UTMB®: Strategy Guide & Split Times
171km, 10,000m D+, 3 countries. The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc is not just a race, it's a pilgrimage for every ultra-runner. Here is how to tame the beast.
⚠️ This guide is a strategic analysis. To generate precise split times based on your level, use our UTMB calculator.
Course Analysis: The 3 Thirds
UTMB can be mentally divided into three major sections.
1. The Runnable Start (Chamonix -> Les Contamines -> Courmayeur)
- Distance : ~80km
- Profile : "Easy" on paper, but a trap. Lots of running, crazy atmosphere.
- The Trap : Burning out before Italy. If you arrive at Courmayeur (halfway) exhausted, it's over. You must arrive "fresh".
2. The Italian and Swiss Wall (Courmayeur -> Champex-Lac)
- Distance : ~45km
- Profile : This is where the elevation hurts. Refuge Bertone, Grand Col Ferret (highest point at 2500m).
- Difficulty : Grand Col Ferret is often windy and cold, followed by a very long descent to La Fouly.
3. Deliverance or Hell (Champex-Lac -> Chamonix)
- Distance : ~45km
- Profile : Three deadly "bumps": Bovine (technical, mud), Tseppelet, and La Flégère.
- Reality : This is where the race truly begins. If you saved your legs, you will pass hundreds of "zombies".
Split Times (Example 40h)
Aiming for 40h is a classic goal to secure the finisher vest (Cutoff 46h30).
| Point | km | Race Time | Expected State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Les Contamines | 31 | 5h00 | Very Fresh |
| Courmayeur | 80 | 16h00 | Tired but Lucid |
| Champex-Lac | 126 | 28h00 | Hard, Sleepy |
| Chamonix | 171 | 40h00 | Finisher |
Fatal Errors to Avoid
- Starting too fast to Les Houches : The first 8km are flat and fast. Do not run too fast (12km/h), it's suicide.
- Neglecting nutrition at Courmayeur : The aid station is huge. Have a precise plan (change socks, eat hot food, leave in < 45min).
Prepare your UTMB Pacing
UTMB does not forgive improvisation. Calculate your precise split times for every pass and aid station.
Open UTMB Calculator