REGULATIONS

To participate in a UTMB event, in particular it is essential:

To be completely aware of the length and difficulty of the event and to be adequately prepared for it.

To have acquired, before to the race, a real understanding of personal autonomy in the mountains/terrain allowing for the management of potential problems encountered during this type of event, notably:

• Ability to confront, without outside assistance, changing climatic conditions which could be very difficult to deal with at altitude (night, wind, cold, fog, rain or snow).

• Ability to manage, including when one is isolated, physical or mental problems arising from a heavy fatigue, digestive problems, muscle or articular/joint pains, small wounds, etc...

• Aware that the organization’s role is not to help a runner manage these problems.

• Aware that for such an activity in the mountains, safety depends upon the runner's ability to adapt to the problems encountered or foreseen.

• To inform and educate the runner’s supporters towards the respect of nature, people, and the regulations of the race.

Participants are expected to demonstrate the principles of semi-autonomy/self-sufficiency. They should be prepared to carry their own fluids, food, and gear (including inclement weather gear) between aid stations. Participants should also be prepared, within the course safety guidelines, to handle adverse or changing conditions. This self-sufficiency principle implies the following rules:

1. Throughout the duration of the race each runner must have with them all their mandatory equipment. This equipment will be carried in a pack (backpack or belt) and cannot be changed along the race route. At any moment of the race, the race stewards/marshals can verify the pack and its contents. The runner is obligated to comply with these gear checks. Any non-compliant runner is at the risk of disqualification from the race.

2. The aid stations provide drinks and food to be consumed on site. The race organizer only provides still water and/or sports/electrolyte drink for filling water bottles or hydration packs. The runner should take care to ensure they have, when leaving each aid station, the appropriate quantity of drink and food to keep them going until the following aid station.

3. For races of the 100M, 100K and 50K, a personal assistant is allowed at certain aid stations (*), in the area specifically reserved for this use and at the discretion of the team leader. Only one person is allowed to provide assistance, which only includes providing the runner a bag with a maximum volume of 30 liters. Medical assistance given by a member of the runner’s crew, is strictly forbidden, only small cares are allowed like massage and treating a blister as long as the runner remain seated on a chair and does have to lie. The rest of the aid station is strictly reserved for the runners.

4. It is forbidden to accompany or be accompanied along any part the race route by a person not registered for the race, outside of the spectator run zones which are clearly marked in the proximity of the aid stations. A participant who accepts being accompanied outside of the designated zones violates the principle of self-sufficiency. The assistance zone begins 500m before and ends 500m after the aid station, and there is only one assistant allowed per runner. The race stewards/marshals or team leaders, witnessing this violation, are authorized to penalize the participant in order to enforce the rules. Runners are not allowed to participate with a dog or any other animal, including service animals.

For reasons aimed at ensuring the safety and smooth running of each race, all participants must have at their disposal the complete list of mandatory equipment detailed below. And carry all the material, whether in use or not, with them throughout the race.   

Systematic and/or random checks will be carried out during the race. A penalty, or even disqualification, will be applied to those runners who do not carry all the mandatory material (see PENALTIES).

It is important to note that the material imposed by the organization is a vital minimum that every runner must adapt according to his own capabilities. In particular, it is better not to choose the lightest possible garments in order to save a few grams, but to opt for garments that really allow a good protection in the mountains against cold, wind and snow and thus provide greater safety and better performance.

It is important to pack all this equipment in such a way that it is protected from rain/snow and is not wet when it is to be used (e.g. by using waterproof plastic bags).

The list of mandatory gear is available on the event website.

All clothing must be of the participant's size and unaltered after leaving the factory. This material must be kept in a backpack (or similar) that cannot be changed during the race.

In order to reduce plastic waste, disposable tableware (cutlery, glasses, bowls) will not be distributed at any refreshment point. We invite you to bring your own utensils if you wish to eat hot food at a refreshment point.

Any participant who chooses to carry poles must carry them throughout the race. It is forbidden to go out without poles and to obtain and use poles during the race. Walking poles will not be admitted in the life bag.

The use of poles may be prohibited in certain areas marked by specific panels on the course, for safety or environmental reasons.

If you have further questions about the mandatory equipment, do not hesitate to contact the organization.

Music: It is NOT allowed to listen to music using headphones, as their use may cause a risk.

Race bibs are issued individually to each runner upon presentation of a photo ID or passport.

