Final Runner Information 2019

Ultra Tour Monte Rosa in 4 STAGES

Introduction

Welcome to the 2019 Ultra Tour Monte Rosa in 4 stages! This road book, together with our race website should give you all the information that you need. If you have any further questions please do email info@ultratourmonterosa.com. 

It is an amazing challenge ahead of you and we have a team of passionate volunteers ready to support you. We are all here to do what we can to help you succeed. Best of luck! 

Race Organisation

For any general questions / queries before and during the race please contact the race organisation

Email: info@ultratourmonterosa.com

Phone: +41.795.839.539

Please use the following number for emergency only during the race:

Emergency Number

+41.793.998.527

Communication

Your safety is our priority. For this reason, it is essential that we can communicate with you before, during and after the race.

You must have a telephone with you, which works in Italy and Switzerland. This telephone will not only allow you to call the organisation if necessary, but it is also important that the organisation can contact you (before, during and after the race). We may use SMS to notify you of any route amendments / weather forecast / emergency information. Please make sure your phone is switched on, accessible and checked intermittently before and during the race. We will use the contact number you submitted on your registration form. If there is any change please update your personal information via your personal runner page or email us at info@ultratourmonterosa.com.

Please ensure: 

• your phone is never put in flight mode
• it remains switched on before, during and after the race
• the battery is sufficient for the duration of the race, or equip yourself with a supplementary external battery 

Tips to save battery:

• close all unnecessary apps
• dim screen
• switch off wifi, bluetooth and location / GPS

Note: 85% of the race route is covered by mobile network, so there may be a delay in receiving an SMS message in certain areas. 

Race programme

For an overview of all the events happening during race week you can consult the race programme here: https://www.ultratourmonterosa.com/race-programme/

Grächen Village Plan

Please consult this map for exact start location, registration, baggage drop / collection and bus stop. We will send details of the (paid) parking places in Grächen in the week before the race. 

Race Registration – Tuesday 3 September 

Time: between 14:30 and 19:30

Location: Gemeindesaal, above the Tourism Office in the Dorfplatz, Grächen

All race participants must come to race registration in person and with ID and with their obligatory equipment. This will be checked before participants can be given their start number, timing chip and GPS tracker. It must be carried for the duration of the race and we may check at any point during the race or on the finish line. This is for your safety only so please respect our rules.

INSURANCE: Each race participant must have personal accident insurance sufficient to cover the cost of search and rescue (including by helicopter if required). 

If you do not have insurance or the correct obligatory equipment you will not be allowed to start the race. No exceptions.

MyRaceKit: in case you arrive at race registration without the equipment required we have partnered with myRaceKit and they will have a stand in Grachen. They are offering a very generous 10% discount to all 2019 participants. Even better, you can order in advance with the code UTMRRACE10 at https://www.myracekit.com/ They are also giving every runner a custom race belt & a Moonvalley bar. Just take the voucher we give you at registration to the MyRaceKit stand to collect!

Refreshments: There will be no cups provided at checkpoints or at the finish lines. A personal cup is therefore part of the obligatory equipment. A special edition Ultra Tour Monte Rosa foldable drinking cup will be available for purchase at registration if you don’t already have your own.

Headphones: Use of headphones is not permitted during any part of the race for reasons of safety. Use will result in disqualification. 

Bus shuttles

If you have booked a seat on one of the UTMR bus shuttles the bus pick up location, driver contact details etc. will be emailed to you by 20 August. You can also check your booking on your personal runner page. 

For independent travel then Grächen is easily accessible by public transport. Please check www.sbb.ch/en for timetables and booking tickets online. The “stop” is Grächen Post which is a one minute walk from the Dorfplatz for registration, start line, finish line. 

Pre-race activities on Tuesday 3 September

For anyone already in Grächen on Tuesday morning we will have coffee in the Gemeindesaal at 08:00 followed by an easy 5 km run. This is your chance to run & chat with Richard, Lizzy & some of the UTMR team volunteers!

A few restaurants in Grächen will offer a special price menu on Tuesday evening for race participants and supporters. Details will be included in your race envelope.

