in 17 countries Animations : collection of bibs, raffle, kids activities, film screenings and tests of products. 550 volunteers Saturday june 27th 2020 8 am - 23km 16 000 pre-registered for the drawing of 5 300 bibs Starting at the paragliders area 23 km for 1 680m + / 870m -

9.30 am - Mini Cross Starting at the paragliders area 120 first-aid workers, From 800 m to 3 km doctors and nurses 1 pm - 10km Starting at the paragliders area 32% of women 10 km for 325m +/- 68% of men 8 pm - Duo étoilé Starting at Place du Triangle de l’Amitié 60 exhibitors 20 km for 1 250m +/-

sunday june 28th 2020 30 000 visitors 7 am - 42km Starting at Place du Triangle de l’Amitié 42 km for 2 730m + / 1 700m - 15 millions of euros of economic benefits 10 am - Young Race Starting at the Tour 15 km for 1 200m + 64% of higher professionnal classes

2 3 reporting ideas Marathon du Mont-blanc : 40 years of evolution and adaptation If the Mont-Blanc cross-country race was born more than 40 years ago, the formats of an eco friendly marathon the competition are in constant evolution and adaptation. Evolution of the sport itself, Bertrand VIEZ, responsible for water management : the weather, journey time, diversity of levels, from 7 to 89 years old, from amateur to «For many years, the organisation of Mont-Blanc Marathon has professionnal, from vertical kilometer to 90km. The challenges are numerous for the Club been working hard in order to reduce the environmental impact of des Sports de Chamonix, organiserof these 3 days of competition. the races. Several actions were implemented such as positioning the foo station near running water points, buying goods directly to local producers, free shuttles for the runners and the persons who accompany them. This year’s new challenge is to eliminate 42 km : the french trail with the best world set plastic bottles.» For 3 years, the 42km of the Mont-Blanc is one of the 6 steps of the Golden Trail World Series. This serie gathers the biggest number of athletes of the rescue measures the main concern of the runners treatments global top 30 and is now considered the reference in terms organisation of global ranking. Julie HERVÉ, responsable des kinés The 6 steps have been chosen specifically for their Patrick BASSET, head of the doctors : «The Mont-Blanc : «For the past few years the Mont- exceptionnal environement, the challenege they represent, Marathon races have always been exemplary regarding Blanc Marathon has been providing their history and the unique atmosphere they offer to the athlete safety. A security plan up to par with the event, and a service of care for the runners with runner as well as the public. Chamonix is the 2nd step of the strict regulations in-line with FFA requirements. over 60 physiotherapists, podiatrists, 2020 calendar et the only french step. A recognition for the For over 10 years the Club des Sports has united all the reflexologists, and massage therapists Mont-Blanc Marathon, pioneer in the mountain trails since infrastructures of the valley involved in the management working over the various race formats in it exits since 1979 with the Mont-Blanc cross-country race. safety* and has entrusted rescue coordination to a company complement of 22 refreshment posts.» The organisation also learnt respect the requirements of the called Dokever.» high-level competitions (technical, safety, media, etc) to be selected within the 6 most symboli races of the discipline. More infomartion on : https://www.goldentrailseries.com/ *La Chamoniarde (association for local rescue), CNEAS (national training center for mountaineering and company for national safety in skiing), the Red Cross, the EMHM (high-mountain military school), the GMSP (mountain group of firefighters), service a unique experience for more than 10 000 team for the local trails in the valley. runners Alongside great stars, trail runners can launch themselves into the same tracks or into some more fun the volunteers formats such as the Duo Etoilé : a 20 km race in pairs and at night. Tim GIUDICELLI, head of volunteers : «They are over 500! To welcome 10 000 trail runners of all ages and levels, Many inhabitants of the valley but also from all over France, their the organisation needs to vie to be the most creative varied skills contribute to the Mont-Blanc Marathon’s success, year to make a unique «race experience» for everyone. after year.» Markings, food stations, time barriers, starting waves, assistance, reception, drawing, etc… many details to Try it to give a better feedback : master and adapt every year to make a success of this Some of you already did it, do not hesitate to contact us if you want to do an inside ! sporting and mainstream event. Feedbacks :

