# Project HOPE adaptive trail initiative at UTMB

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/project-hope-adaptive-trail-initiative-at-utmb
> Updated: 2026-09-05T02:22:53.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

The 2026 UTMB Mont-Blanc event in Chamonix will feature the launch of Project HOPE, a collaborative initiative between the UTMB Group and Marathon des Sables. The project involves four wheelchair athletes from Switzerland, France, and Italy attempting to navigate a 170-kilometre course around Mont Blanc using all-terrain wheelchairs. The journey includes approximately 10,000 metres of elevation gain and serves as an experiment to test the accessibility of high-mountain terrain.

To support the athletes, each participant is assigned a crew of six to eight people responsible for safety and mobility. Renowned French ultra-trail runners Ludovic Pommeret and Erik Clavery are participating in the initiative by serving as support crew members rather than competing for personal rankings.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-05: Ludovic Pommeret supports Project HOPE adaptive trail initiative

Elite trail runners Ludovic Pommeret and Erik Clavery are supporting Project HOPE, helping athletes with disabilities navigate the UTMB course via all-terrain wheelchairs.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ludovic-pommeret-supports-project-hope-adaptive-trail-initiative

### 2026-08-19: UTMB Mont-Blanc 2026 to feature HOPE wheelchair athlete project

The 2026 UTMB Mont-Blanc event will feature the HOPE project, where four wheelchair athletes will attempt a 170km journey around Mont Blanc alongside the global UTMB World Series races.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/utmb-mont-blanc-2026-to-feature-hope-wheelchair-athlete-project

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Cite as: Project HOPE adaptive trail initiative at UTMB. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/project-hope-adaptive-trail-initiative-at-utmb