Blandine L’Hirondel produced a historic performance at UTMB 2026 as the French superstar became the first woman ever to break the 22-hour barrier on her way to a spectacular victory in Chamonix.
L’Hirondel crossed the line in 21:54:49, completing a remarkable progression through the UTMB Mont-Blanc races and adding the biggest victory of her career to her previous wins at OCC and CCC.
It means the 35-year-old becomes only the second woman in history to win OCC, CCC and UTMB, following Ruth Croft, who completed the treble when she won UTMB 12 months ago. Just one man has achieved the feat.
And L’Hirondel’s arrival back in Chamonix provided a fitting conclusion to an extraordinary performance.
Huge crowds packed the streets as the Frenchwoman, who spent several years working in hospital medicine alongside her trail running, made her way towards the famous finish line, with experienced commentators suggesting the turnout was among the biggest they had ever witnessed at UTMB.
It was some reception for a home winner who had dominated the second half of the race – even if there were some nervous moments during a suddenly difficult final few kilometres.
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Storms delay UTMB start
As with the men’s race, the women had to wait longer than expected to begin their journey around Mont Blanc.
The start was pushed back by around two hours because of thunderstorms forecast over the massif, with organisers explaining: “The delay is a safety measure due to thunderstorms forecast over the Mont-Blanc massif later today.”
Changes were also made to the course, including the removal of the Pyramides Calcaires section.
It meant the runners faced a weather-modified route of around 174km and 9,700 metres of elevation gain, with freezing temperatures and high winds adding to the challenge during the night.
And an already fascinating women’s race had been transformed before and during the event.
Two-time winner Katie Schide was absent following an injury-hit season, while defending champion Croft withdrew ahead of the race.
That left three-time champion Courtney Dauwalter as the most decorated former winner in the field.
But the American superstar would not make it back to Chamonix.
L’Hirondel and Entrekin set the pace
L’Hirondel was prominent from the opening stages, but initially she had plenty of company.
She reached Saint-Gervais after 22.9km in 2:07:01, just 36 seconds ahead of American Rachel Entrekin, with Lucy Bartholomew, Careth Arnold and Jazmine Lowther also among the early contenders.
Dauwalter, meanwhile, appeared relaxed and was all smiles despite sitting around nine minutes behind the leaders at approximately 52km.
But the complexion of her race changed dramatically over the following miles.
By Lac Combal at 67.8km, Dauwalter had slipped to 12th and was 31:29 behind the lead before subsequently withdrawing from the race – though she would later return in to support L’Hirondel and the other athletes in typically classy style.
Her departure guaranteed there would be a new women’s UTMB champion.
At the front, though, there was still almost nothing separating L’Hirondel and Entrekin.
The Frenchwoman reached Lac Combal in 7:36:42 with Entrekin just eight seconds behind.
L’Hirondel takes control
It was after Lac Combal that L’Hirondel began steadily turning a duel into a demonstration.
By the time she left Courmayeur at 81.3km, her advantage over Entrekin had grown to 4:21.
At Refuge Bonatti it was 9:08.
And when the race reached its highest point at Grand Col Ferret – 2,537 metres above sea level on the border between Italy and Switzerland – L’Hirondel had stretched the gap to 15:33.
There would be no let-up once the race entered Switzerland.
Her lead increased dramatically to 25:12 at La Fouly before reaching 36:10 by the time she left Champex-Lac.
At Trient, after 144km of racing, L’Hirondel was 38:44 clear.
The gap then went beyond 40 minutes at Vallorcine, where she clocked 18:58:42 and Entrekin followed 40:09 later.
For most of the race L’Hirondel had looked remarkably composed.
Finally, though, the enormous effort began to show.
Late falls provide final scare
The first visible signs of fatigue came on the final major climb towards La Flégère.
L’Hirondel suffered three relatively minor falls in quick succession while negotiating a technical stretch of trail littered with tree roots and stones.
She was quickly back to her feet each time, but then suffered a nastier-looking fall on the subsequent descent.
Again she was able to get back up and continue, but the difficult spell was reflected on the clock.
By La Flégère at 166.6km, L’Hirondel’s advantage over Entrekin had fallen from 40:09 to 31:06.
There was never any serious suggestion that her victory was under threat, however. She had built an enormous cushion during a stunning middle section of the race and now had only the final descent towards Chamonix standing between her and history.
And what awaited her there was extraordinary.
L’Hirondel emerged into streets packed with spectators before completing her victory in 21:54:49, becoming the first woman ever to go under 22 hours at UTMB.
The time cannot officially be considered a course record because of the weather-enforced alterations to the route, but it nevertheless represents the fastest time ever recorded by a woman at UTMB.
And after winning OCC in 2021 and CCC in 2022, L’Hirondel can now call herself a UTMB champion too – joining Croft in one of the most exclusive clubs in trail running.
Entrekin holds off Schmitz in thriller
While L’Hirondel was able to celebrate a historic victory in Chamonix, the battle for the remaining podium places went right down to the wire.
Rachel Entrekin had occupied second place for virtually the entire race, but fellow American Emily Schmitz produced a remarkable charge through the second half.
Schmitz, who races in the 45-49 category, was still 16:59 behind Entrekin at La Fouly.
But that deficit fell to 9:03 at Champex-Lac, 5:31 at La Giète and just 2:42 at Trient, where Entrekin was leaving the aid station just as Schmitz arrived – meaning the two Americans could see exactly how close the battle had become.
Entrekin responded by stretching her advantage back out to 3:52 at Vallorcine and then 5:49 at La Flégère, seemingly giving herself some breathing room ahead of the final descent into Chamonix.
But Schmitz wasn’t finished.
She launched one final charge towards the finish, once again eating into Entrekin’s advantage and ensuring there would be drama all the way to the line.
Entrekin ultimately held on, crossing the line in 22:15:54 to claim second place.
Schmitz followed just 1:34 later in 22:17:28, completing an extraordinary performance to take third overall.
After more than 22 hours and 173.6km of racing, just 94 seconds separated the two Americans.
UTMB 2026 results – Elite Women
Friday 28 August – Saturday 29 August 2026, 174km
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blandine L’Hirondel | FRA | 21:54:49 | — |
| 2 | Rachel Entrekin | USA | 22:15:54 | +21:05 |
| 3 | Emily Schmitz | USA | 22:17:28 | +22:39 |
