Hayden Hawks ran out the clear-cut winner of CCC (Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix) seven years after his previous victory in the 101km race.
The American has bounced back brilliantly this season after serious knee surgery, winning the 100km Black Canyon Ultras race in February and then finishing third at Western States at the end of June.
And he continued the good work here, biding his time early on before moving to the head of affairs on the big climb up to the Grand Col Ferret around of a third of the way in.
It was only later in the race that he really put distance between himself and the rest, crossing the line in Chamonix in 10:20:11 – just over seven minutes clear of his nearest rival.
That was Peter Fraňo (SLV) who took second, with Adam Peterman (USA) just behind as he rounded out the podium in third.
American stars shining bright
It was closely packed early on – with the top five running together at the second checkpoint at Arnouvaz after 26.3km.
Fraňo, Antoine Thiriat, Huohua Zhang, Andrzej Witek and Damien Humbert were the five in question but it was the steep climb up to the Gran Col Ferret that would shape the race.
For that was where Hawks and Adam Peterman moved to the front, closely followed by Seth Ruhling in what was an American 1-2-3.
Hawks looked incredibly relaxed at this point – and race savvy as he repeatedly saved time at aid stations by grabbing drinking water en route.
It’s often said the race starts for real at Champex-Lac at 54km and at that point Hawks passed the timing mat in 5:18:25, a minute and a half ahead of Peterman, with a couple of minutes and more back to the rest.
Zhang, Kiwi Dan Jones, Hawks’ training partner, and Fraňo were all close at certain points along with Peterman but moving into the last third it looked in Hawks’ grasp barring any mishaps.
For at Les Tseppes, 75km in, he put serious time between himself and the rest. It was seven minutes and upwards at that point and by the final La Flégère checkpoint it was nearly 10 minutes.
All of which meant he was able to enjoy – in relative terms – the final descent into Chamonix and soak in his victory.
Treble on the cards
Hawks’ win made it two out of two for Americans in the big three races at UTMB this year following Eli Hemming’s triumph in OCC 24 hours earlier.
Could it be an unprecedented treble? Reigning champion Jim Walmsley, who beat Hawks at Western States, is the big favourite for the showpiece UTMB which you can follow here.
UTMB CCC results – Elite Men
Friday 30 August 2024, 101km
- Hayden Hawks (USA) – 10:20:11
- Peter Fraňo (SLV) – 10:27:17
- Adam Peterman (USA) – 10:28:50
- Daniel Jones (NZL) – 10:36:20
- Huohua Zhang (CHN) – 10:45:28
