Domenica 29 settembre 2013, in una bella giornata di sole, si è disputata la 5^ edizione del Trail des Aiguilles Rouges (TAR) sulla distanza di 50 km (4000 metri D+), cui è stata abbinata una distanza più breve, denominata "P'tit Trail des Aiguilles Rouges" (P'tit TAR), con 15 km e 1000 metri D+.

La vittoria nella gara lunga è andata a Michel Rabat e a Delphine Avenier, in splendida forma. 
Per una prima edizione grande è stata la partecipazione di atleti: 664 i partenti per la gara lunga, 204 per il "P'tit TAR". 

04:30 this morning the small world of trail running had a rendezvous on the place du Triangle de l'Amitié crossing the paths of the Chamonix night-birds. With optimal weather conditions there were 643 on the starting line ready to run the 7th TAR at a very fast pace. At the Aiguillette des Houches (2285m), the five expected favourites were there: Jean-Yves Rey (CH), Michel Rabat (SP), Jérôme Fournier (FR), Lambert Santelli (FR) and Guillaume Peretti (FR) forming the leading group. At the Index (2385m), Michel Rabat (winner of the 2013 trophée Grand Vignemale, the championnat du Canigou, and the 30 km trail du Balcon d'Azur...), and Guillaume Peretti showed that they were on great form and were 8 minutes ahead of François Lachaux, Andreu Prost and Jérôme Fournier.

Jean-Yves Rey was in 8th position due to having missed an intersection and then having fallen, he was 12 minutes behind. At Argentière (1255m) Michel and Guillaume were still in the lead with 12 minutes advance upon the 3rd placed François Lachaux and Jean-Yves Rey who had recovered to be in 4th place.

The podium was decided on the climb towards the Posettes, where Michel Rabat launched his attack and accentuated his lead, he had 4 minutes advance on Guillaume Peretti (winner of the 2012 P'Tit TAR and the 2013 Ultra-Trail de Corse) and 15 minutes on Jean-Yves Rey (winner of the 2009 CCC®) who had advanced to 3rd place which he was not to leave. Accustomed to victories over 30km, Michel Rabat stands out on this 50km and  has a beautiful victory of firsts : first 50km and first trail race in the Chamonix valley: « It is a back-breaking course, I suffered, but am so happy. I had never run at night, it is beautiful, your mountains are magnificent! » With a very good 2nd place 8 minutes later Guillaume confided: «Everything rests on the morale, I had a small hypoglycaemic moment, I took a few minutes out, Michel was stronger... ». Maintaining a gap of 14 minutes, Jean-Yves Rey took a very good 3rd place once again having a podium place in 2013.

For the women, the French ladies Delphine Avenier (3rd 2013 CCC®, 2nd in the 2013 Tour des Fiz and Trail L'esprit Angolon), Cécile Lefebvre and Anne Valero formed the trio at the head of the race while passing Brévent (2515m). If while passing the Index Delphine was still in the lead,  Marlène Cugnet (France)(1st 2012 Tour des Fiz, 1st 2013 Trail de Samoens) had made a good come back and followed 6 minutes later, with the Nepalese Manikala Rai (Winner a week before of the Humani'trail des Diablerets, and the 2012 Annapurna Mandala trail - 50km) at 11 minutes distance. The podium line-up was formed. The climb of the Posettes would be gobbled up by Delphine Avenier who kept the lead all along this extraordinary route: « I was very relaxed this morning; I knew that it was to be my last race of the season, I had nothing to lose! ». Marlène Cugnet didn't give up and maintained her 2nd place to the end: « this race is difficult but a very beautiful route and my one aim was to get to the end... ». Manikala Rai followed her 10 minutes later.

The rest of the pack are spread out and are expected until 18:00.

The P'tit TAR is definitely a women's race with 42% of them women. From the start from Argentière, the runners take the end of the TAR route: climbing up the Posettes then going down to Vallorcine, with a total of 15 km and 1000m positive. An introduction for young runners and those who to start trail running! For the adept, it is a true playground for breaking speed records since the 1st, Clovis Dalban Moreynas (team Adidas France), completed the loop in 1hr24'51''.

The 2010 TAR planned on the same route of Chamonix to Vallorcine had to be diverted due to snow, this year, 2013, has made itself a reference with really good weather and confirms that the Trail des Aiguilles Rouges is an exceptional wild and technical race.

Rendezvous in 2014!

RESULTS

Men

1. Michel Rabat -SP- Team Salomon : 6hr27'26''
2. Guillaume Peretti - FR - Team : 6hr35'21''
3. Jean-Yves Rey - CH- Team Salomon : 6hr41'44''

Women

1. Delphine Avenier - FR - 7hr59'11''
2. Marlène Cugnet - FR - 8hr08'47''
3. Manikala Rai - NP - 8hr18'19''

Men

1. Clovis Dalban Moreynas- FR- Team Adidas : 1hr24'51''
2. Grégory Gex - FR- 1hr27'35''
3. Yann Gachet - FR - 1hr29'01''

Women

1. Claire Martin - FR- 1hr44'12''
2. Céline GROS - FR - 1hr59'12''
3. Katy HILL - GB- 1hr59'53''

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