kids and JUNIORS : pleasure of running I tested the vertical km on The 90 km : embedded by Marathon du Mont Blanc 2019 by Mont-Blanc Marathon gives a particular significance to the kids Guillaume for Lyon Capitale Emma for Emma dans les starting Télématin by Gregoire blog ans juniors races. Around 800 kids between 7 and 15 years old run with pleasure 42KM Report 100% inside subject We tested... Mont-Blanc The 90 km of the Mont Blanc, an and determination (some glances do not lie !). Each of them by Pascal for Marseille Marathon, under the sun by ultra under heatwave by Maud for Provence Production Florence for Grazia.fr World Wild Runneuze leave with their own medal and an adventure often shared with their family. My 1st mountain trail race, a I ran the Cross du Mont Blanc by On the young elites side (18 to 22 years old), the Young Race Mont-Blanc Marathon 2019 by pleasure ! by Fabien journalist at Ana for Anamarunslowly Simon forTendance Trail Jogging + Marathon is a real melting pot of young trail runner talents. With a shared finish line with the Marathon, the emotion is as magic The 90 km of the Mont Blanc, an as imprinted for the champions in the making. ultra under heatwave by Maud for click on the name to access the content World Wild Runneuze

4 5 42 km, legendary a high-caliber plateau showpiece event The calibre of athletes in this year’s 42km du Mont-Blanc has «In 2019 after a physically difficult season beginning, I was not sure to be never been so high. 2018 and 2019 saw many of the big names able to finish this race ! I tried to preserve myself until the midrace and I of trail running descend on Chamonix, but this year looks set to managed to catch up with Rémi Bonnet during the crossing of Le Tour. exceed all expectations! The average ITRA rating of the 15 best I really started to speed up there. The thing that made the difference men is 907 points: something that has never been seen before in was when I was at La Flégère, when I realised that I was getting back any trail running race! my physical capacity, my mental and my motivation came back ! But I particularly replenished and felt a huge amount of energy when I realised and appreciated the beauty of the exceptionnal panorama that the end of male top of the bill course has to offer ! » With such a high level, it will be certainly difficult to make the right prognosis.

To sum up the iconic race of the week-end Jan nd Davide Stian Nadir Francesco Oriol Bart th The 2 step of the Golden Trail World Series gathers all the start: Sunday June 28 at 7 am MAGNINI ANGERMUND-VIK MARGARIT MAGUET PUPPI CORDONA COLL PRZEDWOJEWSKI 920 / ESP vertical drop: 2 730m + / 1 700 m - superlatives : 927 / ITA 924 / NOR 915 / ITA 915 / ITA 910 / ESP 908 / POL • high-caliber plateau of athletes maximum time : 9h The rest of the global male Top 15 : • the most wanted : + 10 000 registration for the drawing number of runners : 2 300 max • the biggest number of participants • Xavier THEVENARD - 905 pts ITRA (FRA) • Andrew DOUGLAS - 898 pts ITRA (UK) food stations: • the most watched (supporter, fan zone, entire live stream • Nicolas MARTIN - 901 pts ITRA (FRA) • Stian AARVIK OVERGAARD - 897 pts ITRA (NOR) 3 full / 2 light of the race) • Rémi BONNET - 900 pts ITRA (SWI) • Aritz EGEA - 897 pts ITRA (ESP) Open from the Espoir category A marathon distance since its creation in 2003, it is a 2730m • Pascal EGLI - 900 pts ITRA (SWI) • Thibaut GARRIVIER - 897 pts ITRA (FRA) 2019 Winners : D+ trail which is rolling in the first part of the course until Davide MAGNINI - 3h 47min 13s Vallorcine, but very technical in the second half with the female top of the bill Ruth CROFT - 4h 34min 44s mythical passage of the Aiguillette des Posettes. The women’s battle will be even more serious ! They are more than 20 with an ITRA rating over 700 with an average of 774 for the first 15 women !!!

discover the race

Maud Ruth Lucy Miao Azara Blandine Silvia MATHYS CROFT MURIGI YAO GARCIA L’HIRONDELLE RAMPAZZO 806 / SWI 802 / NZL 792 / KEN 791 / CHN 786 / ESP 786 / FRA 778 / ITA

The rest of the global female Top 15 : • Denisa DRAGOMIR - 777 pts ITRA (ROM) • Oihana KORTAZA - 751 pts ITRA (ESP) • Elisa DESCO - 768 pts ITRA (ITA) • Fanny BORGSTROM - 750 pts ITRA (SWE) • Eli GORDON - 766 pts ITRA (ESP) • Ainhoa SANZ - 749 pts ITRA (ESP) • Gisela CARRION - 756 pts ITRA (ESP) • Simone TROXLER - 749 pts ITRA (SWI)

