Here is a translation:
Trail: “Respect
must go both ways”, the UTMB responds to the call for a boycott from Kilian
Jornet and Zach Miller While Kilian Jornet and Zach Miller called on other
elite runners not to participate in the Ultra-trail du Mont-Blanc races in
2024, the management of the UTMB wanted to react.
She particularly
regrets not having been directly contacted by the big names in the discipline.
A few days after the call for a boycott from Kilian Jornet and Zach Miller,
ultra-trail stars, the management of the UTMB wanted to react this Monday,
January 22. Catherine Poletti, founder of the Chamonix race, and Isabelle
Viseux-Poletti, director of the UTMB, regret not having been directly contacted
by the runners. Pointed out on strategic choices, in particular on a race in
Canada, the price of registrations or even the partnership with the car
manufacturer Dacia, they wanted to give their version of the facts. Interview.
France 3 Alpes:
How did you react to reading the letter from Kilian Jornet and Zach Miller?
Catherine Poletti: We learned of this news
from friends and a trail trainer, living in Chamonix, who was moved by the
subject of this letter. Today we organize all UTMB races not just for the
elites, but for all runners. The elites are important because they help
publicize the event. We are in frequent contact with them. We regret that they
sent an e-mail, among themselves, without even telling us. They are very
capable of explaining their wishes to us, particularly regarding pregnancy
policies. We do not have complete knowledge and our policy on this subject has
been modified thanks to our discussions. There, we regret that they did not
call us directly to tell us what was wrong. We could have responded to them
directly rather than putting it out there in public. (...) We were a little
disappointed that they reacted like this.
Isabelle
Viseux-Poletti: It is true that recently, some elites have been rightly
concerned about the registration conditions for the UTMB Mont-Blanc. So we
modified these conditions in agreement with them. We have common thoughts that
are in everyone's sense on a regular basis. It is therefore a shame that they
question us on subjects which interest them directly and that they do not
consult us on subjects which interest them indirectly. We're going to talk with
them. We have a meeting planned with the PTRA [Pro Trail Runners Association,
created at the initiative of Kilian Jornet, Editor's note] and other runners
like Zach. France 3 Alpes: In your opinion, what do these athletes criticize
you for?
Catherine
Poletti: They do not indicate anything specific in this letter. But I know that
we have already discussed with them about the partnership with Dacia. We also
had discussions on other points. There was a disagreement over the Whistler
Alpine Meadows race [one of the new events on the UTMB international circuit
which takes place in Canada, on the same grounds as an old race organized by
Gary Robbins, a famous local trail runner , Editor’s note]. But what they don't
know is that we have very cordial exchanges with Gary. At some point, before
launching the anathema, you have to know what really happened. We cannot judge
without knowing all the facts. We may have made communication errors. We
apologized directly to Gary, without going public. Furthermore, there is
another big misunderstanding and ignorance of the facts: many think that we
have been bought by Iron Man. This is not correct. We didn't sell anything. Iron
Man is a partner in the UTMB Group and is a minority partner. The Poletti
family is still in the majority.
France 3 Alpes: Zach
Miller and Kilian Jornet criticize a lack of consideration from management
towards the runners. What was your reaction ? Catherine Poletti: Yes, it saddened us. Especially since it is false. I find that respect should go both ways. We respect people who respect us and vice
versa. Today, anathema on social networks by saying
that we do not respect them is not really respecting us either. France 3 Alpes: Athletes have also noted the evolution of the
registration price, to which is added other costs such as participation,
beforehand, in a race on the UTMB circuit. What do you respond to these criticisms?
Catherine
Poletti: Runners do not realize what their registration represents. They do not hesitate to register for the New
York marathon which costs much more and is much shorter. It's a question of choice and priority. The price is not high compared to the event
we offer them. No one is forced, with a gun pointed at their head, to come and
participate in our races. The people who want to come have made a choice.
Isabelle
Viseux-Poletti: Regarding the costs of the race, I think that people are not
aware that we are a company of more than 70 people. This represents a burden, we try to be fair
and correct with our employees. Behind this, organizational costs are
increasing, even more quickly for events organized by a private company than by
associations. We want to invest for the future, transport, the environment. So these amounts do not come from nowhere. Last year we invested almost 500,000 euros in
a transport plan. France 3 Alpes: The partnership with Dacia has also been
criticized by runners, who believe that the image of the car manufacturer does
not correspond to that of the UTMB... Catherine Poletti: Dacia was already a partner. This partnership increased when they obtained
the naming. For the moment, Dacia has allowed us, while
not renouncing our values, to perpetuate the company. France 3 Alpes: Zach Miller and Kilian Jornet asked other runners
if they were interested in participating in another event in 2024. What would a
boycott of elite runners represent?
Isabelle Viseux-Poletti: Their comments are their own. We already have 60 elites registered for our
races. So I don't know if their words will be
followed. But, above all, we regret that they are doing
it for the wrong reasons, when we have not even been able to communicate with
them. Then, the UTMB is not just for the elites. We have 10,000 runners spread over all
distances, the vast majority of whom are normal runners. What matters to us is what they will be able
to feel. Catherine Poletti: For me, this is not a call to boycott, but
rather to run elsewhere. The number of races and events organized
around the world allows runners to make their own choice. They can go wherever they want: the trail
running community doesn't belong to anyone. There will be winners, whatever happens, during the next edition
of the UTMB. We will continue to make choices. We know that these choices will not always be
appreciated by everyone, but we will try to make them as fair as possible. Nobody is perfect.
