Val d'Isere Announces New Race to Dismay of Ice Trail Tarentaise

Historically, Val d’Isere has been involved in the organisation of the Ice Trail Tarentaise, with the 65km mountain race starting and finishing in the resort. Alongside the association of the Trailers des Pays de Savoie they have been bound together by an agreement to organise the race together but following the 2015 edition Val d’Isere has pulled out of future events and announced the launch of their own race - another 65km trail race scheduled for 10th July 2016, the exact same date that has been put aside for the next Ice Trail Tarentaise.

Although full details have not been released of the new trail running event, the little that we do know sounds remarkably similar to the existing event. The new High Trail Vanoise will be a 65km trail race with around 5000m of ascent, in the mountains that surround Val d’Isere.

Gerard Mattis, the deputy mayor of Val d’Isere, expressed a wish to avoid conflict and to consider foremost the effect on the participants. He claims that the new race has been planned in conjunction with the Vanoise National Park and that the purpose is not to create something in opposition with the Ice Trail Tarentaise, but to develop something positive that will benefit all organisations in the future.

The organisers of the Ice Trail Tarentaise are understandably not happy about the new race and are planning on holding their event regardless. President of the Trailers association, Laurent Vinner, contests the claim that Val d’Isere’s new race has not been created in competition with their own by pointing out that not only have they withdrawn support and funding for the Ice Trail but they have organised the High Trail for exactly the same date!

He sees that they have only two options to save their race: hire a lawyer to contest the mayor of Val d’Isere or reroute the course to take place somewhere else. The second option would be very complicated and difficult to achieve in time for next summer.

Gerard Mattis accepts that the Trailers association has fulfilled its role in recent years, but has withdrawn support for 2016. He states that although the resort does not seek to go against the Ice Trail, he accepts that competition between the two will be necessary to highlight the differences. Trailers secretary, Gregory Henry, is devastated by the announcement of the new race as he considers the current Ice Trail route to be the perfect course.

However, the organisers of the new High Trail race are confident that their course will be well received by runners, taking them deeper into the heart of the Vanoise National Park, and will strengthen the resort’s collaboration with park. Apparently there have been conflicting relationships between the Trailers des Pays de Savoie and the Vanoise National Park, which has influenced the new arrangement.

So, what does the future hold for the Ice Trail Tarentaise? Laurent Vinner says that it is too early to tell whether or not the race will happen next year, enrollment was supposed to open this Sunday but has been suspended until further notice.

Credit : Le Dauphine Libere

You can find details of all trail running events and other races on our Tignes Events Calendar.