Golden Trail World Series The 2020 Golden Trail World Series is composed of 6 iconic marathon-length races. The 3D itinerary Grand Finale gathers the best trail runners of the 6 races for a last race in Argentina. • May 24th : Spain, Zegama-Aizkorri (42km, 2736 D+) • June 28th : France, Marathon du Mont-Blanc (42km, 2730 D+) The 42km du Mont-Blanc is held in very high esteem, not only by the world’s top athletes, who dream • July 19th : Italy, Dolomyths Run (22km, 1700 D+) of seeing their name on the list of winners for this world-renowned event; but also by the amateur • August 9th : Switzerland, Sierre-Zinal (31km, 2200 D+) trail runners who have the chance to see how they measure up against the stars of this sporting • August 23rd : USA, (42km, 2382 D+) discipline. With its spectacular scenery and its party atmosphere the marathon is for every trail • September 19th : United Kingdom, Ring of Steall Skyrace (29km, 2382 D+) runner a race not to be missed. • November 7th : Argentina, Villa La Angostura (42km, 2184 D+)

6 7 discover 90 km, epic the race 23 km, historic

« Since I am not really at ease on flat terrain, I started « I knew that if I came to Chamonix I would have a blast, so why deprive to speed up at Tré-le-champs (12th km) when the myself of this pleasure ? false flat moved on to bumps and uphill slope. Even if A new victory in Chamonix, it is great, I love it. The atmosphere, the crowd, I knew that I was quite ahead of the next runner, the the public, the close relations...it is really nice. This was a particularly hard last kilometer was hard. But I am happy because this edition, I will remember it. Sometimes I ask myself what the hell am I doing year I trained with rigour working on my weaknesses here ? (laugh). Before coming true and getting the icing on the cake, it is and it pays back. I hope to be at the starting of next never easy. Honestly, it is important to enjoy because when you realise the year’s marathon ! » Julien Michelon, 2019 winner comitment behind it, and the fact that things go well on race day, this is not of 23 km du Mont-Blanc a stroke of luck, it is prepared but it is not easy, there are many really hard moments...» Xavier Thévenard, 2017 and 2019 winner of the 90 km du Mont-Blanc discover the race

3D itinerary

24h max to go around the vallée de Chamonix Mont-Blanc !

The 90km Mont-Blanc is one of the most technical ultra trail races and also one of the most demanding in its category with narrow, sometimes exposes paths, snowy sections, and an average altitude above the 2000m mark. See the sunrise on the Mont-Blanc, cross the Emosson dam in Switzerland, run along the Mer de Glace glacier or beneath the Aiguille du Midi and finally come down into the sparkling lights of Chamonix… To participate in this race it is recommended to have a good experience of mountain running, to 3D itinerary be at ease in all terrains and to be autonomous for several hours. A runner with no more than 410 Itra points is very unlikely to finish the race. In 2019, only 55% of the runners who took the start Since 1979, the itinerary remained almost unchanged ! This race is still an indicator of the evolution crossed the finish line. of trail running in terms of sporting performances and diversity of participants.

to sum up Friday June 26 at 4 am to sum up Start : th Distance : 91 km start : Saturday June 27 at 8 am vertical drop : 6220 m +/- Distance : 23 km maximum time : 24h vertical drop : 1680m + / 870m - number of runners : 1 000 max Maximum TIME : 6h food stations : number of runners : 2 000 max 5 full / 3 light food stations : 2 full Open from Espoir category Open from the Espoir category 2019 winners : 2019 winners : Xavier THEVENARD - 11h 04min 50s Julien MICHELON - 02h 09min 57s Katie SCHIDE - 13h 04min 15s Lucille GERMAIN - 02h 35min 52s

8 9 discover Duo étoilé, echanting the race Vertical km, extreme Discover the unique ambiance of a night race where team spirit and sharing are the key words. After an exciting start in the centre of Chamonix itself, runners will then make their With 3.8 km long, it is the shortest race of the week-end... but you still have to climp up 1000m way through the town cheered on by a large crowd of spectators. After that they leave the along a single track cleverly traced under the Planpraz gondola. Rolling in the first part, the tarmac and head onto the ski slope of Planards for a real cardio challenge! The course track straightens up to reach a very steep and exposed last third equipped with cables and continues along the notoriously treacherous Vallée Blanche path, before turning off onto ladders. This race is open to all, both walkers and trail runners, wishing to take on the vertical the trail that leads to Montenvers and the refuge of the Plan de l’Aiguille, which sits under kilometer! the majestic peak of the Aiguille du Midi. The descent back into Chamonix is always one of *single = a single is a path, generally narrow in which it is difficult to pass over someone. discover the key moment of the race. Whilst the motivation, experience and pace of the race will be It is impossible to be two people standing next to each ohter on a single. different for each and every team, (be they friends, family or couples) all of them will arrive the race back in town starry-eyed, rejoicing in their achievement.

