TDS - Ultra Trail World Tour
UTMB® Mont-Blanc 2021 Continues Despite Tragedy on the TDS
Press Release / 26.08.2021
The TDS® - one of seven races taking place this week as part of the UTMB® Mont-Blanc – was marked by tragedy today, following the death of a runner at Passeur de Pralognan. Following the incident, some 293 runners were able to continue their race, completing the 145-kilometer (90-mile) event in Chamonix, France.
In what was his third participation in UTMB® Mont-Blanc, Erik-Sebastian Krogvig of Norway (850 UTMB Index *) won the men’s division in 18 hours and 49 minutes, after a challenge that included 9,100 meters of elevation. He crossed the finish line just 10 minutes ahead of Frenchman Benoit Girondel, winner of Diagonale des Fous in 2018. In third place was Girondel’s compatriot Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon, completing the podium after 19 hours and 34 minutes of racing.
The battle for women’s title was intense, and after 23 hours, 11 minutes, it was Frenchwoman Manon Bohard who took victory, seemingly riding a wave of momentum following her victory on the Treg Cabo Verde Trail in May. Italian Giuditta Turini and Hungarian Ildiko Wermescher finished second and third respectively.
Part of the UTMB® Mont-Blanc for 11 years, the race was marked by the tragic death of a runner at Passeur de Pralognan – a section of the course that has been a part of many previous editions of the TDS®. To ensure the safety of the participants, 1,200 runners were instructed to turn around and go to Bourg Saint-Maurice where they have all been met by the organization. The large family of trailers, and more particularly those of the UTMB®, are deeply saddened and join the organizers in offering their condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
UTMB® Mont-Blanc Continues with the OCC
Tomorrow’s line-up for the OCC is exceptional, with a host of top elites getting ready to challenge each other on the Franco-Swiss race of 55km and 3500m of vertical drop. Given the calibre of athletes, the front runners are expected to finish the race in less than 5 and half hours, meaning records could well fall.
Norwegian Stian Angermund holds the current race record in the men’s category of 5 hours 19 minutes, while New Zealander Ruth Croft holds the women’s record of 5 hours 55 minutes.
In the women’s race, 23 elites with a UTMB® Index greater than 700 will make for an intense race. Amongst them is Frenchwoman Blandine l'Hirondelle (793), American Rachel Drake (788), Spaniard Sheila Aviles (788) and Italian Elisa Desco (760).
In the men's field, the line-up is just as high with more than 70 high-level athletes, including Hayden Hawks, Rémi Bonnet, Oriol Cardona Coll and Robbie Simpson. They are all serious contenders for the podium, capable of bursts of exceptional speed. The first of them are expected to finish in Chamonix at 1:30pm, with the women expected around 2 p.m.
The race will be broadcast live on https://utmbmontblanc.com/live from tomorrow morning to cover the start of the OCC. Fans on site and online will have a chance to familiarize themselves with the best elites of the CCC® and the UTMB®, who will be presented to the public at 4:30 pm Place du Triangle de l'Amitié and on UTMB® Live.
* The UTMB® Index, created by Didier Curdy and which has proven its relevance and quality over the years, is at the heart of the new UTMB® World Series sports system. The UTMB® Index is now only available on UTMB.world and will continue to provide the performance level of each runner participating in UTMB® World Series races.
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