Respect for People 

Respect yourself: no cheating, neither before nor during the race; 

Respect the other runners: assist other runners in case of difficulty;

Respect the volunteers: the volunteers are taking part on their own time and for their personal enjoyment, so please be as respectful towards them as you would a fellow runner.

Respect Nature

Respect the local flora and fauna by not littering.

To avoid soil erosion always stay on the marked paths and do not take shortcuts.

No Monetary Prizes

There are no monetary prizes, but every finisher will receive a souvenir of the event.

Sharing and Cooperation

• Everyone, runners and volunteers, should support others and should take the initiative to help whenever necessary.
• By supporting a charitable organization the race also has a humanitarian objective which helps put in perspective everyone’s individual challenge

The Organization

The non-profit associations Courmayeur Trailers and Valle d’Aosta Trailers organize the Grand Trail Valdigne, with the participation of the communes of Courmayeur, La Salle, La Thuile, Morgex and Pré-Saint-Didier and with the collaboration of the Aosta Valley Region.

The Race

The race takes place in the unspoiled highlands of the Aosta Valley (Valdigne) starting and finishing in Morgex.

Gran Trail Valdigne 87 km: an 87 km course climbing 5,100 meters and travelling through Morgex, Pré-Saint-Didier, La Thuile, Courmayeur, and La Salle..
Gran Trail Valdigne 47 km: a 47 km course climbing 3,400 meters and travelling through Morgex, Courmayeur, and La Salle.

The race may be completed at any speed, but must be done continuously and within a limited time.

Participation
The race is open to both men and women whether they are members of Courmayeur Trailers or not. Participants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of enrollment (individual age categories range from Junior to Veterans).

Partial self-sufficiency

A number of refreshment posts will provide food and beverages that must be consumed before leaving the post.

Runners must carry their own water bottles or other containers for drinking between posts where water will be available to fill water bottles or Camel Packs. Paper cups will not be available. Upon leaving each refreshment post, runners are responsible for carrying an amount of food and water sufficient to reach the next refreshment post.

Outside assistance is forbidden except in La Thuile and Courmayeur where outside assistance will be allowed but only in designated areas. The runner’s reception area will be strictly reserved for the runners and there will be no access to anyone not taking part in the race.

It is forbidden to be accompanied in the race by anyone who is not properly enrolled.

Conditions of Participation

Various sections of the race lead through high alpine terrain where runners can encounter difficult conditions (nighttime, wind, cold, rain or snow). Each participant has to have an appropriate level of training and take personal responsibility to cope with this individual adventure.

There are no specific requirements to participate in the Gran Trail Valdigne, however it is recommended to have already participated in other long trails (over 50 km). A medical certificate for athletic activity, recognized in your country of residence, is necessary to take part in the race.

Enrollment procedures

You can enroll on the internet by completing the form no later than June 27th 2010.
Payment should be made during enrollment using the secure on-line credit card service.

Once payment is confirmed by the BankPass service, the enrollment is officially registered in the organization’s database.

Enrolled runners will be able to check their enrollment status on-line at anytime in the Members section on the website www.grantrailvaldigne.it, which can be accessed by selecting the runner’s name from the list of participants and using the access code provided to each applicant by email.

To complete your enrollment you must provide a valid medical certificate authorizing your participation in sports activities and also a disclaimer of liability. The disclaimer can be downloaded from the website in the enrollment section. These documents must be received no later than 30th June 2010 at one of the following addresses:

VALLE D'AOSTA TRAILERS S.S.D.R.L.

CP 178  - 11013 - Courmayeur – AO – Italia

or by Fax: +39 0165 84 68 35

or by email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Failure to provide a medical certificate before the deadline will exclude the runner from the race. It is not be possible to enroll or to provide a medical certificate at the start of the competition.

