France’s Blandine L’Hirondel Hangs Tough for 2026 UTMB Victory

In looking at her resume, a UTMB victory might have felt inevitable for France’s Blandine L’Hirondel—including an OCC victory in 2021, a CCC victory in 2022, a podium finish at UTMB in 2023, and a fifth place at the same event in 2024. And yet, the way the Frenchwoman won, by grabbing the lead before the halfway mark and holding it to the line, still seemed surprising.

On a day when DNFs claimed favorites like Courtney Dauwalter and Fuzhao Xiang, L’Hirondel looked to be having fun as she passed through popular (and crowded) early aid stations in Saint Gervais and Notre Dame de la Gorge—flashing a smile to the raucous crowds.

That smile may have indicated something the rest of the field didn’t know yet: The practicing OB-GYN was ready to solidify herself as an all-time great the fourth French woman to win UTMB in her home country. She’s also just the third runner to win the elusive UTMB World Series triple crown of OCC, CCC, and UTMB behind Xavier Thévenard and Ruth Croft.

L’Hirondel’s day began under stormy-looking, but clear skies and a two-hour weather delay. The women would almost immediately plunge into the dark, firing up their headlamps much earlier than they would have expected. Through the night, L’Hirondel traded leads with Rachel Entrekin, but just before daybreak finally pulled away from the American. Her lead stayed somewhat steady until she began a big push near the base of the Grand Col Ferret (mile 61).

From there, L’Hirondel’s lead ballooned as the field fell behind, and despite struggling mightily in the final 5K with several falls and shaky legs, she ran into the crowded streets of sunny Chamonix to victory with a fastest-ever time (faster than Katie Schide’s 2024 time on a slightly different course).

The race is still unfolding. Scroll down below for our live updates, in reverse chronological order.

Bonjour from Mont Blanc! We’re on the ground in Chamonix, France, to bring you behind-the-scenes coverage of the 2026 UTMB World Series Finals. Can’t get enough? Check out our Live Updates from UTMB Week (including coverage of OCC and CCC), our Guide to the 2026 UTMB Mont-Blanc, Elite Athlete Preview, and How to Watch.