Si svolgerà tra il 29 giugno e il 1° luglio 2012, la Mont-Blanc Marathon: una grande kermesse nella quale si svilupperanno diversi eventi podistici, che sono il 34° Mont-Blanc Cross, la 10^ edizione della Mont Blanc Marathon, la 9^ edizione della 10 km del Mont Blanc, la 2^ edizione del "Chilometro Verticale" (Chamonix Vertical Kilometer). Insomma un vero e proprio festival della corsa in montagna, nel rispetto del più puro "spirito della montagna". In concomitanza si svolgerà anche l'edizione 2012 del National Trail Running Cup Salomon/Endurance Mag.

The big trail-running weekend will kick-off the season in the Chamonix valley with the Vertical Kilometer race. A fast, spectacular, high-caliber event!

Since its first edition the Chamonix Vertical Kilometer race has become a reference in this race format: a race against the clock with a 1000meter elevation gain over a distance of 3.7km. The trail climbs to dizzying heights under the pylons of the Planpraz gondola. A bonus upon arrival is the view of the Mont-Blanc range!

For the men, Emmanuel Vaudan, record holder in this event won the first VK in a time of 36'39'' and confirms that it is a very mountainous course. "I loved the route, very varied, rolling and extensive but we can run practically the entire way. Poles are useless. Personally, this "mountain" Vertical KM is the pure spirit of the event".

While these types of race formats are multiplying in France the race in Chamonix is unique: a departure from the town center, a finish at 2000m in altitude, the last part amongst rock and air forbidding use of walking poles.

Fred Comte, Director of the Club des Sports de Chamoinx is happy with the success of the first edition: "From the start of the preparations we knew this course was going to be suspenseful with some vertigo! It is a true Vertical KM  with rollers in the first part, rocky sections requiring commitment, and a few aerial passages equipped with cables and ladders! Today Chamonix Mont-Blanc multiplies the race formats and positions itself as a mecca in the trail running world organizing four recognized events: the Mont-Blanc Marathon and the Vertical KM, the UTMB and the Trail des Aiguilles Rouges. With nearly an end to the demolition of the old gondola towers the trail will be even more accessible and will probably become a permanent training site!"

In 2011 there were over 200 participants at the start... This year the limit of 400 runners will probably be met. As of today 160 people are registered.

A beautiful race, suspense guaranteed! 

Records to Beat 

The Vertical KM in Fully (CH) has become a major event and the benchmark! It is here that the records have been played out the last 10 years. The world best is held, in men, by the Italian Manfred Reicheggerin 30'46'' (2011). On the women's side Laetitia Roux (FR) holds the record since 2009 with a time of 37 minutes and 55 seconds.

Results from the first Vertical KM in Chamonix

Men

1 VAUDAN Emmanuel          CH          BCVS Mount Asics Team                             00:36:39

2 GARNIER Serge                FR          Espoir Cyclisme Hautes                              00:38:11

3 MICLO Olivier                  FR         Colmar MC                                                00:38:26

Women

1 ROUX Laetitia                      FR      Club Athlétisme Gap                                00:45:44

2 FAVRE Corinne                     FR      Team Lafuma                                          00:46:31

3 GUILLOT Isabelle                  FR                                                                   00:49:54

PROGRAM 

Race-bib pick-up at the Chamonix Sports Complex:

Friday June 29, 2012 from 10:00 - 19:30

Saturday June 30,  2012 from 6:00 - 19:30

Sunday July 1, 2012 from 5:00 - 6:30 am 

FRIDAY JUNE 29, 2012

ð Place Balmat

4 p.m: Start of Vertical KM race

8 p.m: Awards Ceremony
8:30 p.m: Barbecue

SATURDAY JUNE 30, 2012

ð At the paragliding landing field

8:30 a.m: Start of the Mont-Blanc Cross, 23km

9:00 a.m: Start of the Mont Blanc 10km race (start in two waves)

10:30 a.m: Start of the Mini-Cross

Staggered start based on categories:

800m: children (born in 2002 and after), 2km: Poussins (born in 2000 and 2001), 3km: Benjamins (born in 1998 and 1999) & Minimes (born in 1996 and 1997) 

At the Chamonix Sports Complex

Starting at 11:30 am: Buffet Mont-Blanc Cross (free for runners)

Place Balmat

Starting at 2 p.m throughout the afternoon: Various free entertainment for children, supervised byUCPA - elastic trampoline jumping, climbing wall... 

2:30 p.m: Awards Ceremony for Mini-Cross

3 p.m: Awards Ceremony for the Mont-Blanc 10km race

4 p.m: Awards Ceremony for the Mont-Blanc Cross

ð Chamonix

Starting at 6:30 p.m : Pasta Party 

SUNDAY 1ST JULY, 2012

ð Place Balmat

7 a.m : Start of the Mont-Blanc Marathon, 42.195km

ð Chamonix Sports Complex

Starting at 11:30 am: Buffet for Mont-Blanc Marathon (free for runners) 

ð Place Balmat

4:30 p.m : Awards Ceremony for the Mont-Blanc Marathon

Contacts 

Club des sports de Chamonix Mont-Blanc

Tel: 04 50 53 11 57/ Fax: 04 50 53 61 63

E-mail : club@chamonixsport.com

Site : www.montblancmarathon.fr / www.chamonixsport.com