Race news: TOR des GEANTS® - Vallée d'Aoste, Italy, September 9-16, 2012
The Tor des Géants® organizers assure us that 2012 will be a great third edition with the three best placed men from 2011 participating and a brand new website which went online in June 2012. The website makes sure the whole world will be able to follow this long distance event that has become one of the main meetings on the ultra-running calendar.
Le Tor des Géants® : the favourites
The favourites will be at the starting line: Jules Henri Gabioud (Switzerland ) the 2011 winner, second-placed French runner Christophe Le Saux , Pablo Criado Toca from Spain, third, and Marco Gazzola, who suffered from hallucinations while he was in the lead last year. Female winner of the previous two editions, Anne-Marie Gross, has yet to enter the race but Patrizia Pensa e Giuliana Arrigoni, second and third respectively in 2011, have already confirmed their participation.
Christophe Profit, a well-known name in mountain circles, is going to attempt the adventure this year. In the winter of 1987, he succeeded in climbing three famous north faces in the Alps: the Grandes Jorasses, Eiger and Cervin (Matterhorn) in 40 hours. He also accomplished the first ascent of K2's north west ridge with Pierre Béghin in 1991.
Together with these big names, there will be 600 unknown competitors, among whom we can find computer programmers, alpine guides, CEOs, engineers and so on. Although the odds are against them for first place, they are nonetheless motivated to cross the finish line, perhaps some days later!
A new website
The Tor des Géants® organizers have renewed their website with new graphic designs, more apps and, above all, information in five languages: German, English, Italian, French and Spanish.
The site is divided into two distinct parts:
1) one part dedicated to the race « Course » which lets runners find all the necessary informations:
- Rules, advice and enrolments
- Road books with details regarding the itinerary and altitudes
- Live coverage has been improved thanks to a new software, the same that will be used in all races organized by VDA Trailers : the Gran Trail Valdigne, Arrancabirra and Winter Eco Trail!
This new software manages a mass of information for every runner: their photo, CV, results achieved so far, ranking and position throughout the race (thanks to stopwatch points), the runner before and after them, overall standings, entry and exit times at each home base, etc.
A real live coverage! At the moment, the news is on the home page and bloggers can enjoy a personalised space!
2) A part dedicated to Vallée d'Aoste with information for tourists regarding national parks, peaks, short descriptions of hiking tracks in the Valley and other sporting activities. There is a link to reservations for all mountain refuges, tabs to the weather forecast, partners and accommodation to help organize a holiday or a day out...
Characteristics of the race
330 km, an altitude difference of 24,000 m, 25 passes at 2000 m to cross, a maximum race time of 150 hours, all in a single stage in the heart of the "giants" of Valle d'Aosta.
The Tor des Géants® runs along the two Alte Vie routes in Valle d'Aosta, thus becoming an authentic journey through the heart of the highest peaks in Europe. The paths run along at the foot of Mont Blanc (4810 m), the Gran Paradiso (4061 m), Monte Rosa (4634 m) and the Matterhorn (4478): the 4 giants of the Alps.
Programme:
Courmayeur
Saturday 8 September
- Meet up at the Forum Sport Center in Courmayeur
- 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Bib numbers given out
- 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Bags handed in
- 8:00 p.m. - Technical briefing and pasta party!
Sunday 9 September
- Meet up at the Forum Sport Center in Courmayeur
- 07:30 a.m.- 08:30 a.m. Last bib numbers and bags given out
- 08:00:00 a.m. - 09:30:00 a.m. Bags handed in Place Abbé Henry (church)
- 09:45 a.m. Briefing at the starting line
- 10:00 a.m. Start
Wednesday 12 September
- 4:00 p.m. Arrival of first runners in Courmayeur
Saturday 15 September
- 4:00 p.m. Arrival of last runners in Courmayeur
Sunday 16 September Jardin de l'Ange in Courmayeur
- 11:00 a.m. Prizes awarded
- 12:30 p.m. Farewell aperitif
Check out the new website for further information at: www.tordesgeants.it
