In questo comunicato (in inglese) vengono esaminate le opzioni prese in considerazione dagli organizzatori del The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®  per garantire la necessaria sicrezza agli atleti impegnati in diverse gare incluse nella manifestazione e, nello stesso tempo, non stravolgere le caratteristiche di un "vero" ultratrail da correre in un'unica tappa. Di ciascuna opzione vengono dati i razionali e, infine, viene spiegato nel dettaglio perchè si è scelta la soluzione che è stata poi praticata, con condizioni meteo difficoltpose che non hanno affatto ricalcato le condizoni verificatesi nell'edizione 2011.
Ad alcuni la soluzione adottata, è piaciuta, ad altri no. Che gli organizzatori si siano mossi nel modo giusto e rispettoso del prinicpio di preacuzione, fanno fede i molti ritirati in corso di gara, malgrado le modifiche apportate nel percorso e la sua significativa riduzione chilometrica.
In ogni caso è lodevole il fatto che, a partire dall'edizione 2011, gli organizzatori abbiano deciso di seguire la via di modulare la gara in funzione delle previsione meteo, dando il massimo risalto, nelle loro valutazioni, alla sicurezza dei trailer impegnati in gara.


Taking in to account the evolution of the weather forecast from Monday 27th until Thursday 30th August the conditions were understood to be becoming more and more difficult. Nevertheless, an improvement was envisaged in the Beaufortin country Thursday 30th August from about 17:00 or 18:00 for the TDStm. This improvement never happened, and the runners of the TDStm were confronted with such difficult conditions that 497 runners abandoned the race at the Cormet de Roselend!

Besides, at this moment the forecasters announced a worsening of conditions rather than an improvement. On Friday morning, we decided along with those responsible for safety in Italy to omit the passage involving the Tête de la Tronche (2584m altitude) to gain a good hour's race time and to let the runners of the CCC®pass le Grand Col Ferret with between 5 and 10 cm of snow, a north-easterly wind blowing at 50kph and a temperature feeling between -5° or -10° due to the wind chill factor.

The forecast showed no signs of improving before during the day of Sunday. In any case with that which was forecast and the actual situations which were worsening towards Switzerland, the Grand col Ferret became impassable. Besides, taking in to account the fog which was forecast, we would not be able to rescue anybody by helicopter.

A first option was to maintain the UTMB® on its normal route over the Croix du Bonhomme and Col de la Seigne, but to stop the race in Courmayeur because it was not possible to guarantee correct safety conditions for more than 2000 runners attacking the Grand Col Ferret.

The route would have been 77 km with 4250m of height gain.

A second option was to run a first stage in the evening along a route Chamonix-Les Contamines-Chamonix, then to organise transfers to Orsières for a second stage Orsières-Champex-Chamonix. This solution would have been 55 km in the evening and then 50km the next day. This seemed to us to be too complicated for the runners and not very interesting.

A third option was to offer as long a trail as possible on French territory only staying below 2000m and avoidance of being exposed to the very cold north-east wind for too long.

We chose this third option because it best fulfilled the wishes of the runners who wanted to run a true ultra-trail, in one stage (a little more than 100 km with almost 6000m of height gain), with both start and finish under the mythical arch in the Place du Triangle de l'Amitié.
The climatic conditions experienced by the runners during the race proved that this was a good choice. All the reports received indicated that the coldness felt under la Balme at 1900m was considerable and that you should go no higher. Just for information, on Saturday morning at the col de la Seigne there was 20cm of wet and heavy snow on the ground.

Some people asked why the start of the race was not delayed. Taking in to account the forecast which was announcing an improvement to conditions happening later and later on Sunday, and the difficulty in mobilising volunteers which such a delay, the delayed start to the race was not a viable option.

It is necessary to understand that if in 2011 the weather was unfavourable, the conditions were completely different. In 2011, with 5 hours delay, we followed the perturbation; while in 2012 it would have been necessary to delay by 10 or 12 hours, which was impossible taking in to consideration the teams of volunteers and others, so that the race could take place.

We made a conscientious choice with respect to the runners, volunteers and everybody who worked to make the event a success and for sure, the mountain. As all trail-runners, we as organisers must have the capacity to adapt our races to the conditions of the moment and the location.