Baggage

We will transport one piece of baggage per runner (12kg / 75 litres) from the start to finish of each day’s race stage. Baggage will be available for you at a collection point close to the finish line, so then you will need to take it to your hotel yourself. Please do make sure it is a size and weight you can easily carry yourself, this will make it much easier for you! Bags must be deposited by 05:45 each morning. Your bag must be clearly labelled for identification. Labels will be provided in your race envelope for this purpose, but please mark it additionally.

Baggage storage at start/finish in Grächen: if you are travelling and have extra baggage or clothing with you that you do not require during the race you will be able to leave it in Grächen. Please mark it with your name and race number. 

Race Start

Each day the race will start at 06:00. You must be in the start area by 05:45 for the pre-race briefing. On entrance to the start area your timing chip will be checked. You will not be able to leave the start area after this check. 

Race Accommodation 

Details of your accommodation for the race overnight stops in Zermatt (Wednesday 4), Gressoney-la-Trinite (Thursday 5) and Macugnaga (Friday 6) will be on your race envelope given at registration in Grachen. If you have booked supporter accommodation, the details will be included in your race envelope. Village location maps will also be in your race envelope. The hotel lists and location maps  will also be available at the finish line at the end of Stages 1, 2 and 3. 

Please note that accommodation is in shared rooms of 2-4 beds in good quality hotels. Bring earplugs if you sleep lightly! Accommodation is limited so unfortunately we cannot offer single rooms. 

End of Stage 1, Zermatt

The race finishes by the Sport Pavilion in the centre of the village. Coffee, sandwiches, drinks are available here to buy if you want to stay to support your fellow runners. Zermatt is also equipped with supermarkets (Migros & Coop) as well as numerous bakeries and eating establishments. Now’s your chance to try a raclette! We provide an evening meal for you at Ristorante Pizzeria Non Solo Treno in the Bahnhofplatz (google map). Your voucher will be in your race envelope. Please give it to staff on arrival and tell them that you are with Ultra Tour Monte Rosa. They will be happy to welcome you!

End of Stage 2, Gressoney-la-Trinite

Your finish line is in the delightful church square. Take some rest there and enjoy the ambience. Your finisher soup, medical facilities & baggage collection are in the Sala Polivalente, a 500m walk away. If you need supplies there is one small village shop which sells basic items, but don’t expect your favourite brand of gel or sports drink! Check into your hotel, make yourself comfortable and then come back to support your fellow runners at the finish line! There is a friendly restaurant/bar “Castore” right by the finish line, and there will be a prize-giving here at 17:00 hosted by the local community. Your evening meal will be provided in your hotel from 18:30. If you have special dietary requirements please notify them on arrival. Have fun!

End of Stage 3, Macugnaga

You finish directly in the main Piazza of the village, and there will be lots going on! You’ll find fruit and a slice of pizza on the finish line. Again there is a small village shop and lots of cafes around the main square if you want to try ice cream or some local specialities. Make sure you come back to the finish line to celebrate the day’s achievements with a small prize-giving hosted by Luca from Hotel Flora. Your evening meal in Macugnaga will be served in a communal tent from 18:00 onwards. If you have special requirements you will be served separately at 19:00, please make yourself known to the staff when you arrive. The dinner tent is 1.1 km walk from the finish line, just follow the race markings until a bridge where your race route for the following day makes a sharp right turn, continue through the carpark and you will see the tent. Please note there will also be a minibus shuttle between the finish line and the meal tent! 

Breakfast on Thursday 5, Friday 6 and Saturday 7 will be served from 04:00 onwards in your hotel.

Race Route and Checkpoints

Please see the race website for all route (GPS and KML) and checkpoint information. https://www.ultratourmonterosa.com/4-stage-race-info/

Route marking: The race route will be well marked with 

• arrows
• bright orange ribbons 
• bright orange flags on bamboo or wires
• orange dots / arrows / markings made with a biodegradable chalk spray 

The race route additionally generally follows the route of the marked “Tour de Monte Rosa”. If you are in any doubt then please follow signposting to the next col or village. GPS tracks are available on the race website if you are carrying a smartphone.

