Pascal Blanc

About

Pascal Blanc is a French trail runner and one of the most transformative figures in the history of mountain trail running. Together with his wife Catherine Poletti, he co-founded and continues to direct the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc), launching the first edition in 2003 from Chamonix, France, with 726 participants on a course circumnavigating Mont-Blanc across France, Italy, and Switzerland. What began as a single iconic race has grown under Blanc and Poletti's leadership into the UTMB World Series — a global circuit of over 40 races in more than 30 countries that serves as the qualifying pathway to the iconic Chamonix finale each August. As a runner himself, Blanc has completed ultra-distance mountain events and brings an athlete's instinct and genuine passion for the sport to race design and the athlete experience. His vision and organizational work have been central to the transformation of trail running from a niche alpine pursuit into a mainstream global sport with millions of participants, a professional racing circuit, and a dedicated following across six continents.

Notable Wins

• — UTMB co-founder and race director; UTMB World Series architect; UTMB finisher