Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc race start delayed by two hours due to storm warning

The start of the 23rd Ultra-Trail du Mont-Mont-Blanc (UTMB), one of the world's most prestigious trail running events, has been delayed by two hours. Organizers announced the postponement from Chamonix due to a forecast of stormy weather expected over the massif.

Instead of the original 5:45 PM start time on Friday, the 2,500 participating runners will now begin their challenging 174 km race with 10,000 meters of elevation gain around Mont-Blanc at 7:45 PM. This decision was made to prioritize the safety of the participants.

Local meteorological bulletins indicated that two brief but intense storm waves, featuring heavy rainfall, are expected to sweep across France and Switzerland between midday and late evening. Race officials determined that the slight delay would allow runners to reach the higher sections of the course after the immediate risk of thunderstorms has passed.

This is not the first time weather has disrupted the UTMB event. In June, a duo race, the Marathon du Mont-Blanc, was neutralized and subsequently canceled due to a storm. During that incident, two event staff members sustained minor electrical shocks, though their conditions were not considered serious.

The UTMB course traverses three countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland, with participants reaching altitudes of up to 2,500 meters. The fastest runners typically complete the race in around 20 hours, while the slowest must finish within 46 hours and 30 minutes to be considered finishers.