The CCC may traditionally have been known as the “little sister” of UTMB, but it has long since established itself as one of the biggest races in world trail running in its own right.
Serving as the 100K category final of the UTMB World Series, it brings together an elite field of the world’s leading ultra-runners alongside qualifiers from across the globe.
The race takes competitors on a spectacular 101km journey through three countries – Italy, Switzerland and France – from the start in the centre of Courmayeur to the famous finish line in Chamonix.
And with around 6,050 metres of climbing packed into those 101 kilometres, the CCC represents a formidable test of endurance, climbing ability and descending strength, with the leading runners expected to be racing for around 10 hours.
Read on to find out more…
Follow live
The CCC coverage starts at 08:30 local (CET) time on Friday 28th August 2026, with the race itself getting under way at 09:00. That’s 08:00 in the UK and 03:00 Eastern Time.
And you can watch it unfold via this official YouTube link.
The live tracking and live results will all be available via this link.
The broadcast will be available in five languages (French, English, Spanish, Italian and Chinese) and brought to life by 15 commentators.
UTMB CCC
start list
Click here for the full start list and check out the analysis section below for our run through the leading contenders.
Notable runners
Route
The CCC packs approximately 6,050 metres of climbing into its 101km route and takes runners on a spectacular journey through Italy, Switzerland and France.
Starting in the centre of Courmayeur, there is little opportunity to ease into proceedings. The route quickly heads upwards into the high mountains, taking the field beyond 2,500 metres and providing spectacular views across to Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses.
One of the defining points of the first half comes at the Grand Col Ferret, which at 2,537 metres marks the passage from Italy into Switzerland.
The route then heads through La Fouly and on towards Champex-Lac before continuing to Trient. By this stage the cumulative climbing and descending is beginning to take its toll, but there is still plenty of work ahead.
After crossing into France, runners pass through Vallorcine before facing a final punishing climb towards the Vallons des Chéserys, with its spectacular views across the Mont Blanc massif.
Only then does attention turn towards Chamonix and the famous finish line in the centre of town, completing 101km and approximately 6,050 metres of elevation gain.
Analysis
Western States champion Jennifer Lichter (USA) will headline a stacked women’s field for the 2026 CCC as some of the world’s best trail runners battle for the biggest 100K title of the season.
Lichter arrives at CCC with the highest UTMB Index in the women’s field after a remarkable start to 2026.
Her biggest victory came at Western States in June, where she produced a record-breaking performance to claim one of the most prestigious 100-mile titles in the sport.
Now she drops back in distance to 100K for another huge test in the mountains around Mont Blanc.
China’s Miao Yao won OCC in both 2024 and 2025 and has since demonstrated her credentials over the longer distance with victory at HOKA Val d’Aran by UTMB.
Norway’s Yngvild Kaspersen, meanwhile, already knows exactly what it takes to win CCC after taking the title in 2023.
And she isn’t the only former champion returning.
South Africa’s Toni McCann, the 2024 winner, is also on the start list, while China’s Lingjie Chi and New Zealand’s Caitlin Fielder add further depth to an intriguing women’s race.
For the men, Francesco Puppi heads to the shorter OCC rather than defend the title he won in 2025 but Italian compatriot Cristian Minoggio heads the field according to the UTMB Index, with his rating of 944 narrowly ahead of France’s Benjamin Roubiol (941).
New Zealand’s Daniel Jones should also be firmly in the mix.
Jones finished fourth at CCC in 2024 and returns to the 100K distance with a UTMB Index of 939.
China’s Guangfu Meng is another potential challenger, along with Poland’s Andrzej Witek, who steps up in distance after finishing third at OCC last year while Adam Peterman and Eli Hemming look the chief American hopes.
The winners from the last 10 years of CCC are as follows:
Women
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- 2016 Mimmi Kotka (SWE)
- 2017 Clare Gallagher (USA)
- 2018 Miao Yao (CHI)
- 2019 Ragna Debats (NED)
- 2020 Cancelled
- 2021 Marta Molist Codina (ESP)
- 2022 Blandine L’Hirondel (FRA)
- 2023 Yngvild Kaspersen (NOR)
- 2024 Toni McCann (RSA)
- 2025 Martyna Mlynarczyk (POL)
Men
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- 2016 Michel Lanne (FRA)
- 2017 Hayden Hawks (USA)
- 2018 Tom Evans (GBR)
- 2019 Luis Alberto Hernando Alzaga (ESP)
- 2020 Cancelled
- 2021 Thibaut Garrivier (FRA)
- 2022 Petter Engdahl (SWE)
- 2023 Jon Albon (GBR)
- 2024 Hayden Hawks (USA)
- 2025 Francesco Puppi (ITA)
Past winners
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