PTL^® Rules

INTRODUCTION

ORGANIZATION

UTMB Group organizes the PTL^® in collaboration with les Trailers du Mont Blanc association.
It is directed by a Race Committee whose decisions are final.

ACCEPTATION OF THE RACE REGULATIONS AND ETHIC

Participating in UTMB® events implies the explicit and unreserved acceptance of these regulations, the ethics of the event and any instructions sent by the organization to the participants.

OVERVIEW OF THE EVENT

1. Participants in the PTL^® must complete the itinerary without going over the time limit. It is not considered as a competitive event and as such does not give official finishing rankings.
2. It is open to teams of men, women or mixed of 2 or 3 people. The total number of runners will be limited to 300.
3. Teams are strictly inseparable. In the case of an abandonment of a runner in a team of 3, the 2 remaining runners can only continue after ensuring that their team member has been left at a life-base or refuge and if they have the authorisation of the race HQ. In the case of the abandonment of a runner in a team of 2, both runners have to stop.
4. The route is to be completed in autonomy, the teams managing their supplies and their rest time as they wish. Along the route, runners may find:
        - life bases (i.e. a main aid stations) open 24/24, where participants may sleep and eat. They will also get their spare bags. Runners have unlimited acces to beds and bunks, but they still must leave the life base before the cut-off time.
        - partner refuges/mountain huts, open 24/24, where competitors may sleep - for free, according to availability - and a eat (in exchange for a meal ticket*. Runners might be able to use beds and bunks only for a limited time, according to availability. 
        - the services offered by any other non-partner hut are at to be paid for by the participants, while respecting the hut's schedule and the peace of its other clients
5. Assistance is only tolerated at the organization’s life bases. It is strictly forbidden at other points along the route, including partner refuges, when passing through villages or along roads, at the risk of immediate disqualification.
6. No assistance is allowed along the route (except for the kilometer preceding and following the life bases)

* In the limit of the 4 meal tickets distributed.

CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION AND REGISTRATION

ENTRY PROCESS

To register, each team has to present a file proving each team member's previous experience. Technical experience in the mountain environment, sporting history as well as team motivation will be taken in to account (see Registration page).

A draw may be organized in case of too many pre-registered participants.
If all the teams of 3 selected after the examination of the files do not allow to reach the limit of 300 runners, a draw will be made among the teams of 2.
If the total number of teams of 3 selected after the examination of the files exceeds the limit of 300 runners, a draw will be made among the teams of 3 and no team of 2 will be selected.

The PTL^® is open to all people born in or before 2002 (categories espoir to veteran).

To validate their registration, runners must:

1. Provide a specific medical certificate (*). It must be uploaded to their runner's account before May 31^st 2022 (the organization does not accept any medical certificates sent by email or mail).
   If no medical certificate is received by this date, the registration will be cancelled without refund. Warning: as per the FFA regulations, all medical certificates must be provided in French. We strongly advise you to use our official medical certificate template (already including the translation). Any untranslated certificate will be refused.
   (*) at the end of the registration procedure, each runner will receive a confirmation email withthe official medical certificate form attached.
   
   2. Before July 31st, 2022, complete all the additional actions required to finalize the registration (declaration onhonor, decide where to collect their race bib, shuttle booking, t-shirt size, telephone number, etc.) via an online form available on their runner’s account.
   
   No bib will be issued in the absence of the medical certificate and if all the additional actions required to finalize the registration have not been completed

COMMUNICATION CONDITIONS

Having the ability to interact with the organization team during the event (race hq, volunteers, rescue teams...) is essential to ensure the safety of participants. That is why it is mandatory that at least one member of the team speaks either  French or English or Italian (the languages of the organization) fluently. A good level of expression and understanding, including on the telephone, is required and will be checked at the race pack collection.
The PTL^® Committee has the right to prevent a team from starting the race if the aforementioned condition is not fulfilled.

REGISTRATION FEE

It is only possible to register on our website and via secure payment by credit card.

