MTB vs Ultra-Runner: The Tour du Mont Blanc

The Challenge: Inspired by Ultra Runner Kilian Jornet’s incredible achievement of completing the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) in sub-20 hours, the question was raised “Is it possible for a mountain biker to beat this time?“. Professional New Zealand mountain biker, Matthew Fairbrother, was set this monumental challenge. The Stats: This is a 160KM loop with over 8000 metres of elevation, passing three different countries. The Target: The exact time to beat was 19h 49M 32S. In theory, a mountain bike should have the advantage on the descents whilst a runner has the upper hand on the climbs. But what would the reality hold?