Enrollment closes on 27^th June 2010 or when the maxim number of entrants is reached (1000 competitors). The early enrollment fee is 75.00 € for the 87 km race and 45.00 € for the 47 km race if paid before 30^th April 2010. From 1^st May 2010 to 15^th June 2010 the enrollment fees are 90.00 € and 60.00 € respectively. Enrollment fees include all of the services described in these regulations as well as the pasta party the night before departure, the buffet at the finish, all race security, refreshments during the race and transport back to the base in Morgex in case of necessity.

For each accompanying person who wishes to attend the pasta party a fee of €10.00 should be added to the entry fee of the runner.

Maximum Number of Participants

The maximum number of participants allowed in the fourth edition of the Gran Trail Valdigne will be 1000 runners in total.

Acceptance of the Regulations and Race Ethics

Any participant in the Gran Trail Valdigne Valle del Monte Bianco has to accept, without reservation, these regulations and race ethics as published by the organizers and available at www.grantrailvaldigne.it

Refund of Enrollment Fee

In the event of cancellation due to force majeure, 50% of the enrollment fee will be reimbursed.

Equipment
By enrolling, runners commit to carry all the mandatory equipment listed below for the duration of the race, otherwise they will be disqualified.

Mandatory (random checks will be performed during both races)

• A backpack
• Water, 1 liter minimum
• Cup or other container for refreshment points
• Food supply/reserve
• Two torches in good working condition with replacement batteries
• Survival blanket
• Whistle
• Adhesive elastic tape for making bandages or a strapping (mini 80cm x 3 cm)
• A water-proof jacket for bad weather in the mountains
• Running trousers or leggings (at least covering the knees)
• Hat or bandana

Strongly recommended:

• Mobile phone (put the safety numbers of the organizers in the contact list, do not hide your own number and make sure the batteries are fully charged)
• Gloves
• Warm clothing in case of cold weather

Recommended:

• Telescopic poles
• Change of clothing
• Compass
• Knife
• String
• Sun cream
• Vaseline or anti-rub cream

Runners wishing to use poles must carry them for the duration of the competition.

Bib Numbers and identity CHIP
Bib numbers are handed out individually to each runner upon presentation of photo identification.

The bib number must be worn on the chest or on the stomach and must always be fully visible at all times throughout the entire race. Therefore it must always be positioned over any clothing and cannot in any case be placed on the backpack or worn on a leg.

An electronic CHIP is handed out with the bib number and must be worn on the wrist.

Before the start each runner must go through the compulsory electronic gates to register their chip for entry in the race.

Upon arrival at each check point and at the finish, the chip must be passed over the electronic time reader to ensure that it is properly recorded.
The race number acts as a pass which is necessary to access shuttles, buses, refreshment posts, care and rest areas, showers.

Runner’s bags
Runners can leave a change of clothing in a backpack which will be kept in a dedicated room at the fitness center in Morgex.

Security and Medical Assistance

First aid posts are positioned at each Col or peak and at each refreshment post. The first aid posts are all in radio telephone contact with the race officials. Ambulances, emergency services and doctors will be available.
Rescue posts will be available to assist anyone in distress either by using the race organizers’ own resources or through third party rescue services when necessary.

Officially designated doctors have the right to disqualify any individual they consider unfit to continue the race. The rescue team has the right use all means at their disposal to evacuate any runner they consider in distress.

At their sole discretion, the race organizers shall be able to call in the official mountain rescue teams if they believe it is in the best interest of the rescued individual. The rescue team will then take over rescue operations and will deploy all necessary means, including the use of helicopters. The resulting cost of the use of these exceptional means will be borne by the participant in question based on existing laws.

Any runner that requests a doctor or a rescuer thereby submits themselves to the authority of the doctor or rescuer and commits to respect their decisions.

Check and Refreshment Points
The identity CHIP will be scanned at every check or refreshment point.

Only runners carrying a visible race number will have access to the refreshment point.

The Road Book, which is attached at the end of this document, provides a detailed list of refreshments points serving food and beverages (which must be consumed on the spot) and also providing plain natural water to fill Camel Packs or water bottles.

