Duo étoilé: team spirit
Duo Étoilé
Experience the unique atmosphere of a 21-kilometer night race with 1,450 meters of elevation gain, where team spirit and camaraderie are the order of the day. You’ll leave with stars in your eyes!
To participate in this race, it is recommended that you have experience running in the mountains, be comfortable on all types of terrain, and be self-sufficient for several hours. Please note that a runner with a UTMB index below 240 points has very little chance of finishing the race; therefore, it is recommended that you participate in another event of the Mont-Blanc Marathon.
Race Information
A 21-km short trail run, held at night and in pairs
1,450 m elevation gain/loss
Open to runners in the "U23 / Espoir" category and above
Limited to 400 teams
Both runners must complete the entire course together.
Maximum time: 6 hours 30 minutes
2 aid stations (1 full / 1 light) + 1 finish-line aid station
The organizers would like to remind runners that, depending on the systems and settings used, GPX tracks may yield different results regarding race distances and elevation gain.
Race Bib Pickup
Race bibs for the Duo Étoilé will be available by appointment only at the EMC2 space located on Place du Mont-Blanc (Chamonix):
- Thursday, June 24, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Friday, June 25, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Saturday, June 26, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Each member of the pair must come in person to pick up their race bib.
Runners must present their race bib pickup card, a photo ID, and their race bag containing all required gear so that a timing chip can be attached and their equipment can be checked.
No race bibs will be issued to runners who do not have their mandatory gear and identification documents. No race bibs will be distributed after 6:00 PM on Saturday.
Mandatory Equipment
Since this event takes place at night on mountain trails at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 2,200 meters, weather conditions can change very quickly. For this reason, it is mandatory to bring the following equipment:
- A working cell phone.
- At least 0.50 liters of water.
- A waterproof jacket with a hood (such as Gore-Tex) that fits properly.
- A working headlamp or chest-mounted lamp, with spare batteries.
- A survival blanket (140 cm x 200 cm).
- Whistle.
- Cup.
Recommended gear
- Hat.
- Tights.
- Gloves.
- Bowl and spoon.
Time Cuts
The time limits listed below are provided for informational purposes only. In the event of inclement weather, and for safety reasons, the organizers reserve the right to stop the race in progress or to modify the time limits. Any decision will be made by the race jury
- Chemin Caillet intersection (km 4): Start time + 1 hour 15 minutes into the race.
- Montenvers Refreshment Station (km 7.6): Start time + 2 hours 30 minutes of racing.
- Refuge du Plan de l’Aiguille aid station (km 13.7): Start time + 4 hours and 30 minutes into the race.
- Maximum race time – Chamonix finish (km 21): Start time + 6h30.
If a runner arrives at a time cut-off after the cut-off time has been enforced, they will be disqualified. The lower right corner of the race bib will be “cut off” by the checkpoint manager, and the runner will be asked to either return to Chamonix or spend the night at the checkpoint.
If the runner wishes to continue the course, their race bib will be collected by the checkpoint manager, and the runner will no longer be considered a participant in the Duo Étoilé; they will therefore no longer be under the organizer’s responsibility. Anyone who shows disrespect toward volunteers and members of the organizing committee responsible for enforcing time limits will be permanently banned from all Mont-Blanc Marathon events.
Maximum Race Time
Runners who cross the finish line after the maximum race time will not be ranked and will therefore not be considered finishers. This maximum time is calculated based on the start time.
Duo Étoilé: Maximum race time: 6 hours 30 minutes
