This year, registering for the Mont-Blanc marathon which takes place this weekend has fired more than ever to the mission impossible for many passionate runners, as demand is strong. Nearly 33,000 people applied in October 2024 to this trail at the foot of the roof of Europe, for only 6,000 bibs drawn.
“As we also seek to lower the carbon impact of the race, and that the transport of competitors represents 96 % of this imprint, we thought that we could favor the runners who would come by train or by bus,” admits Magali Chevalier, manager of the event organized by the Chamonix Sports Club (Haute-Savoie).
The approach is not anecdotal: 40 % of the bibs have been reserved since this year for participants who make the trip to soft mobility. A world first. At the withdrawal of the bibs, we meet Alice, Jeremiah and their three children who were able to come thanks to this arrangement. “It’s been two years since I was trying to register for this mythical trail but that I was not taken in the draw,” says Jérémie. When I saw that with This green bib, I was sure I could come by taking the train, I jumped at the opportunity. »»
A heavy verification process
Alice concedes that they would probably not have taken the train without this encouragement. “We come from the south of the Channel and we say that the car is simpler. Finally we found the train much more comfortable, less tiring! The organization requires that at least half of the round trip trip is done by train or bus. “Eventful, because not everyone lives next to a station,” says Magali Chevalier.
To avoid cheaters, the Mont-Blanc marathon had to set up a heavy verification process. “It took us three months,” says Louise Madjarian, an intern. Proof of domicile, proof of purchase of train tickets … Everything was scrutinized. 400 people were dismissed. The electric car is not accepted to avoid the saturation of the Chamonix valley. “We hope that those who used the train for the first time will return to him to come to the foot of Mont Blanc. People see it is possible, and more pleasant! “Concludes Magali Chevalier.