2022 entry fee: 1300€ per team of 3 and 2

 All is that is supplied by the organization:

1. Race-bib (one for each team member).
2. Spare bag of about 50L capacity (1 per runner)
3. GPS tracker allowing the organization to follow the team from the race HQ 
4. Set of  1/25 000 maps + Roadbook with a description of the itinerary only in French, English, Italian and Spanish (a set for each team).
   Files of the tracks and waypoints to download on to personal GPSs
   A list of the refuges (huts) and the organization’s aid stations
5. Telephone support 24h/24 from the race HQ, live coverage on the site  www.utmbworld.com
6. Energizing meals and dormitories in the life bases
7. Drop sacks in the life bases
8. Dormitory (according to availability) in partner mountain huts
9. 4 meal tickets per runner to use in the partner refuges of the runner's choice
10. Rest area, post-race medical assistance, end of race meal in Chamonix.  
11. Gift : finisher's jacket and traditional souvenir small cow bell for all finishers
12. Personal certificate for all who finish the race.

Including the 2022 films in HD streaming, a 1.5€ Eco fee per person to finance the cleaning, repairing and maintenance of the trails, and 13€ for the 2022 membership of the Trailers du Mont-Blanc association.
The fee covers all the services as per the current regulations. It does not include, however, 5% bank charges to be paid at the time of registration.

Registration is personal and final. It will not be refunded for any reason whatsoever, unless otherwise provided for in these rules. It is not permitted to transfer the entry to another race or to another person for any reason whatsoever.

RUNNER'S COMMITMENT

To participate in the PTL^®, it is essential to:

• Be fully aware of the length and peculiarity of the event and to be perfectly prepared for it;
• Have acquired, prior to the event, real skills which ensure the runner’s autonomy in medium and high-altitude environments. Runners must be able to manage any problem caused by this type of event and this type of environment, and therefore they must:
• Be fully aware that the course includes difficult and risky technical paths: steep slopes, unfamiliar trails, scree slopes, snowfields etc. and that the route is often not marked.
• Master the essential techniques to face this environment, including land navigation
• Be able to deal, without any external help, with harsh weather conditions (night, wind, cold, fog, rain or snow) typical of high altitude environments
• Know how to manage physical or mental problems resulting from extreme fatigue, digestive problems, muscle or joint pain, minor injuries...
• Be fully aware that the event is not medicalized by the organization
• Be fully aware that for such an activity in the mountains, safety depends first and foremost on the ability of the runner to adapt to problems

• Inform their crew that they must as well respect the environment, the organization team and the rules of the race.
• To agree to receive all newsletters with information about the event.
  
  

NB: the organization has the right to disqualify teams that are considered to be incapable of progressing safely in the mountain environment. In addition, those who will not have the technical ability to pass the difficult passages by themselves without the help of the organization will be excluded from the race once they are secured.

MANDATORY EQUIPMENT

For obvious reasons of security the participants agree, on their honor, to keep with them at all times the obligatory equipment listed below. Systematic checks will be carried out during the race pack collection, at the life-bases and at random intervals along the route.

Obligatory mandatory gear checklist

• Minimum 2 liters of water
• Supply of emergency energizing food
• 2 head-torches in good working order with enough spare batteries to last for a week
• Survival blanket (minimum 140x210cm)
• Whistle
• Mobile telephone with international roaming option (no masked number)
• A charger (solar, portable, rechargeable…)
• 1 tee-shirt of breathable fabric (for change)
• 2 long-sleeved under breathable underwear
• 1 jacket and pair of trousers which are breathable and 100% waterproof
• A waterproof cape
• 1 pair of long sports trousers or leggings
• 1 pair of sun-glasses
• 1 waterproof pair of gloves
• 1 hat
• 1 glow-stick/light stick activated by bending (supplied by the organization)
• 1 multi-use beaker, bowl and cutlery for eating in lifes bases
• Compass and altimeter
• Knife
• Crampons with minimum 1cm spikes (e.g. XTR from Yaktrax^® / Chainsen Light from Snowline)
• Helmet
• Covid 19 Mask
• Harness
• Via ferrata type double lanyard (2 straps with absorber + 2 carabiners with locking system)
• Personal silk bag (mandatory for sleeping in the refuge)

Mandatory gear checklist for each team

• 1 handheld hiking GPS in which all the tracks supplied by the organization have been downloaded. This device must be able to accept at least 20 tracks of at least 5000 points each. Warning: the smartphone and GPS watch does not replace the handheld hiking GPS.
• The Roadbook and the route maps supplied by the organization
• An emergency shelter 100% rain and wind proof and large enough to shelter all team members in case of emergency or very bad weather.
• A candle and a lighter (to warm up the shelter in case of injury and/or risk of hypothermia)
• A first-aid kit to allow the treatment of small injuries and minor infections (non-exhaustive list in annex).
• Cash (euros and Swiss francs), for the most part refuges (huts) do not except credit cards

Required by customs

• Passport

Other equipment strongly recommended for your safety (including but not limited to)

• a small stove, mess dish (per team)
• walking poles,
• other spare clothing,
• micropur tablets or water filtration system
• string, sun-cream, vaseline or anti chaffing cream ...
• sleeping-bag 200 gr. 

