Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB: The 2026 Results

Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB once again underlined its status as a major fixture on the French trail calendar. From June 12 to 14, more than 7,000 runners representing 55 nationalities, including 23% women, descended on Le Puy-en-Velay to take part in one of the six races on offer. Here’s a look at all the results.

Set up for the first time at Jardin Vinay in the heart of Le Puy-en-Velay, the new race village provided the setting for three days of trail-running celebrations. But the real sporting story unfolded on the trails of the Velay region and along the Way of St. James.

Dorian Houzé steps up on the Ultra du Saint-Jacques

One of the weekend’s standout performances came in the flagship race, the Ultra du Saint-Jacques (139 km, 6,000 m of elevation gain). Just 92nd in the same race in 2025, Dorian Houzé continued his spectacular rise. Already the winner of Amazean Jungle by UTMB in Thailand this spring, the French trail runner reached another level, taking the win after 14:28:09 of racing. It was a controlled victory against a strong field. Nicolas Jacob, who recently finished third in the 120 km EcoTrail Paris, came home less than 17 minutes behind the winner in 14:44:47, while Mathieu Delomier completed the podium in 14:48:32.

In the women’s race, Spain’s Yasmina Castro Chacon put on a dominant display. Third in the Grand Trail du Saint-Jacques in 2025, she controlled the race to take the win in 18:43:41. Her outstanding 28th-place finish overall underlined the quality of her performance. Laura Huet and Sarah Meharfi joined her on the podium. The top three men and women in the 100M earned direct qualification for UTMB 2027 in Chamonix.

Clément Durance seizes his chance on the 100K

Several favourites were forced to withdraw or pull out before the start of the Grand Trail du Saint-Jacques (86 km, 3,500 m of elevation gain). Clément Durance made the most of the situation. Patient through the first half of the race, he took control at halfway and then pulled away to win in 8:03:42. Clément Christen, who led for much of the race, held on for second in 8:05:37, while Elouan Lannuzel took third.

The women’s race went to Anaïs Dachet. Already the winner in 2024, the French runner delivered another highly polished performance. Her time of 8:56:57 also earned her an excellent 11th place overall, a clear indication of her level over this distance. Laure Paradan and Angélique Carminati finished second and third respectively. The top six men and women in the elite standings secured their ticket to CCC 2027.

Achille Berthou springs a surprise on the Monistrail

The 50K produced one of the weekend’s biggest surprises. Not widely tipped among the favourites before the start, Achille Berthou delivered a flawless front-running performance to claim the biggest win of his career. Used to racing shorter distances, the Breton runner made a seamless transition to a demanding intermediate distance. He won in 4:00:27 ahead of Tibère Debizet and Adelin Grenier.

The women’s race followed the expected script. Great Britain’s Gemma Hillier-Moses, a member of Team HOKA and the leading favourite, quickly moved into the lead and never gave it up. She won in 4:40:15, while also securing an impressive 14th place overall. Mylène Da Costa Reis and Laure Desmurs completed the podium. The top three men and women in the 50K earned qualification for OCC 2027.

Kevin Vermeulen and Marion Driot rule the Chibottes

In the Trail des Chibottes, a 28 km race with 750 m of elevation gain, Kevin Vermeulen lived up to his favourite status after defending champion Alexandre Meyleu withdrew. The French international controlled the race from start to finish to win in 2:03:55 ahead of Morgan Le Tennier and Alexis Sousa Rodriguez. Marion Driot took the women’s title. The Velay Athlétisme club runner used her knowledge of the course to great effect, winning decisively in 2:35:10. Marie-Adeline Besson and Océane Faure-Barnier also made the podium.

The Velay region enjoyed an exceptional week with the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and this fabulous edition of Trail Saint-Jacques by UTMB. It has shown that it is a land of events that contribute to the region’s momentum and economy. Sunshine, spectators, champions, a new finish venue that proved a hit, and volunteers at the top of their game! 2026 will go down as a vintage year.
Emmanuel BoyerDirector of the community tourism office

I’m delighted to see that our event, created in 2012 to showcase our region, continues to grow and bring people together, with more than 7,000 runners this year. A huge thank you to our volunteers, who keep going the extra mile to give participants the best possible welcome. I also want to thank the association’s members and the entire team for their work, which allows us to welcome everyone in the best possible conditions, whether they finish or have to drop out along the course. Thanks to the team and the trust of the runners, our region is being showcased in the best possible way.
Patrick DufourRace director and president of the Association Grand Trail du Saint-Jacques:

A landmark edition for Trail du Saint-Jacques

Beyond the results, the 2026 edition confirms Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB’s continued rise. With more than 7,000 participants, an increasingly deep international field and a successful move into the heart of Le Puy-en-Velay, the event has established itself as one of the essential fixtures on the French trail calendar.

All the 2026 results

Photo credits: Peignée Verticale x Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB