UTMB CCC 2026: Thomas Cardin, Benjamin Roubiol, Cristian Minoggio... Who are the favourites?

With 101 km and 6,050 m of climbing, the CCC is the other World Series finals, this time in the 100K category. The race should deliver another thrilling fight between Courmayeur (Italy) and Chamonix (France). With reigning champions Martyna Mlynarczyk (Poland) and Francesco Puppi (Italy) absent this year, the door is wide open for new contenders.

On the men’s side, France is getting ready to buzz, with Thomas Cardin (Team Kiprun) on the start list. Almost unbeatable on 40 to 70 km formats, Cardin, now a full-time trail runner this season, has nailed the step up in distance, as shown by his win at the Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB 100M in March and his superb 4th place at Western States, which he raced for the first time this year. He’s back in Chamonix at UTMB after five years away (4th at the OCC in 2021), and comes in off a recent win in the Marathon format at the Grand Raid Kiprun 3 Vallées.

Thomas Cardin during his win at the Grand Raid Ventoux by UTMB 2025

Benjamin Roubiol (Team Asics Fuji Trail), 2023 Long Trail world champion, will be there too. 5th at the Skyrace des Matheysins and 8th at Zegama, he won the highly technical Restonica Trail in July (69 km / 3,950 m D+), plenty to arrive in Chamonix brimming with confidence.

Benjamin Roubiol, winner of the Restonica Trail by UTMB 2026

Up against the French, we’ll see Italy’s Cristian Minoggio (Team Kailas Fuga), 3rd at the 90 km du Mont Blanc and 2nd at the recent Monte Rosa Trail (82 km format), as well as American David Sinclair (Team Craft), runner-up in 2025, winner of Transvulcania 2026, and out for revenge. Also on the list: New Zealander Daniel Jones (Team adidas Terrex), back at this distance and fourth in 2024; China’s Guangfu Meng (Team Hoka), 6th in 2025; Poland’s Andrzej Witek (Team Asics Fuji Trail), third at last year’s OCC; and the young American Hans Troyer (Team Hoka), winner of the Black Canyons Ultra 100K.

A wide-open women’s race

In the women’s field, American Jennifer Lichter (Team Nike ACG) has been flawless so far in 2026. Backed by her record-setting win at the Western States Endurance Run last June, she stands out as one of the top favourites.

She’ll still have to deal with China’s Miao Yao (Team Nike ACG), winner of OCC 2025 and rapidly improving over 100 km, as her recent win at Val d’Aran by UTMB shows, as well as Norway’s Yngvild Kaspersen (Team adidas Terrex), CCC champion in 2023 and consistently at the very top. Behind that trio, New Zealander Caitlin Fielder (Team adidas Terrex), 4th at Western States 2026, and South African Toni McCann (Team adidas Terrex), CCC winner in 2024, could both play spoiler in a race that looks particularly wide open.

For the French, all eyes will be on one of the year’s breakout runners: Candice Fertin-Baccon (Team New Balance). Winner of the 90 km du Mont Blanc, she seems to be thriving at this distance after racing the OCC twice in previous years. Marie Goncalves (Team Asics Fuji Trail), recently 2nd at the Lavaredo Ultra Trail 80 km, will be looking to keep climbing the ladder, stepping up to 100 km for the first time.