SECURITY AND THE PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT

The race HQ (PC Course) based in Chamonix and the controllers along the route will be the runner’s only interlocutors to whom they may turn concerning any problems they encounter. If necessary, they will be responsible for alerting and co-ordinating the public rescue services.

In the event of an accident:

• the runners should initially use their first aid kit,
• in the case of an emergency or if impossible to move it is imperative to alert the race HQ by any means.

In the case of bad weather conditions, and for reasons of security, the Race Committee reserves he right to modify the route, to stop that race or change the time barriers. Its decisions are final.

INSURANCE

Each participant must have an insurance which covers the cost of search and rescue and evacuation in France, Italy and Switzerland. Such insurance can be taken out with any organization of the runner's choice- e.g. the  Fédération Française d'Athlétisme via the subscription to a 'Pass’Running, Pass J’aime Courir' - or a license.

NB: you pay for your own helicopter evacuation. The choice of evacuation method depends on the organization, who will put the runner's security first.

The choice of the method of evacuation and the choice of hospital depends on the search and rescue and medical officials.

Expenses arising from the use of exceptional methods of rescue or evacuation must  be paid by the person rescued who will also have to pay their return from the place to where they were evacuated. It falls to the runner to create their file and present it to their insurance company within the stated dealine.

THE ENVIRONMENT

By registering for the PTL^®, participants commit to respect the environment and the natural areas they cross. In particular:

• Littering is strictly forbidden (tubes containing gels, paper, organic waste, plastic packaging...).
• All participants must keep their waste and plastic packaging until they can dispose of it in the trash cans they can find at any aid station or village they pass through. The organization encourages runners to bring a bag to transport their waste.

To reduce consumption of plastic, both by runners and volunteers, the organization will not distribute disposable crockery (cutlery, beakers, bowls) at any check point or aid station. You are, therefore, invited to bring you own utensils if you wish to eat hot food at the aid stations.

PHOTO COPYRIGHT

Every competitor expressly foregoes the right for any images during the event, just as they renounce any right of appeal to the organizers and their partners for the use of their image. Only the organization can transfer this right for images to any media, via an accreditation or relevant license.

Ultra-Trail^®, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc^®, UTMB^®, CCC^®, TDS^® and PTL^® are legal trademarks. Any communication about the event or use of photographs of the event must be made respecting the name of the event, the trademarks and with the official agreement of the organization.

SPONSORED RUNNERS

Sponsored runners may only display their sponsors' logos on clothing and equipment used during the race. Any other advertising accessory (flag, banner, etc.) is prohibited at any point on the course, including the finish, under penalty of penalty at the discretion of the race management.

POLITICAL EXPRESSION

As per our ethical charter, any ostentatious manifestation of political messages or images during the event is prohibited.

PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA

According to the French Data Protection Act of August 6th 1978, and in accordance with the new General Data Protection Regulations ( EU RGPD 2016/679 ), any competitor has the right to access and amend every information concerning them.

The information is collected as part of a registration for one of the UTMB^® Mont-Blanc races, for the needs of the organization and in particular to identify each competitor in order to communicate them information related to his/her participation before, during or after the event.

The runner's data is kept in the database for 10 years. This period is renewable at each registration and corresponds to the legal data retention period of the medical and non-contraindication to the practice of athletics or running in competition certificate, or the sports card. After 10 years, and unless the runner authorizes the organization to keep their data, all data are deleted except the runner's surname, first name, date of birth, gender and nationality to maintain the rankings.  

Any runner can access their personal data on their runner’s account which isavailable at the following link: utmbmontblanc.com/fr/page/172/membre.html

Any request for data modification can be made:

1. By mail to the following address:
DPO UTMB
UTMB Group
31 rue du Lyret
74400 Chamonix

2. By email to the following address: dpo@utmb.world

Any request for access or modification of personal data will be processed as soon as possible after receipt of the request, within a maximum period of 1 month.

RACE DETAILS

The 2022 PTL^® starts from Chamonix and travels through middle and high mountain environments foraround 300 kilometers with about 25 000 meters elevation gain.
The start is at 08am on, Monday, August 22nd 2022 from the Place du Triangle de l'Amitié of Chamonix ; finishers will be welcomed in place du Triangle de l'Amitié in Chamonix until 16:30, August 28, 2022 and cut-off time for finishing is 152:30 hours.

RACE-BIBS

Each race-bib is issued individually to each competitor upon the presentation of an ID with photo and after having signed a commitment on their honor to keep the mandatory equipment with them at all times during the race.
 
 It must be presented at any checks along the race route.
 In Chamonix, the race-bib is “the pass” necessary to access shuttle buses, buses, aid stations, rest areas, showers, and sack drop-off and pick-up points.
In addition to each race-bib, each team member will receive an ID bracelet, to be worn on the wrist throughout the race.

TRACKING AND CONTROL

A GPS tracker is supplied to each team. This tracker allows the organization to track the progress of the team and ensure that it respects the route. This information will be available on the internet.
The positioning of the tracker on the bag recommended by the organization must be strictly respected.

CUT-OFF TIMES

Cut-off times are defined for the life-bases and any other area judged by the organization to be imperative for reasons of security. They are calculated so that participants can make it to the finish line within the maximum permitted time of hours (152:30).  
In order to be authorized to continue with the event, teams must be able to leave the check point before the cut-off time.
All participants excluded from the event by the organization and who wish to continue the itinerary do so at their own risk after having returned their race-bib and tracker.

ABANDONMENT AND REPATRIATION

The organization ensures the repatriation of runners (who abandon or who fail to meet the time barrier) from every check point with a cut-off time.. In the case of abandonment at all other points along the route, without exception, runners must organize their return by their own means.
The organization will ensure the repatriation to Chamonix of the bags of runners who have withdrawn, on condition that their withdrawal has been registered. The delay of the repatriation depends on logistical constraints and the organization cannot guarantee that all bags are brought to Chamonix before the end of the race. 

COMPLAINTS

Any complaint must be sent by email, within 10 days after the end of the event.

EXCEPTIONAL CONDITIONS

If necessary, the organization reserves the right to modify at any time the routes, starting times, cut-off times, the position of aid stations and medical stations, and any other aspect related to the smooth running of the events.

In case of force majeure, bad weather conditions or any other circumstance endangering the competitors' safety, the organization reserves the right to:

• Postpone the start of the race modify the cut-off times
• change the start date
• adapt the race’s course
• cancel the event
• neutralize the event
• stop the race in progress

If a race is cancelled or if the event needs to be organized differently (e.g. one or more races need to be cancelled), for any reason beyond the control of UTMB Group, more than 30 days before the start, runners will be partially refunded the entry fees. The amount of the refund will be decided as to allow the organization to deal with the irremediable expenses incurred as of the date of the cancellation. Runners will be refunded as follows

	% refund
Until the end of April	60%
End of April - End of June	50%
End of June - End of July	30%
August	No refund

If a race is cancelled less than 30 days before the start or if a race in progress is interrupted, for any reason beyond the control of UTMB Group, entry fees will not be refunded.

COVID19 PANDEMIC SANITARY RULES

Depending on how the health situation evolves, the organization may apply more stringent rules in order to respect the current sanitary regulations (social distancing, barrier gestures) such as:

• Wearing masks and sanitize hands at each crowded point (race pack collection, start area, aid stations, finish area, drop off bags area, transport, post-race meals, etc.).
• staggered starts (may result in significant changes to scheduled start times)
• adapt or relocate some aid stations
• no self-service at the aid stations (table service performed by staff members)
• race bib delivery or adapted race bib collection
• no assistance zones
• limited number of spectators or no spectators at all
• crowd flow control

The organization will implement these measures depending on the evolution of the situation and the regulations in France, Switzerland and Italy.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

FILMS

The 2022 films will be available for preview on the runner's account as of  November.

