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THE FIRST EDITION WILL BE HELD the 3rd of JULY 2020.
Val d’Aran by UTMB®,
the new international trail running event to be held in the Spanish Pyrenees will be developed as a long-term collaboration between UTMB® International and InAran Sports, with the collaboration of Conselh Generau d’Aran.
The organisers have confirmed that the race, the first edition of which will be held the 3rd of July, will be part of the UTMB® labelled international events, integrating from 2020 onwards the new international ultra-endurance trail running circuit born from the recently signed partnership between UTMB® and the Ultra-Trail® World Tour, whose calendar will be presented this summer.
The inaugural edition will take place over several distances in the spectacular setting of the Aran Valley, in the heart of the Spanish Pyrenees.
“The Val d’Aran will offer its renowned hospitality to welcome runners and their families. This will be a unique opportunity to showcase our territory, a territory that may seem small in size but represents the largest mountains. The event will be a discovery of the territory for many people and for Val d’Aran it will be a new occasion and an important step to enrich its summer offer. In recent years, Val d’Aran has been a successful host for international and world-class sporting events, including the Mountain Skiing and Snowboarding World Cup, and the arrival and departure of the Tour de France,” said Carlos Barrera, Sindic of the Conselh Generau d’Aran.
“We are delighted to bring such a prestigious and well-known event to the Val d’Aran and look forward to welcoming Spanish, French and international runners to our breathtaking mountains. The venue has incredible potential to be a leading trail running destination and we will work closely with the UTMB® team to offer participants a unique experience,” added Xavier Pocino Moga, CEO of InAran Sports.
Trail running has become a very popular sport in Spain, with a large number of races taking place every year in the country, runners from all over the world flying to Spain to enjoy the sport and a large representation of Spanish runners at the UTMB® Mont-Blanc event, which is a clear indication of the type of welcome the Val d’Aran by UTMB® will receive, and which will be part of its great success.
“The UTMB® brand means much more than just a race. All UTMB®-supported events are organised to the highest standards of quality, offering challenging courses in the mountains and an extraordinary experience and journey for both runners and fans in iconic destinations,” said Catherine Poletti, Director of UTMB® Mont-Blanc.
“This new event in the heart of the Pyrenees allows us to further enrich the UTMB® offer in terms of terrain diversification, presenting a new and impressive mountain route, different from the alpine, with a strong characterisation” added Michel Poletti, co-director of the UTMB®.
Val d’Aran by UTMB® will be the 5th event of the UTMB® family, joining other emblematic and tourist destinations particularly attractive for trail runners who wish to explore the world: UTMB® Mont-Blanc, Gaoligong by UTMB®, Oman by UTMB® and Ushuaia by UTMB®.
As in all other “by UTMB®” events, the finishers of the Val d’Aran by UTMB® will be able, from the first edition of the event, to pick up the “Running Stones” and obtain a direct entry for the UTMB® Mont-Blanc race of their choice without having to go through the draw.
“We are delighted to add the Val d’Aran by UTMB® to our calendar, an event that will show everyone the best known side of the Pyrenees mountain range and that will bring added value to the world of trail running. This event is in line with the general objective of the UTMB® to develop prestigious events open to all on all continents. Welcome aboard Val d’Aran”, added Rémi Duchemin, CEO of UTMB® International.
“The Val d’Aran will offer its renowned hospitality to welcome runners and their families. This will be a unique opportunity to showcase our territory, a territory that may seem small in size but represents the largest mountains. The event will be a discovery of the territory for many people and for Val d’Aran it will be a new occasion and an important step to enrich its summer offer. In recent years, Val d’Aran has been a successful host for international and world-class sporting events, including the Mountain Skiing and Snowboarding World Cup, and the arrival and departure of the Tour de France,” said Carlos Barrera, Sindic of the Conselh Generau d’Aran.