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Verbier, Switzerland July 10 – 12, 2026
Source: https://utmb.world/
Trail Verbier St Bernard by UTMB (TVSB)
The Trail Verbier St Bernard by UTMB 2026 takes place in Switzerland.
Here is the official schedule and race program:
Friday, July 10, 2026
- 09:00 AM – 09:00 PM: Ultra-Trail® Village & Bib Distribution (Le Châble)
- 10:00 PM:X-Alpine Start * Distance/Elevation: 140 km / 8,900m D+
- Format: 1 loop starting from Verbier, passing through the Grand St-Bernard pass.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
- 01:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Ultra-Trail® Village (Verbier)
- 07:30 AM:Verbier Marathon Start
- Distance/Elevation: 43 km / 3,000m D+
- Details: Highly technical route with live coverage from the summit of Mont Rogneux.
- 09:00 AM:X-Traversée Start (Starts in La Fouly)
- Distance/Elevation: 77 km / 5,000m D+
- Details: Wave departures from 09:00 AM to 09:40 AM depending on UTMB index.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
- 09:00 AM – 03:00 PM: Ultra-Trail® Village (Verbier)
- 07:30 AM:Verbier X-Plore Start
- Distance/Elevation: 28 km / 1,700m D+
- Details: A shorter, accessible route offering panoramic views of the Mont Blanc massif.
Additional Events
- Kids & Youth Races: Includes a running race for kids aged 4–14 in the streets of Verbier and an orienteering race (X-Orient) for juniors aged 12–17.
- Finish Line: All races culminate in the alpine village of Verbier, featuring post-race meals, animations, and the official prize ceremonies.
The history of the Trail Verbier St Bernard by UTMB (TVSB)
The Trail Verbier St Bernard by UTMB (TVSB) has a rich history that mirrors the growth of ultra-trail running in Europe, evolving from a local passion project into a premier event on the global trail-running circuit.
Here is the timeline and history of how the race came to be:
1. The Genesis and Vision (2008)
The event was conceived in 2008 by a dedicated group of local trail running and mountain enthusiasts, notably co-directors Matthieu Girard and Tiphaine Artur. Living and training in the Valais region of Switzerland, they recognized the vast potential of the local alpine trail networks. Driven by a desire to boost the attractiveness of the unique territory and share the breathtaking landscapes—which span the Val de Bagnes, Entremont, and Ferret valleys—they set out to design a premier endurance event.
2. Switzerland’s First 100-Mile Ultra-Trail (2009)
The inaugural edition of the Trail Verbier St-Bernard took place in 2009. It holds a prestigious place in Swiss sports history as Switzerland’s very first 100-mile ultra-trail race.
In its first edition, the event was much smaller than it is today, offering only two primary races along the same general route. The race immediately earned a reputation among the community for being uncompromisingly “alpine”: highly technical, possessing steep ascents, and taking runners deep into high-altitude glacial environments.
3. Gradual Expansion and Route Identity
As the years progressed, the organizers took a careful, measured approach to growing the race. Rather than expanding too quickly, they added new distances and categories only when they felt the organization and volunteer infrastructure could properly handle the logistics.
Over time, iconic routes were solidified:
- The X-Traversée became known as the oldest historical point-to-point route of the TVSB, cutting across five high-alpine passes.
- The X-Alpine was extended into a grueling 140 km loop featuring over 9,300 meters of vertical elevation gain. It became famous for crossing the high-altitude Orny hut (2,826m) and the historic Grand St-Bernard Pass, from which the race takes its name.
4. Joining the UTMB World Series (2022)
A major milestone occurred ahead of the 2022 edition when the Trail Verbier St-Bernard officially integrated into the UTMB® World Series.
As a UTMB World Series Event, TVSB became an official qualifying race for the UTMB Mont-Blanc finals in Chamonix. This partnership vaulted the event onto the global stage, transitioning it from a beloved European classic into an international destination race. It began drawing thousands of elite and amateur athletes from across the world who come to earn “Running Stones” and experience the challenging Swiss terrain.
5. The Modern Era
The race continues to celebrate its distinct community spirit, heavily supported by hundreds of local volunteers from the Valais region. It has expanded to accommodate more than 2,000 runners across its four main modern distances (X-Alpine, X-Traversée, Verbier Marathon, and Verbier X-Plore) alongside youth orienteering challenges, bridging the gap between historical alpine tradition and modern ultra-endurance racing.
