No less than 7,500 trail runners from 77 countries were at the foot of Mont Blanc for this annual August meeting of the international trail running community (runners and their families, media, partners, industry…).
Three countries, France, Switzerland and Italy and 19 municipalities, led by Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, have been preparing their welcome. The big week of North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® racing takes place from August 25 to 31, with five races on the program and numerous events around Mont Blanc involving trail-running specialists and amateurs as well as all who love mountains and adventure. The highlight race, the UTMB®, begins August 29 at 5:30 p.m.
In the heart of the Alps, transportation teams are in full operation. The race’s official transporter, Transdev Mont Blanc Bus, is providing customized event transportation service with 90 shuttles carrying more than 19,000 people through the mountains, 24h/24 for six days. In organizing for the event, the subsidiary has been leveraging its expertise in mass movement management.
Two new transportation features this year
* Transdev Mont Blanc Bus is deploying the new “Urban Pulse” smartphone app to enable users to better follow the races on the ground. It allows helpers to get better information in the villages and make better use of transportation (which bus to take? when? …) as well as providing all the information on the event organization (weather alerts, route changes … ).
– Transportation Guide: With an ever increasing number of passengers (more than 19,000 in 2013), the organization and Transdev Mont Blanc Bus have further strengthened and improved its outstanding transportation system. To better inform racers, helpers and spectators and encourage public transit in order to preserve the environment, a transportation guide provides all the key information for moving well and making good use of “Urban Pulse.”
Photo credit: © The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® – Franck Oddoux