It is important to be well-informed about the rules regarding aid stations and support crew assistance on the UTMB®, and on this last point, many newcomers to these distances wonder whether having a support crew is necessary. Here are some answers and the key race rules to know on the subject.
What does the regulations allow?
Personal assistance is permitted only at certain points and must be carried out by a single person. It may take place at certain aid stations, in the zone specifically reserved for this purpose, upon presentation of the "Assistance" ticket and at the discretion of the station chief. This means your support crew member must have been registered in advance with the race organisation.
This assistance may only be provided by one person at a time, with no specific equipment other than a bag with a maximum volume of 30 liters to carry food and clothing. Assistance provided by a professional team, or any medical or paramedical professional (even a family member) is strictly prohibited. Personal assistance is permitted at the following stations:
- UTMB® : Les Contamines, Courmayeur, Champex-Lac, Trient, Vallorcine
- CCC® : Champex-Lac, Trient, Vallorcine
- TDS® : Bourg St Maurice, Beaufort, Les Contamines
It is prohibited at all other aid stations as well as at any point on the course outside these zones. On the OCC® and MCC®, no assistance is permitted at any point on the course. We will remember the disqualification of Xavier Thévenard during an ultra trail in the USA for receiving assistance outside the designated zone!
Is support crew assistance necessary?
There is never a definitive answer to this kind of question and it can come down to personal preference. However, it is clear that having a support crew is a real advantage. It allows the runner to put certain items in the crew member's bag (spare clothing, food, drinks, ...) and avoid carrying too much on themselves. It also provides a genuine morale boost and can sometimes make all the difference! But if you choose to have support crew, they need to be prepared. There is no room for improvisation and you will need to clearly define their role, study the authorised crew access points on the course, and plan how to travel between them.
You can be self-sufficient with a car or use the organisation's shuttle service. However, in both cases timing is tight due to mountain traffic constraints and closed routes. It is also important to be able to estimate your runner's split times in order to be at each support zone on time. For more details, feel free to read this article. Finally, a good knowledge of the race and of trail running in general will be valuable assets for being an effective support crew member who knows how to behave with their runner and how to reassure and motivate them. To find out more:
