Mont-Blanc Marathon 2026: How to Follow the Races Live in Chamonix

Organized by the Club des Sports de Chamonix since 1984, the Mont-Blanc Marathon is a major fixture on the French trail-running calendar and an international highlight. The event stands out for its varied, inclusive program, ranging from ultra-trail racing to children’s events. There is something for every age and every ambition. The setting? The Mont-Blanc massif, with its vertiginous views and unique atmosphere. More than 10,000 runners take part every year (62.3% men / 37.6% women, with 85 nationalities represented), competing in one of eight iconic races: the 90 km, 42 km, 23 km, 10 km, Vertical Kilometer, Duo étoilé, Young Race Marathon and Mini-Cross.

As every year, the Chamonix event is expected to bring together more than 300 elite athletes from around the world. That rare depth of field confirms the Mont-Blanc Marathon’s special place on the international calendar. The flagship race, the 42 km du Mont-Blanc, which climbs to Aiguillette des Posettes (2,200 m), remains the ultimate goal for many specialists. Covering 42 km with 2,540 m of elevation gain, the course packs in everything trail running is known for: technical terrain, altitude, constant changes of pace and exceptional views. The 2025 edition crowned Italy’s Davide Magnini in the men’s race and Kenya’s Joyline Chepngeno, who has since been suspended, in the women’s race. This year, several of the best athletes on the planet are on the start list. Here’s a look at the favorites and the runners to watch.

42 KM DU MONT-BLANC: Rémi Bonnet and Davide Magnini face a serious challenge

This is the kind of race that reminds us why we love trail running so much. Switzerland’s Rémi Bonnet, the 2023 winner (3:35:04) and 2024 runner-up (3:30:56), missed last year’s race with a stress fracture in his tibia but naturally remains one of the names attracting the most attention. The 2025 world champion in vertical uphill racing has been one of the international circuit’s leading figures for several seasons, thanks to his exceptional climbing ability and his capacity to sustain a very high pace on mountain courses. On a demanding course like Chamonix, he looks like one of the men to beat. The defending champion, Italy’s Davide Magnini, already the winner in 2019, returned to the top step of the Mont-Blanc Marathon podium in 2025 in 3:42:55. One thing is certain: he will not give up his crown to Rémi Bonnet without a fight.

They will face particularly strong competition from Switzerland’s Roberto Delorenzi, the 2022 skyrunning world champion and 2024 European mountain-running champion; Belgium’s Raoul Raus (3:46:00), more than three minutes behind Davide Magnini; Spain’s Manuel Merillas, fourth in 2023 and winner of Zegama-Aizkorri that same year; and American Eli Hemming, winner of the 2024 OCC at UTMB. Among the French contenders, attention will focus in particular on Frédéric Tranchand, the 2025 short trail world champion and 2026 European trail champion.

The women’s field is every bit as impressive. Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson, dominant at Zegama-Aizkorri last May (43 km in 4:08:09) and the short trail world champion, tops the start list. The podium is also well within reach for Britain’s Naomi Lang, Romania’s Madalina Florea, Norway’s Ida Amelie Robsahm, Spain’s Julia Font Gomez, and Italians Fabiola Conti and Camilla Magliano.

90 KM DU MONT-BLANC: A stacked field on the start line

The start list is enough to make you dizzy. Several international stars will go head to head in the mountains. Leading the lineup are Britain’s Jonathan Ablon, winner of the 42 km du Mont-Blanc in 2022 (3:35:04); American Ben Dhiman, runner-up at UTMB in 2025; Italy’s Cristian Minoggio, runner-up at the OCC in 2025; and Frenchmen Louison Coiffet, runner-up in the 90 km du Mont-Blanc in 2023 and 2025 long trail world silver medalist, and Baptiste Chassagne, winner of the 2025 Diagonale des Fous and runner-up at UTMB in 2024. Russia’s Dmitry Mityaev, winner of the 2024 90 km, will also be on the line. He pulled out at Col des Posettes (km 58) after eight hours of racing, but then supported his partner Ekaterina Mityaeva (third woman) through to the finish. May the best runner win.

Among the event’s 10,000 runners, one name stood out on the entry list: Xavier Thévenard, a three-time UTMB winner in Chamonix (2013, 2015 and 2018), who has not raced officially since July 2025, following a three-year break. Since autumn 2020, the runner from the Jura region has been dealing with Lyme disease, an illness that has significantly affected his physical abilities. With his health having improved considerably in recent months, the “Little Prince of trail” now sees this bib as a glimmer of hope at the end of a long tunnel. It is a powerful symbol for a runner who has already twice added his name to this legendary race’s roll of honor, in 2017 and 2019.

In the women’s race, Sweden’s Ida Nilsson, who has the field’s highest UTMB Index (798), Russia’s Ekaterina Mityaeva, dominant in 2024 and third in 2025, and Germany’s Katharina Hartmuth, third at UTMB and Hardrock in 2025, should produce an entertaining duel. France’s hopes will rest on experienced runners Audrey Tanguy and Candice Fertin-Baccon.

23 KM DU MONT-BLANC: A trail-packed weekend at altitude

The Mont-Blanc Marathon will continue its packed schedule with the 23 km. Multiple French vertical-race champion Christel Dewalle, an iconic figure in skyrunning and vertical kilometer racing and winner of the Mont-Blanc Vertical KM in 2013, 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2025, will also draw plenty of attention. Her teammates Elise Poncet and Cécile Jarousseau could also be in the podium hunt. The same goes for Thibaut Baronian and Quentin Meyleu in the men’s race.

The Vertical Kilometer will also feature Blandine L’Hirondel (two-time trail world champion, in 2019 and 2022, and winner of the Diagonale des Fous and the 90 km du Mont-Blanc in 2025), Lucille Germain, Maëlle Beauvir, Lucien Mermillon, Romain Discher and Vincent Lousteau.

All the 2026 Mont-Blanc Marathon results

Supporters, friends and family have access to a range of tools and services to follow the races in the best possible conditions. Everything is designed to make race tracking simple, whether you are on the course or at home. Through the “LIVE TRAIL” platform, available on a computer, smartphone or tablet, you can follow the runners of your choice through their athlete pages, see their position in real time and check their finish time. You can also download the app to your smartphone, on Android (Google Play) or iPhone (App Store).

The 2026 Mont-Blanc Marathon LIVE schedule

As trail running continues to attract more followers and the event generates ever more excitement, the organizers are pulling out all the stops to let viewers around the world experience the race up close, with exceptional-quality images from throughout the course in this majestic setting. To follow the Mont-Blanc Marathon, simply tune in to the official YouTube channel on TV, computer, tablet or smartphone. The iconic 42 km race will also be broadcast live on the L’Équipe channel from 8:40 to 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 28.