Temporary (ad hoc) checkpoints will be placed in other locations outside the check, rescue and refreshment points. Their specific locations will not be communicated by the organizers.

Maximum Race Time and Time Limits
The maximum time allowed to complete the entire 87 km race is 25 hours.
The maximum time allowed to complete the entire 47 km race is 13 hours.
The latest departure times (time limit) from the main checkpoints will be defined and noted in the Road Book.
The time limits are calculated to enable participants to reach the finish line within the maximum allowed time, whilst still allowing for possible stops (rest, meal…).

Competitors must leave the checkpoints before the defined last departure time in order to continue in the race.

The organizers may stop the race or change the time limits in the event of unfavorable weather conditions and/or for other safety concerns.

Rest and Showers
Hot shower facilities are available only in Morgex.


Withdrawal from the Race
Participants that decide to withdraw from the race must go to the nearest checkpoint to inform the race organization. The withdrawal will be recorded and the organizers will assist the participant to return to the base in Morgex.

If a participant fails to inform the organizers of their withdrawal and therefore a search for the runner is undertaken, the participant will bear the resulting costs.

Penalties and Disqualifications
During the race, officials are authorized to inspect mandatory equipment and verify compliance with the regulations (respect for the environment, ethics, unauthorized assistance and accompaniment, bib number not visible on the front...)
Participants that do not carry, at the time of inspection, all of the defined mandatory equipment will be immediately disqualified, without possibility of an appeal.

Participants can also be disqualified for violations that are captured on video images and received by the organizers after the competition.

The race jury can disqualify participants if one or more of the following violations apply:

• Wearing the bib number incorrectly
• Exchanging bib numbers
• Failing to go through a check point
• Missing a part or all of the mandatory equipment
• Using transportation
• Departing from a checkpoint after the time limit
• Doping or refusal to comply with anti-doping test
• Failing to help another participant in difficulty
• Using personal assistance beyond the allowed areas
• Leaving equipment along the trail
• Disregarding the ban on accompaniment along the course
• Environmental pollution or littering by participants or a member of their team
• Insults, rudeness or threats against the organizers or the volunteers
• Refusal to be examined by the organization’s doctor at any time during the race

Appeals
Each participant has 30 minutes following the posting of the temporary results to make a complaint. The complaint must be submitted in writing with a deposit fee of 50 €.

Race Jury
The race jury is made up of:

• The Course Director
• The Head of Security
• The head of the medical team
• The head of the checkpoint of the area under consideration
• Any other competent person designated by the president or by the organizing committee.

The jury is authorized to rule, within an amount of time that is compatible with the obligations of the race, on all contentious issues or on any disqualification that took place during the race. The jury’s decisions are made without possibility of appeal.

Changes to the Course or to the Time Limits - Cancellation of the Race

The race organizer reserves the right to change, at any time, the race route or the location of the rescue and refreshment points, without prior warning.
In the event of unfavorable weather conditions  (strong depression with large amounts of rain and snow at high altitude, major risk of storms…) the start may be delayed for a maximum of two hours, after which, the race may be cancelled.

Insurance
The organizer underwrites a civil liability insurance for the duration of the event. Participants are fully responsible for their participation in the race and renounce any claim of liability against the organizers in the event of damages or other consequences arising as the result of their participation in the race.

To complete the online enrolment, participants must sign a legal liability disclaimer.

Rankings and Awards
Only participants that reach the finish line in Morgex and that are registered upon arrival will be included in the final classification.
No monetary prizes will be awarded.

Each runner will receive a “finisher” prize.

A general men’s and women’s classification as well as separate classifications for each category for both men and women will be established. Prizes will be awarded to the first 5 men and the first 5 women in the general classification, and also to the first 3 finishers in each entry category.

The “Trofeo Luigi Pascal” is awarded to the first and to the last runner (male and female) of the 47 km race who reaches the Luigi Pascal Bivouac.

Image rights

Every participant expressly renounces their claim to any copyright on pictures taken during the race and authorizes the organizer and its partners to use any such images.