UTMB OCC 2026: Tranchand, Bonnet, Puppi, Cachard, Alexandersson, Wyder... Who are the favorites?

With 60 km and 3,500 m of climbing, the UTMB OCC 2026 is the third UTMB World Series Final in Chamonix, staged in the last week of August. France’s Frédéric Tranchand and Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson, both newcomers to the race, look like the ones to beat.

At a time when trail running seems to live only for the “ultra,” the leaders over shorter distances will be just as keen to show their true athletic level on a format that demands you can still run fast after the climbs… Short-course specialists have to blend speed, technical skill and endurance to win a race that doesn’t forgive even a brief dip.

Tove Alexandersson for a first title in the women’s race?

On the women’s side, Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson (Team Salomon), 33, the reigning short trail world champion, towers over the discipline and arrives as the clear favorite. After a huge orienteering career featuring 15 world titles across categories, she has also built an elite résumé in mountain running and trail. World champion in 2025, she’s already strung together three marquee wins in 2026: the Grand Raid Ventoux by UTMB 50K, Zegama, and the Marathon du Mont-Blanc in late June. Who’s going to stop her on this OCC?

Maybe the experienced Swiss duo Judith Wyder (Team Hoka) and Maude Mathys (Team Asics Fuji Trail), long-time specialists of these fast, technical formats. But will they have enough freshness to match the Swede’s firepower? Behind them, American Lauren Gregory (Team NIKE ACG), Britain’s Naomi Lang (Team Salomon), and American Molly Seidel (Team Sad Girl Singletrack Club), the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medalist in the marathon, should all be in the conversation too, along with Spain’s Sara Alonso (Team Asics Fuji Trail).

French hopes will rest with Louise Serban Penhoat (Team adidas Terrex), 13th here in 2024, who will no doubt be looking to push closer to the top 10 after a 2025 season derailed by a knee injury.

Rémi Bonnet vs Frédéric Tranchand in the men’s race

In the men’s field, Switzerland’s Rémi Bonnet (Team Salomon) is one to watch. Lethal on short trail formats, especially on the Golden Trail Series circuit, the natural climber had to drop from his last OCC attempt in 2024 after a fall while running with the lead group. So his return to Chamonix comes with a clear taste of revenge.

Up against him, Italian Francesco Puppi (Team Hoka), a 50K expert and CCC winner in 2025. But will he be fully recovered from his 2nd place at the Western States Endurance Run 2026, raced in late June?

France’s Frédéric Tranchand (Team Merrell), short trail world champion in 2025, rounds out a truly top-class trio of favorites. Also coming from orienteering, he’s carried on his 2025 momentum by winning the SkyRace des Matheysins, the European Trail Championships (52 km / 2,450 m+) in early June, and finishing 2nd at the Marathon du Mont-Blanc in late June. No doubt the Frenchman will want to make a statement on his first appearance at the UTMB Mont-Blanc event.

The other Frenchman to follow is Sylvain Cachard (Team Hoka), who has made the OCC his main target. In early August at Sierre-Zinal, the runner from Grenoble got a welcome read on his form by finishing 12th and first Frenchman in the Swiss classic, after a disrupted start to the season caused by a tear in his plantar fascia. Behind the favorites, Italian European Trail vice-champion Daniel Pattis (Team Brooks), Swedish regular Petter Engdahl (Team adidas Terrex) and Switzerland’s Roberto Delorenzi (Team Brooks) will be dangerous outsiders, ready to jump into the fight for the podium or a top 5.