3D itinerary

to sum up start : Saturday June 27 at 8 pm Distance : 20 km vertical drop : 1250m +/- Number of teams : 500 max Open from cadet category maximum time : 6 h A bonus will be rewarded to the person who wil break the record !

discover Records to break : 10km, festive the race François GONON - 34min 07s in 2015 - 39min 50s in 2019 This 10km race, a port of entry for the other Mont-Blanc marathon races, accessible to all. It is the opportunity to run as a family, with friends, and for the pure pleasure of participating in a festive race in the forest on the cross-country ski trails with technical difficulties. It is the race with the highest female participation rate, over 60% women !

To sum up start : Saturday June 27 at 1 pm vertcial drop : 325m +/- to sum up food station: 1 full at the end of start : Friday June 26 at 4 pm the race Distance : 3,8 km Open from cadet category vertical drop : 1000m + 2019 winners : Open from junior category Romain ADAM - 40min 32s 2019 winners: Ashley BRASOVAN - 46min 34s Jacob ADKIN - 35min 05s Christel DEWALLE - 39min 50s

10 11 Young Race Marathon the most beautiful pictures The 42 km du Mont-Blanc itinerary will once again be the stage of a 15km dedicated to the cadet, junior and espoir categories. Starting from the village of Le Tour, the young trail runners will perfom until the finish line of the 42km.

to sum up start : Sunday June 28th at 10am Distance : 15 km vertical drop : 1200m +/- food stations : 1 full / 1 light Categories : junior, espoir

st discover Mini cross, 1 strides the race

In the bois du Bouchet, from 800m to 3km depending on the categories, the Mini Cross allows the youngest to take part in the race «with spectacular enthusiasm and motivation !» and do their first strides as trail runners.

to sum up start : Saturday June 27th from 9:30 am Distance : from 800 m to 3 km Number of runners : 700 max From category athletics school (7 years old) through minimes (15 years old)

12 13 EMOSSON Live broadcast of the races

CHATELARD Fro the third time, Mont-Blanc Marathon will boradcast a live tracking of runners of the 42km SUISSE event. The spectators will be able to follow the 10 best men and women throughout the race on the Facebook page of the event : https://www.facebook.com/MarathonDuMontBlanc FRANCE

LES JEURS A occasion not to be missed knowing the high caliber plateau and the high stakes for the rest of the Golden Trail World Series steps!

LE MOLLARD LORIAZ An individual tracking for every contestant will be available on the following link : 90 km du mont-blanc https://mbm.livetrail.net/ VALLORCINE

42 km du mont-blanc

COL DES POSETTES 23 km du mont-blanc BUET image production 10 km du mont-blanc Photos will be provided by the organisation every evening.

COL DES LE TOUR MONTETS Duo étoilé Copyright free TV clips produced by Mouss Production will be available for use and sent via email: • on friday : rough cut of the 90km • on saturday : rough cut of vertical km + 23km + mini cross Vertical KM • on sunday : rough cut of the 42km • every day, a highlights video (1 mn 30) will be produced and available via the Youtube channel. A discover the video itinerary ARGENTIERE highlight video « all event » will also be available on monday morning. of a race by clicking on its name • a 13 minute full-length feature will be available 8 days after the event (on demand).

To obtain the images, or for special requests please contact Links Communication.

Photos and videos taken in previous years are available for any announcement of the event.

MASSIF DES AIGUILLES ROUGES FLEGERE

press reception & race access A program is proposed to the media with access to key moments. The program can be LES BOIS followed entirely or partially. Journalists and photographers can be accompanied on the

PLANPRAZ strategic points of the course (please contact Links Communication). MONTENVERS A press room is at your disposal during the event for accredited journalists and photographers BREVENT at the Maison de la Montagne.

CHAMONIX social media :

@MarathonDuMontBlanc @marathondumontblanc REFUGE PLAN AIGUILLE MASSIF DU MONT-BLANC Youtube @MarathonMtBlanc

15 14 Organisation

Club des Sports de Chamonix Mont-Blanc [email protected] +33 4 50 53 11 57 www.marathonmontblanc.fr press contacts

Links Communication agency Jessica POLLIAND - [email protected] Karen ALLAIS-PALLANDRE - [email protected] +33 4 50 91 41 08 www.linkscom.fr