INSURANCE

Civil liability
The organization takes out a third party insurance for the duration of the event. This civil liability insurance guarantees the financial consequences of its liability, that of its employees and that of the participants. 

MODIFICATION OF TEAM AND CANCELLATION

The original composition of teams can be changed, until July 15th at the latest. As for all candidates, each new team member added to an already formed team must submit an aptitude file. They will be evaluated by the race committee which will take the decision whether to accept or not their registration, their decision will be final.  

If the whole team wishes to cancel their registration, they must send an e-mail to info@utmb.world specifying their name, family name and race bib number. No cancellation is allowed by telephone.

Teams who wish to cancel their registration will be refunded as follows:

	% refund
Until the end of April	60%
End of April - End of June	50%
End of June - End of July	30%
August	No refund

In the case of one team member cancelling, the organization will not refund their share of the entry fee.

CLAIMS

Any claim arising from the runner’s registration for one of the UTMB^® races must be emailed at: info@utmb.world or mailed to 31 rue du Lyret 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France.

Any complaint that cannot be resolved within two (2) months of sending UTMB Group a registered letter may also be brought to the attention of UTMB Group's ombudsman, whose contact details are:

MCP Médiation
12 square Desnouettes
75015 PARIS
http://mcpmediation.org

Any dispute concerning the registration (e.g., if a runner is not selected via the lottery) or relating to sporting management and rules (e.g. if a runner abandons a race) is not considered a valid reason for a claim.

 

APPENDICE: First aid kit

By consulting your GP before leaving home you can obtain prescribed medicines that are best adapted to the situation and also verify that they will not give any side affects or allergies...

We suggest that you have the following (the list is not exhaustive and does not take account of any habitual treatments):

• Dressings, bandages, creams : (all brand names given are available in France)
  • Self-adhesive elasticised bandage (6 cm)
    Eg : elastoplast with out dressing strip…
    For ankle strapping or to hold a dressing in place
  • Support bandage (8 cm)
    Eg : Cohéban
  • Sterile dressings
  • Small capsules of antiseptic
    Eg : Chlorhexidine
  • Sterile compresses
  • Butterfly strips
    Eg : Steristrip
    To close small wounds that don’t need stitching
  • Gel dressings
    Eg : Urgomed
    To protect damaged skin(blisters, abrasions) after having disinfected them
  • Anti-inflammatory cream
    Eg : Voltarène Emulgel
    To use in the event of tendonitis, strains...
  • Nok cream (Akiléine)
    To prevent blisters, don’t hesitate to re-apply cream during the race
  • Coalgan
    In case of nose bleeds
  • Bépanthène
    To treat irritation of the buttocks or between the thighs
  • Antiseptic eye-wash

To treat blisters if one of the runners in the team is able to do the following : éosine + 5cc syringe + subcutaneous needle

1. Draw the éosine into the syringe then pierce right through the blister
2. Draw the serous fluid into the syringe
3. Re-inject the mix of serous fluid/ éosine back in to the blister
4. Re-draw the mixture and remove the syringe
5. Remove the remaining fluid with some cotton wool and then use a protective plaster or apply some Nok d’Akiléine.
6. If there is blood present in the blister then there is tissue damage so disinfect the area carefully.

Medicines :

• Analgesics
  Eg : straight paracetamol (example : Doliprane, Dafalgan…) or mix (example : Di-Antalvic…)
  For muscle aches, articulation …
  Avoid using aspirin or anti-inflammatories, they are toxic for the kidneys or the stomach which are already in heavy demand from due to the exigency of the race
  Respect intense pain which may be a sign of a serious problem which could necessitate stopping the race and seeking medical advice.
• Antiemetic
  Example : Vogalène lyoc
  In the event of nausea or vomiting
• Ant diarrhoeic
  Example : Lopéramide
  In the event of diarrhoea 
  Do not forgot the advice of hydrating your food in the event of a digestive problem
• Antispasmodic
  Example : Spasfon
  In the event of stomach ache
• Antireflux
  Example : Ranitidine 
  In the event of heartburn

Always ensure that you have on you some type of glucose or energising bars in the event of hypoglycaemia.

 

The original version of this document (UTMB^® regulations) is in French. In the event of inconsistency or discrepancy between the French version and any of the other linguistic versions of this regulations, the French version shall prevail.