HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc
HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc – MCC
Martigny-Combe → Chamonix
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The MCC is the 40 km opener of the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc week, running from Martigny-Combe in Switzerland over the border to the finish line in Chamonix, France. With 2295 m of positive climb packed into a relatively short distance, it is a genuine mountain race rather than a warm-up trot — a course that crosses two significant cols and delivers the same finish-line atmosphere that the longer UTMB distances enjoy. Entry is famously reserved for volunteers and residents of the Chamonix and Martigny valleys, which gives the MCC a community feel, but the terrain treats no one gently. The race climbs from 506 m at the start to a high point of 2222 m, and the profile is defined by two hard efforts up to the Col de la Forclaz and the Col de Balme before a long, quad-testing plunge into the valley toward Chamonix.
The course and terrain
The MCC covers 40 km with 2295 m of ascent, starting in Martigny-Combe at 506 m and finishing in Chamonix at 1035 m. That net elevation difference hides the real work: the route climbs to a high point of 2222 m and crosses from the Swiss Rhône valley into the French Chamonix valley over classic alpine cols. The intermediate checkpoints tell the shape of the day — Col de la Forclaz at 7.6 km (1532 m), Col de Balme at 17.4 km (2202 m), Argentière at 27.8 km (1255 m), and the finish in Chamonix at 38.7 km. Expect true mountain trail: steep grassy and rocky climbs, high-alpine passes exposed to wind and weather, and technical descents. The distance is short enough that runners may be tempted to race it like a marathon, but with over 2000 m of vertical gain the terrain, not the mileage, sets the pace. Poles and mountain-capable shoes with real grip are worth having for both the ascents and the long drop off Col de Balme.
Where the race is won and lost
Two climbs define the MCC. The first, from Martigny-Combe at 506 m up to the Col de la Forclaz at 1532 m, gains roughly 1000 m in the opening 7.6 km — a brutally steep start that punishes anyone who goes out too hot. Getting to Forclaz under control, legs still fresh, is the single most important tactical decision of the day. The second decisive effort is the long pull from the Forclaz area up to the Col de Balme at 2202 m by 17.4 km, the race's high point at 2222 m. From Balme the course drops hard down to Argentière at 1255 m by 27.8 km — nearly 950 m of descent that can shred quadriceps and dictate how the final kilometres feel. Runners who have saved something for this descent and the rolling run into Chamonix will move up the field; those who overspent on the climbs will pay for it here.
Pacing and fuelling
The cut-offs give a clear frame for pacing. Col de la Forclaz closes at Mon 12:30, Col de Balme at Mon 15:45, Argentière at Mon 18:00, and the Chamonix finish at Mon 20:30. The generous gap between the col cut-offs and the finish means the race is realistically completable for well-prepared runners, but the early climb to Forclaz is the first place slower runners can lose their buffer, so bank a little time on the descent to Argentière rather than the ascents. Aid points are spaced across the checkpoints at Forclaz (7.6 km), Balme (17.4 km) and Argentière (27.8 km), so plan to carry enough to cover roughly 10 km between stations, including the big Forclaz climb where you will burn calories fast. Front-load nutrition before and on the first climb, keep drinking on the exposed high traverse to Balme, and use the Argentière aid to top up for the final push to Chamonix.
Conditions to expect
The MCC crosses high alpine terrain in late August, and at 2222 m the weather can swing from hot valley sun to cold wind, cloud, or even snow flurries on Col de Balme within a single race. The exposure on the passes means there is little shelter if a storm rolls in, so the mandatory-kit mindset of the UTMB events — waterproof layer, warm top, gloves and hat — is worth respecting even when the start line feels warm. Because the race starts on the Swiss side and finishes in Chamonix, logistics matter: the point-to-point format means no returning to your start, and crew access is concentrated at Martigny-Combe and the Chamonix finish. Prepare for temperature contrast between the low start at 506 m and the 2202 m col, and treat the long descent to Argentière as a section where cold hands and tired legs, not fitness, are the real risk.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 506 m · —
7.6 km · 1532 m · Mon 12:30
17.4 km · 2202 m · Mon 15:45
27.8 km · 1255 m · Mon 18:00
38.7 km · 1035 m · Mon 20:30
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