Tom Evans achieved a lifetime’s ambition when he claimed a first victory in UTMB [Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc], trail running’s blue riband race.
The Briton was third in 2022 behind a record-breaking Kilian Jornet and then the following year he went on to win the most prized event in the United States – Western States.
But things have unravelled at UTMB in the last two seasons, meaning he had unfinished business when he returned to Chamonix for this year’s edition.
And in what at times were brutal conditions – forcing a late change in the route – he produced an absolute masterclass, pacing it perfectly as he gradually distanced his rivals for an emphatic success to join a very select group to have won both UTMB and Western States.
His time of 19 hours and 18 minutes for the 174km with around 10,000 metres was astonishing given the weather. It saw him win by just over 32 minutes from American star Ben Dhiman, with Evans’ fellow Brit Josh Wade rounding out the podium in third.
Evans’ triumph also follows a change of mindset after the former British Army captain, who became a father for the first time in May, rediscovered his love for trail running.
How the race played out
Evans has again documented his return to UTMB in a YouTube series called ‘‘No Stone Left Unturned’ and his race plan looked absolutely on point throughout.
He even had time to greet his daughter Phoebe and wife Sophie Coldwell, a professional triathlete, at various times en route before the shocking weather saw them head home overnight.
It was very close early on, with a whole host of the big names in touch before the biblical weather started to take its toll.
Hayden Hawks (USA) withdrew at Les Chapieux, former champion Francois D’Haene (FRA) at Lac Combal and Dan Jones (NZL) at Courmayeur.
But Evans soldiered on and looked wonderfully composed – making it through the worst of the overnight weather alongside fellow Brit Jon Albon and Dhiman.
Due to the deteriorating weather conditions – cold wind and a hailstorm – the section of the route at the Pyramides Calcairies, which was the highest point of the course, was removed, with runners instead heading directly to Lac Combal.
That was around 70km in but the race-defining move came just after the Arnouvaz aid station at 100km when Evans started to move clear in the snow on the Grand Col Ferret climb.
By the time he reached La Fouly ay 114km he led by more than nine minutes from Dhiman, who in turn was well clear of Théo Detienne and Albon.
And the gaps continued to go out as the attrition rate continued.
All of which meant Evans had time to let his victory sink in as he approached the finish line more than half an hour clear. He stopped the clock in a scarcely believable 19:18:58 given the conditions. That was well under Jim Walmsley’s 2023 course record but clearly this was a different route thanks to the diversion.
‘Dream come true’
There was incredible emotion for Evans at the finish in Chamonix, with his trademark salute just before the line followed by him being greeted by his wife and daughter as the tears flowed.
Interviewed afterwards – and well before Dhiman and Wade had finished – he said: “We had everything weather-wise, including incredible rain and snow. And when I was running that section with Ben Dhiman and Jon Albon we formed a buddy-buddy system where we just kept checking in on each other because it was so bad.
“But then it was okay. And what makes this race so special is all the support out there and I just want to thank every single one of them.
“I’ve had two DNFs in the last two years but to take the victory today hopefully proves to everyone that if you put your mind to it then anything is achievable.
“I started with a plan of being really, really patient and then at Arnouvaz I got a little bit of a gap and then it really opened up and I thought here’s my opportunity, let’s try and take it.
“To have a victory at UTMB is a dream come true and I join a very small list of incredible athletes.”
His triumph was also the first part of an historic double for coach Scott Johnston who looks after both Evans and women’s winner Ruth Croft.
UTMB 2025 results – Elite Men
Friday 29 August – Saturday 30 August 2025, 174km
- Tom Evans (GBR) – 19:18:58
- Ben Dhiman (USA) – 19:51:37
- Josh Wade (GBR) – 20:05:06
- Ji Duo (CHN) – 20:15:05
- Thibaut Garrivier (FRA) – 20:20:25
