UTMB®

The big week of the UTWT circuit everybody’s been waiting for is finally here! The UTMB®, one of the biggest events in trail running is taking place from 26th August – 1st September 2019 as well as TDS® and CCC®.

The UTMB® is one of the most iconic events in trail running. To do this race, it requires very good training and the ability to run in different weather conditions, including sometimes in high altitude.

Since the first edition, this race quickly became “the” race everybody wants to do. Therefore, it is now limited to 2 300 people.

Runners have 46h30 to finish this beautiful race of 170 km and 10 000 M+. Athletes run around the impressive Mont Blanc, the highest peak of the Alpes.

The big champions of the UTBM are the French François D’Haene and Xavier Thévenard and the Spanish Kilian Jornet. All three have won the UTMB three times already.

The title holder, Xavier, will be back this year to defend his title! But he has strong contenders such as Pau Capell, the UTWT world champion, the American Hayden Hawks and Tim Tollefson, who finished in third position in 2017. We will also see Robert Hajnal who finished second last year, Zach Miller, Marcin Swierc, Tom Owens, Diego Pazos, Andris Ronimoiss, Germain Grangier, Harry Jones, Janosch Kowalczyk and many more.

For the womens race, title holder is Francesca Canepa who will be returning this year to defend her title. And this year, Nuria Picas, who won the race in 2017 will be competing also. There will also be the impressive Courtney Dauwalter, the Chinese Miao Yao and Fuzhao Xiang, Mimmi Kotka, Katie Schide, Maite Maiora, Kaytlyn Gerbin, Kellie Emmerson, Magdalena Laczak, Fernanda Maciel, Sylvaine Cussot, Sally McRae and other great runners!

‍♂️ 170 km

️ 10 000 M+

Chamonix, France

August 30th

TDS®

The TDS® is a technical race. And this year, it becomes even more technical because some important changes have been made: it is now 145 km and 9 100 M+! A new TDS® awaits us!

The race starts at Courmayeur, in Italy, and finishes at Chamonix, in France. During the run, athletes will discover the beautiful landscapes of the Beaufortain.

For this new version of TDS, we are expecting the title older Audrey Tanguy, the Russian Dmitry Mityaev, who finished third last year. We will also see Tofol Castaner, fourth last year as well as Kathrin Götz, Thomas Evans, Jordi Gamito, Ernest Ausiro, Antoine Guillon and more.

‍♂️ 145 km

️ 9 100 M+

Courmayeur, Italy

August 28th

CCC®

The CCC® used to be called the “little sister of the UTMB®” but it’s now recognized as a unique race. The race uses a lot of different path of the “Grande Randonnée du Tour du Mont-Blanc”.

For this 101 km and 6 100 M+ race, athletes from different parts of the world will be present.

The Americans Cody Reed and Timothy Feriks will be there, as well as Jiasheng Shen and the Spanish Cristofer Clemente.
There will be a great panel of women athletes as well. Will be there : the Spanish Azara Garcia and Gemma Arenas, Lucinda Bartholomew, the American Kelly Wolf and Amanda Basham, Ajda Radinja and many more.

‍♂️ 101 km

️ 6 100 M+

Courmayeur, Italy

August 30th

Volvic launches a 8L bottle 100% recycled and recyclable*!

Concerned about the problem of plastic, our partner Volvic has launched a bottle of 8L 100% recycled and recyclable*! The brand has put in place a circular process to manufacture new 100% recyclable bottles from recycled bottles to avoid the overproduction of plastic. The new 8L bottle offers families a more environmentally friendly solution to take home the purity and unique taste of Volvic natural mineral water. Designed especially for families with young children, it is also easy to transport and compact when empty.
This new bottle perfectly illustrates Volvic’s desire to offer natural mineral water in formats adapted to each person and for all occasions of the day. Thanks to the experience of hydration combining respect for the environment and ease of use that it offers, the bottle Volvic 8L will certainly find its place in homes.
This practical and family format is available in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany.

* Except for the stopper and the tap: the Volvic teams are currently working on this

For more information, visit the UTMB website

Book your transfer to Chamonix for UTMB | Alpine Lakes

Alpine Lakes around the Mont Blanc Massif

No trip to the Alps in summer is complete without exploring the wonder of mountain lakes. Here is our top 12 from in, around and high above the Chamonix valley.

Chamonix Valley

A hiker’s paradise, the iconic Lac Blanc is the stuff of picture postcards and an Instagram heaven. At 2,353 metres facing Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles (the needles that surround Europe’s highest mountain), the views are sublime. So is the colour of the water – generally cobalt due to the concentration of minerals that are accumulated there. It’s certainly an amazing place to cool off hot feet.

For Summer 2019 you will need to double-check your hiking route with the Chamonix Tourist Office before setting off. The work that’s taking place at Flegere to build the new lift system means there are deviations in place. So, either take the lift from Brevent to Plan Praz and then the high traverse or consider the routes available from the Col du Montets or Tre le Champ.

Other options accessible from the Brevent and Plan Praz lift stations are Lac Cornu and Lac Noir. Normally quieter than Lac Blanc. The setting is no less beautiful and made all the easier by lift access.

One of the Mont Blanc Massif’s lesser-known lakes can be found on a short diversion from the classic Grand Balcon Nord traverse between the Plan d’Aiguille and Montenvers. Another lake fed by glacial, mineral-rich waters it remains at a frigid temperature even in the height of summer.

If you prefer somewhere beautiful to sit and simply take in the mountain views, then Lac des Gaillands should appear on your hit-list. There’s no swimming here, but for those who like to fish, this is the local spot. Close to the famous les Gaillands climbing wall, you’ll find locals and visitors alike gathering here.

Wider Area

Lac Vert is another great destination. Sitting high above Passy, it offers a great introduction to hiking for those with young children. The two-kilometre route involves about 170 metres of climb and descent and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. The reward is breath-taking views of Mont Blanc and Mont Jolly and of course ice-cream or other sweet treats at the Buvette.

If you prefer a lake experience that involves beaches and swimming, then there is no shortage of options to choose from.

Up in Combloux on the St Gervais side of the massif, the newly created, mountain bio lake offers water which has been naturally purified by more than 10,000 plants. It promises water temperatures in August, thanks to the sun’s continuous presence, of some 26°C.

Lake Passy is about a 30-minute drive from the centre of Chamonix. It has dedicated swimming areas, sandy beaches and water-based children’s play areas too. Lake Passy also has no shortage of stunning views to enjoy whilst soaking up the sun. You can also dingy sail, paddleboard and even windsurf here too.

Whilst, in Sallanches you’ll find a choice of three lakes, one for fishing, one for swimming and one for windsurfing together with all manner of activities surrounding them from picnic spaces to fitness trails.

Lac du Montriond is a little further away – approximately an hour by car – but rings the changes once again. Alpine and surrounded by trees, it is a family favourite. It comes with a great menu of different ways to relax and really does have something for everyone. You can stroll, run or bike along its trails. Or, take to the water with swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and even yoga on water available.

Other content you may be interested in: Chamonix shuttles | Chamonix summer travel tips