UTMB 2026: Jornet, Walmsley, Dhiman, Bouillard, Chassagne, Detienne… who are the top contenders?

From 24 to 30 August, the 23rd edition of the HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc is set to welcome one of the deepest fields in its history, boosted by the UTMB® World Series Finals that bring together athletes qualified throughout the season across the circuit’s global races, including the UTMB itself, the 100-mile (100M) category final.

Men’s field: experience vs the new wave

The marquee race of the week, with its 174 km and 9,900 m of climbing, is shaping up as one of the season’s must-watch showdowns. The 2026 start list brings together some of the biggest names in UTMB history, along with a new generation of challengers.

With defending British champion Tom Evans not on the start line, his American Team ASICS Fuji Trail teammate Ben Dhiman (runner-up to Evans last year) gets a real shot at stepping up to the top spot, something he’s been chasing since his breakthrough run last season. Known for huge training blocks (over 100 hours of training in July), Dhiman has raced three times ahead of UTMB: the Mont Blanc 90 km, where he finished 2nd in June, and Transvulcania, where he placed 5th in May.

“Big Ben” from the Pyrenees will still have his work cut out. Lining up against him, among others:

Catalan Kilian Jornet (team NNormal), still the sport’s GOAT. Years may be passing, but whenever he pins on a bib, he’s a natural favorite.
A four-time UTMB winner in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2022, and absent since, he’ll once again be at the center of attention, surrounded and protected like a pop star, even if his 2026 season has been disrupted by injury, including a DNF at Western States in late June.

American Jim Walmsley (team Hoka) is another Chamonix crowd favorite. Now based in Arêches-Beaufort and keen to show off his improving French, he won UTMB in 2023 (the first American to pull it off) and took the OCC in 2025. He’s back on the main event with the ambition to win again, though he too has questions about his body after it let him down at Western States (DNF), the only race he’s been able to start since claiming the Long Trail world title last year. He’ll hardly be lacking freshness, but maybe he’ll be short on racing miles and rhythm…

Frenchman Vincent Bouillard (team Hoka), the surprise UTMB winner in 2024, has backed it up since then, most notably by setting a new record at Western States last June. But everyone knows the Western/UTMB double is always a tricky bet, and the HOKA man also knows better than anyone how to shock the world.

Another French threat, Baptiste Chassagne (team ON), 2nd in 2024, will be there and has been cooking up his race plan for months with the attention to detail he’s known for. A season start in Italy at the Chianti Marathon (7th); a break in May after winning the Grand Raid du Ventoux; a 4th place on his first outing at the Mont Blanc 90 km; then two more recent, short and punchy races (Montée du Nid d’Aigle 20K/2,000 m+ / 6th place, and Trail du Fornet 36K/2,820 m+, winner). He should arrive at UTMB feeling light on his feet, and he’s dreaming of going sub-20 hours, like others…

In ultras, where anything can happen, we should also mention these outsiders:

American Zach Miller (team The North Face) and his legendary all-gas, no-calculator approach, which already carried him to 2nd at UTMB in 2023.

Frenchman Théo Detienne (team Brooks), runner-up at the Maxi Race 100 km in May, will want to continue his 100-mile apprenticeship after last year’s DNF and deliver on the expectations around him.

Young Frenchman Baptiste Coatantiec (Team Nike ACG), 5th at Ultra Chianti behind the experienced Vincent Bouillard, Andreas Reiterer and Thomas Cardin, is also one to watch after another 5th place at the last Mont Blanc 90 km.

Germany’s Hannes Namberger (team Dynafit), winner of the Lavaredo Trail 120 km in June and 2nd at Transgrancanaria earlier in the season, will lean on his experience to try to crack the top five, or better, just like Italy’s Andreas Reiterer (team La Sportiva).

The Chinese squad, which saw three runners make the top 10 in 2025, won’t be quiet this year either. They can notably count on Jiasheng Shen (team Salomon), author of a strong 8th place last year, and eager to confirm his place among the world’s best.

Women’s field: Ruth Croft, Courtney Dauwalter and Blandine L’Hirondel

The women’s battle is shaping up to be just as special. New Zealander Ruth Croft (team Adidas Terrex) puts her crown back on the line and could write even more UTMB history. The defending champion had a solid southern-hemisphere winter, winning Ultra-Trail Tarawera at home, then finishing 2nd in the Australia Ultra Trail 50K in early spring, before sealing her return to Europe with a win at the MaXi Race 58 km in Annecy.

Up against Croft is a very strong American contingent led by “La Présidente,” Courtney Dauwalter (team Salomon), who announced her entry late and will be hunting a fourth UTMB title (after 2019, 2021 and 2023) after last year slipped well out of reach.

Eyes will also be on her compatriot Rachel Entrekin (team Norda), who made headlines in spring by winning the Cocodona 250 (250 miles, roughly 400 km) overall. It will be only the American’s 2nd race in Europe after a first try at Chianti Ultra Trail earlier this year (3rd). The third American to watch is Riley Brady (team Nike ACG), runner-up at the most recent Western States and winner of the Canyons Endurance Run in April.

Among the other contenders, France’s Blandine L’Hirondel (team Kiprun) will no doubt be looking to get back onto a podium she tasted in 2023 (3rd). Winner of the 2025 Diagonale des Fous and the CCC in 2022, the gynecologist and sports medicine doctor comes in with deep course knowledge, even if her final build-up was disrupted by injury.

Nepal’s Sunmaya Budha (team Kailas Fuga), winner of the Lavaredo Ultra Trail in June and 2025 long trail world vice-champion, and Australia’s Lucy Bartholomew (team Salomon), three times top-10 in the last three editions and also 2nd at Lavaredo Ultra Trail this year, could also shake up the hierarchy and play leading roles.