The Marathon du Mont Blanc (Mont Blanc Marathon) is an annual

marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...

distance (42.195 km) alpine

trail running Trail running is a sport-activity which combines running, and, where there are steep gradients, hiking, that is run "on any unpaved surface". It is similar to both mountain and fell running (also known as hill running). Mountain running may, h ...

event held in

Chamonix, France Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ( frp, Chamôni), more commonly known as Chamonix, is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. In 2019, it had ...

. The Marathon du Mont Blanc race is the titular event but the name also refers to the group of longer and shorter distance races one or more of which competitors can compete in over a three-day period starting on the last Friday in June. The marathon was first run in June 2003, however the shorter distance 23 km du Mont-Blanc, which utilizes part of the same route as the marathon, has been run annually since 1979.

Overview

The 23 km du Mont-Blanc (formerly the "Cross du Mont-Blanc") was founded by Georges Costaz, the President of the

Club alpin français Club may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Club'' (magazine) * Club, a '' Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character * Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards * Club music * "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea'' Brands and enterprises ...

Chamonix (CAF) in 1979. In 2003, on the 25th anniversary of the first running, the Marathon du Mont Blanc event was added to the race schedule. The following year the 10 km du Mont-Blanc event was added and in 2011 the KM Vertical (3.8 km) was also included. In order to meet the requirements for hosting the

Skyrunning World Championships The Skyrunning World Championships are skyrunning competitions held for the first time in 2010 and organised by the International Skyrunning Federation. The second edition was held in 2014 and thereafter the championships have taken place on a bien ...

in 2014 the 80 km du Mont-Blanc was added to the race schedule as a test event in 2013 (90 km since 2018). The event also offers the "Mini Cross" (800 m to 3 km) for 7 to 15-year-old competitors. The race is currently administered by Club des sports de Chamonix.

Races

KM Vertical du Mont-Blanc

Distance: 3.8 km
Total Ascent: 1,000 m
Start Time: 14:00
Course cut-off: N/A
Number of entries: Unknown

10 km du Mont-Blanc

Distance: 10 km
Total Ascent: 325 m
Start Time: 13:00
Course cut-off: Unknown
Number of entries: 1,500

23 km du Mont-Blanc

Distance: 23 km
Total Ascent: 1,665 m
Start Time: 08:00
Course cut-off: 5 hours
Number of entries: 1,000

Marathon du Mont-Blanc

Distance: 42 km
Total Ascent: 2,730 m
Start Time: 07:00
Course cut-off: 9 hours
Number of entries: 2,000

90 km du Mont-Blanc

Distance: 92 km (2023)
Total Ascent: 6,330 m
Start Time: 04:00
Course cut-off: 24 hours
Number of entries: 1,000
Course Description: Starting on the Place de l'Église in Central

Chamonix Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ( frp, Chamôni), more commonly known as Chamonix, is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. In 2019, it had ...

the route climbs via Refuge de Bel Lachat to Le Brévent (2,525 m), the runners then descend to Plan Praz. From Plan Praz the course traverses the Aiguilles Rouges to La Flégère and via Lac des Chéserys and Col de Montets to Le Buet (1,330 m).
From Buet the trail climbs around 1,300m to the Col du Corbeau (2,602 m) and then descends via Col du Passet and Chalets de la Loriaz to Vallorcine (1,260 m).
From Vallorcine the route climbs steeply via Col des Posettes to Aiguillette des Posettes (2,201 m) before descending just as steeply via Le Tour and

Argentière Argentière () is a picturesque skiing, alpine walking and mountaineering village in the French Alps, part of the commune of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, at an altitude of .Les Bois Les Bois () is a municipality in the district of Franches-Montagnes in the canton of Jura in Switzerland. History Les Bois is first mentioned in 1484 as ''Des Boix''. Geography Les Bois has an area of . Of this area, or 56.6% is used for ...

(1,083 m).
The trail then makes the last major ascent via Les Mottets and Gare du Montenvers to Signal (2,200 m) where the runners traverse to Refuge du plan de l’aiguille (also 2,200 m) before descending to the finish in Chamonix.

Duo étoilé

Distance: 21 km (2023)
Total Ascent: 1,450 m
Start Time: 19:30
Course cut-off: 6:00 hours
Course Description: Starting from the center of Chamonix, the first kilometers will lead you to the Arveyron before taking the path of the crystalliers to join the Planards and the path leading to the alpine pastures of Blaitière. From there you will continue in direction of the refuge of the Plan of the Aiguille (2,207 m) before descending on Chamonix by the same way as the 90 km of the Mont Blanc.

Results

The winners of the Mont Blanc Marathon have been as follows.Mont Blanc Marathon: Results Mont Blanc Marathon 2019 Results.
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References

External links

*
Official web site
- (main language: French, but also available in English)
Press kit on the official web site
(PDF) {{Skyrunner World Series races Trail running competitions Marathons in France Mont Blanc Skyrunning competitions Skyrunner World Series Mountain marathons 2003 establishments in France Recurring sporting events established in 2003 Sport in Chamonix Golden Trail Series Athletics competitions in France Vertical kilometer running competitions