Day / night: You will need to use your head torch for the first 30 minutes (approx.) of each stage.

Sunrise: 06:49 / Sunset: 19:53 / Civil Twilight between 06:18 and 20:24

Timing

Timing is provided by Racematix. Live results will be available both on the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa website and on the Racematix website. 

Timing chips are issued at race registration in Grächen. The chip will be on a wristband that you wear for the duration of the race. It must be returned at the finish line or at a checkpoint if you withdraw from the race. You will be liable for a charge if your chip is not returned. 

Participant List: This can be seen on the UTMR website  2019 UTMR ENTRY LIST. Please check your details and email info@ultratourmonterosa.com if something is not correct.

GPS Tracking device

GPS tracking is included in your registration fee and these trackers will be provided to you at race registration. They are light (60g) and will be taped onto the shoulder strap of your rucksack at registration. 

These must also be returned at the finish line or at a checkpoint if you withdraw from the race. You will be liable for a €135 charge if your device is not returned. 

Instructions on how your family and friends can follow you in real time during the race will be emailed to you shortly before race week. Exciting! 

Supporters

It is great if you have supporters to encourage you. Please see here for directions and driving times between checkpoints: https://www.ultratourmonterosa.com/supporters/

Assistance from family or friends is allowed at designated checkpoints only, and so long as it doesn’t interfere with the operation of the checkpoint. The decision of the checkpoint coordinator will be final. 

No support is allowed between checkpoints. No muling or pacing is allowed. 

Social Media

We’d love to share news about the race with the world. If you post photos or news on social media please use the hashtag #UTMR so we can share too!

Rescue and Medical Assistance

EMERGENCY: +41.793.998.527

First aid will be available at specific locations including the major checkpoints and medical assistance will be available at the finish lines.

If it appears that a runner is in difficulty or seriously injured: please telephone the EMERGENCY number, or go in person to a first aid point (major checkpoints:­ Europahütte / Rifugio Ferraro / Gressoney-la-Trinité / Alagna / Macugnaga / Saas Fee) or ask another runner to alert first aid personnel.

It is essential that each runner helps anybody in danger. Runners needing assistance submit themselves to the authority of a doctor or a rescuer.

You must stay on the marked route of the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa. Any runner who voluntarily leaves the way­marked path is no longer under the responsibility of the Race Organisation. 

DNF or DNS

Withdrawal is possible at these checkpoints only:

If you are injured or miss the time barrier we will provide transport to the finish line of that day’s stage. If you decide to withdraw you MUST notify the checkpoint coordinator. They will inform the Race Organisation and direct you to the provided transport. 

If you decide to stop at any location other than those listed above it is your own responsibility to make your way to the finish of that race stage, and to notify the Race Organisation. Failure to do so may result in search and rescue, the costs of which will be your responsibility.

If you do not finish (DNF) one race stage, you will be able to start the next day but you will not receive an overall classification. 

If you do not start (DNS) one of the stages, then it is your own responsibility to get yourself to the finish of that stage (and your accommodation). If you decide not to start one of the race stages you MUST let the Race Organisation know before the race start. 

Children’s Race

There will be a small “Kinderrennen” in Grächen at 16:30 on Saturday 7 September. If you have children with you please do encourage them to run! 

• ca. 800m for 5-7 year olds
• ca. 2500 for 8-12 year olds

If you have finished your race then please do come to support! 

Prize-giving / Closing Meal

Time: 18:30 onwards Saturday 7 September

Location: Dorfplatz of Grächen by the church and the Finish Line

The cost of this meal is included in your registration fee, you will receive your voucher in your race packet. If you would like to buy meal tickets for your supporters please use this form before Friday 30 August. Tickets for your supporters will be included in your race envelope.

Prize-giving: this will take place at 19:30. Category winners need to be present to receive their prize. If overall winners need to leave before the prize-giving they need to notify the Race Director to collect their prize but there will be no separate ceremony.

Enjoy your race! 

Namaste from the UTMR team!