On its 40th edition, the beloved Marathon du Mont Blanc is starting today, Thursday 28th June until Sunday 1st July 2018 in Chamonix Valley.
Watch the race from home
According to Le Dauphine, there are 10,000 participants in eight races. About 15,000 athletes have been refused!
Fred Comte, the director of Club des Sports de Chamonix Mont-Blanc says that "People come more and more with their families. The range of races that we propose allows each member to find a race that suits him ", together with the supporters there are estimated to be around 40,000 people.
This year for three days The Marathon du Mont Blanc will be broadcast live, a bit similar to the UTMB, but more elaborate. Fred Comte said that "We will exceed a live course with dynamic and not just a few cameras arranged in different places".
He also said that "Euro Media is those who make the images of the Tour de France".
They will use helicopters, electric bicycles, drones and cameramen so they can film of the race as close and clear as possible.
This is a great way to "promote the trail and high-level athletes who are today little known or not known" mentioned Fred Comte. He considers that is important and fascinating to bring together elite runners and to put them in competition, "so if, in addition, the race is filmed and, perhaps as of next year, broadcast live on some TV channels".
You can also watch the race online on their official website, click here
Famous runners will be present
This year will be present some of the experienced and famous runners:
Kilian Jornet: last March he had an accident and fractured his fibula, but now that he feels better he will participate in the 42km race.
You can read more about it in our article here.
There will also be present the French runners Thibaut Baronian and Xavier Thevenard.
François Gonon: who set the record of the vertical kilometer of Chamonix in 34'07 at the speed of 1760m per hour.
The race
The Mont Blanc marathon lasts three days and has eight races:
June 29th, 2018
Mont-Blanc 90Km at 4 am: Is the most difficult but also it has been recognized as one of the most technical trail races in France;
Vertical KM at 4 pm: is a 3.8km run, 1000m vertical;
June 30th, 2018
Mont-Blanc 23Km at 8 am;
Mont-Blanc Mini Cross at 10 am: from 800m to 3km for children only;
Mont-Blanc 10Km at 1 pm;
Duo etoile at 8 pm: is a night race of 17Km;
July 1st, 2018
Mont-Blanc 42Km at 7 am;
Young Race Marathon at 10 am; A special race of 15km.