The bib must be worn on the chest or belly and must be visible permanently and in its entirety throughout the race.It must always be positioned on top of any garment and, under no circumstances, can it be fixed on the backpack (or similar) or a leg. The name and logo of the partners must not be modified or hidden. The race bib is the necessary pass to access the refreshment posts, infirmaries, rest rooms, or recovery of dropbags... The race bib will never be taken away except in case of refusal to obey the decision of a race leader. In case of abandonment, it will be cut off and deactivated.

At the time of delivery of the race bib, the runners of the corresponding distances will receive the DropBag. After filling the bag with the items of their choice and closing it, runners can deliver it to the DropBag site, which will be duly informed.

Retrieval of the bags: The bags are given to the runners or their relatives upon presentation of the race bib. They must be collected at the finish line no later than 2 hours after the end of the race.

The organization assures the return of the bags of the runners who have abandoned, provided that the abandonment has been registered. The time to return the bag will depend on logistical needs. The organization does not guarantee the return of all bags before the end of the race.

Only the bags provided by the organization will be transported. The poles cannot be transported in the bags. The contents of the bags will not be checked, no complaints about their contents will be entertained. It is recommended not to deposit valuables. We recommend that you have spare clothes and hygiene products at the finish line.

The location of the life bags is specified on the event website.

By registering for one of the UTMB® races, the participants undertake to respect the environment and the natural spaces crossed. In particular:

It is strictly forbidden to leave waste (gel containers, papers, organic waste, plastic packaging...) on the course. Trash bins are available at each refreshment post and must be used obligatorily. The race marshals carry out controls along the route.

All participants must keep their waste and packaging in order to dispose of it in the containers provided at the refreshment posts. The organization advises runners to bring a bag to carry their waste to the next refreshment posts. With the race bib, plastic bags are provided to collect toilet paper. They must be used after an "emergency at the edge of the trail".

It is mandatory to follow the trails as marked, without shortcuts. Leaving a trail causes damaging erosion of the site.

No disposable tableware (cutlery, cups, bowls) will be distributed at the refreshment points. This measure is due to the purpose of reducing the consumption of plastic by the runners, as well as by the UTMB® volunteers. Therefore, we invite you to bring your own cutlery and plate if you wish to eat hot food at a refreshment point.

The organization guarantees solid and liquid refreshments along the entire route. The refreshment points have drinks and food to be consumed on the spot. The organization will provide mineral water or energy drink to fill up the bags of liquid and individual cups required. It is the runner's responsibility to have, when leaving the refreshment point, the amount of drink and food necessary to reach the next refreshment point.

Only participants wearing a visible and properly worn race bib have access to the refreshment points.

The official website will provide the precise list of refreshment points and their composition.

There is a control at all refreshment posts and at some security posts.There are random checkpoints in places other than security posts or refreshment posts.The organization does not communicate their location.

You should be guided mainly by the organization's marking tapes to know that you are on the trail or race sector, you will always see the next tape, if in any section you do not see the organization's tapes you should go back to the last point where you saw a tape.

**JUST BY LOOKING UP YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE NEXT TAPE WITHOUT GETTING LOST.

For better night vision, the marking will be equipped with reflective material that reflects the light of your headlamp.

The marking will also be composed of signage. The signage will help to reinforce the marking of the circuit. They will indicate e.g:

• Running direction.
• Identification of PAS/ refreshment station.
• Distance to PAS.
• Distance to goal.

At all critical crossings you will see FLAGGERS and organization staff to ensure that you continue on the right path.

We recommend that you always look ahead for the marking tapes/posters/reflexes. There will be plenty of markings, but it is important not to inadvertently take unmarked trails or shortcuts and to follow instructions from the organization to avoid getting lost.

**CAUTION: **Never leave the trail!

There are several help points along the course. These points are communicated by radio or telephone with the Race Control Center. A medical team will be at the control center or on the course during the whole race. The help points are intended to provide assistance to any person in danger with the organization's own or public means.

It is the responsibility of each participant in difficulty to ask for help:

Reporting to the help point.

Calling the Race Control Center.

Asking another participant to ask for help.

Using the SOS function of the LiveTrail application.

Every participant must assist any person in difficulty and warn the race control center. In case of impossibility to contact the race control center, it is possible to call directly to the rescue agencies (particularly in areas where only emergency calls are possible): Emergency numbers will be specified in the runner's guide.

Eventualities of all kinds, linked to the environment and the race, may justify a delay in assistance. During the wait, your safety depends on the quality of the products you carry in your backpack. The participant will have his own resources to guarantee his safety.

The medical professionals and official lifeguards, as well as any person designated by the race management, are authorized to:

To leave out of the race any participant who is not considered fit to continue the race.

Forcing any participant to wear any of the mandatory equipment.

To evacuate by any means the runners they judge to be in danger.

Hospitalize any participant whose health condition makes it necessary.

Any participant treated by a doctor or lifeguard, rescue team or rescued, submits to their authority and agrees to accept their decisions.

When a runner's health warrants intravenous treatment, he/she will be out of the race.

A nursing station will be available at the finish line for the duration of the race. Any participant with severe medical problems will be able to go there. Comfort cures are subject to the assessment of the medical staff according to their availability.

The departure time limits (time barriers) of the main checkpoints will be defined and communicated in the runner's guide and on the event website. In case of change (exceptional conditions), the new time barriers are also communicated by social networks, or by e-mail, or by SMS/text message.

The maximum authorized time and time barriers are calculated taking into account the departure time of the runners of the LAST wave (when the start is organized in several waves).

These time barriers are calculated to allow the participants to reach the finish line in the maximum time imposed, making eventual stops (lunch, rest...). To be authorized to continue the race, participants must leave the checkpoint before the set time limit (regardless of the time of arrival at the checkpoint).

All runners who abandon, are stopped by the organization or are outside the official time barriers are not allowed to continue the race. Their bib will be cut off and they will be transported back to the event area by the organization's transport.

At these points of time barriers/cut-off times will be the points destined for repatriation (transportation by the organization to the race epicenter area); if a runner abandons at other points of the route (without being for health reasons) the repatriation is subject to availability of the race logistics.

Unless there is an injury, a runner can only abandon at a checkpoint. There he/she must notify the person in charge of the checkpoint, or indicate the abandonment through the LiveRun application and notify the Race Control Center. In case of deciding to abandon between 2 checkpoints, the participant must reach a checkpoint where he/she will indicate his/her abandonment. The runner must always keep his bib as a safe-conduct.

The return to goal works as follows:

Repatriation vehicles are available at life stations to take abandoning runners back to the finish line. Participants who abandon at another aid or refreshment point, but whose state of health does not require evacuation, must reach the nearest evacuation point as soon as possible and by their own means.

Concerning the refreshment points or aid stations accessible by car or 4x4:

After the closure of a post, the organization, to the extent of the means available, will return to the finish line the participants who have abandoned and are still present at the post.

In case of unfavorable weather conditions that justify the partial or total suspension of the race, the organization ensures the return to the finish line of all participants in the shortest possible time.

During the race, runners will be provided with rest areas at certain refreshment posts, with cots and blankets. Runners who have finished their race and wish to extend their stay must have their own accommodation.

Post-race services are listed on the event website.

In each race, there is a general classification, male and female, and a classification for each category, male and female (see details of the categories below).

UTMB® World Series Events The first 5 men and the first 5 women in the general classification, as well as the first in each category, receive a trophy.

Trophies and prizes are only distributed at the ceremony, therefore, the presence of the winners is mandatory. The results are available at UTMBLIVE

If circumstances so require, the organization reserves the right to modify at any time the route, the starting times, the time barriers, the position of the refreshment and aid stations, and any other aspect related to the smooth running of the races.

In case of force majeure, very unfavorable weather conditions, or any other circumstance that may affect the safety of the participants, the organization reserves the right to:

• Modify the departure time.

• Modify time barriers.

• Modify the departure date.

• Modify layouts, even shortening their distance.

• Cancel the test.

• Neutralize the test.

• Stop the test in progress.

All participants expressly waive their right to their image during the event, and waive any recourse against the organizer and its partners for the use made of their image. Only the organization can transmit this right to the image to any media, via an accreditation or an adapted license. Ultra-Trail®, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®, and UTMB® are legally registered trademarks. Any communication about the event or use of images of the event must be made respecting the name of the event, the registered trademarks, and with the official agreement of the organization.

Runners who have sponsors or use a third party brand for promotional purposes must only use such third party branding on their clothing and equipment during the competition. No other objects, including but not limited to flags, banners or placards are permitted to be worn, carried or used along the race route, including the finish line. Failure to comply with this provision could result in a penalty decided at the sole discretion of the respective race directors.

In accordance with our ethical charter, any ostentatious display of political images or messages during the event is prohibited.