UTMB 2026: results, podiums, and the shoes worn by the top runners
For one week a year, Chamonix ceases to be merely one of the most spectacular places in the Alps and becomes the world center for trail running.
The UTMB Mont-Blanc brings together some of the best runners on the planet, thousands of fans, and practically all the major brands in the sector. It's a week where times and results are discussed, of course, but also strategies, gear, nutrition, and, increasingly, the shoes worn by the athletes.
The 2026 UTMB edition, held from August 24 to 30, featured exceptionally fast races, finishes decided by seconds, Spanish presence on the podiums, and a huge variety of shoes among the top finishers.
From the speed of the OCC to the more than 20 hours of effort from some of the best UTMB runners, we've reviewed what happened in the three major finals—OCC, CCC, and UTMB—and what their protagonists were wearing on their feet.
UTMB is not just one race
Although we often use "UTMB" to refer to the entire event, several different races are held during the Chamonix week.
The three that attract a large part of international attention are OCC, CCC, and UTMB, which are the respective finals for the 50K, 100K, and 100M categories of the UTMB World Series.
The OCC starts from Orsières, Switzerland, and this edition featured a course of approximately 60 kilometers with 3,500 meters of positive elevation gain. The CCC starts from Courmayeur, Italy, and in 2026 covered 108 kilometers and 6,200 m+, before finishing in Chamonix. And then there's the race every mountain runner knows: the UTMB.
A journey around the Mont Blanc massif, crossing France, Italy, and Switzerland, starting and finishing in Chamonix. In 2026, the official classification records 174 kilometers and 9,700 meters of positive elevation gain.
Three different races and, as we will see, also three different ways of understanding what we need to wear on our feet.
OCC 2026: three seconds decided the women's victory
If anyone needed a demonstration that trail running can also provide sprint finishes, the OCC 2026 was a good example.
American Lauren Gregory clinched the women's victory after a spectacular comeback against Naomi Lang. Gregory crossed the finish line in 6:08:07 and Lang did so just three seconds later, in 6:08:10. Very close behind was Spanish runner Sara Alonso, third with 6:09:11.
In other words, after about six hours of running in the mountains, only 1 minute and 4 seconds separated the entire women's podium.
In the men's category, there was a bit more distance. French runner Frédéric Tranchand won with 5:10:08, followed by Nashon Kiplimo with 5:14:37. The third position also had a Spanish flavor thanks to Miguel Benítez, who crossed the finish line in 5:17:43.
Therefore, Spain left the OCC with two third-place finishes, one in each category.
OCC 2026 Podiums and Shoes
| Position | Women | Time | Shoes |
| 1st | Lauren Gregory | 6:08:07 | Nike ACG Ultrafly Trail |
| 2nd | Naomi Lang | 6:08:10 | Salomon S/LAB Pulsar 4 |
| 3rd | Sara Alonso | 6:09:11 | ASICS Metafuji Trail 2 |
| Position | Men | Time | Shoes |
| 1st | Frédéric Tranchand | 5:10:08 | Merrell Agility Peak 6 |
| 2nd | Nashon Kiplimo | 5:14:37 | Salomon S/LAB Pulsar 4 |
| 3rd | Miguel Benítez | 5:17:43 | ASICS Metafuji Trail 2 |
Beyond the results, we already find something interesting here: there is no single recipe for running fast in the mountains.
Nike, Salomon, ASICS, and Merrell all managed to place shoes among the top six. And that will be a constant throughout the weekend.
CCC 2026: 108 kilometers and two very different victories
The CCC changes the rules of the game quite a bit; here we are talking about 108 kilometers and 6,200 meters of positive gain, a distance where running fast is still fundamental, but where comfort, stability, nutrition, and the ability to manage effort over many hours become much more important.
In the men's category, Cristian Minoggio achieved victory with a time of 10:21:48. The Italian was joined on the podium by Miguel Arsénio, second with 10:27:25, and Hans Troyer, third with 10:33:29.
In the women's race, Yngvild Kaspersen once again demonstrated her enormous skill at this distance. The Norwegian took the victory in 12:01:14, ahead of Toni McCann, who finished in 12:06:14, and Miao Yao, third with 12:15:41.
CCC 2026 Podiums and Shoes
| Position | Men | Time | Shoes |
| 1st | Cristian Minoggio | 10:21:48 | Kailas Fuga EX Pro G |
| 2nd | Miguel Arsénio | 10:27:25 | Kailas Fuga EX Pro G |
| 3rd | Hans Troyer | 10:33:29 | HOKA Tecton X4 |
| Position | Women | Time | Shoes |
| 1st | Yngvild Kaspersen | 12:01:14 | Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 |
| 2nd | Toni McCann | 12:06:14 | Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra EVO |
| 3rd | Miao Yao | 12:15:41 | Nike ACG Ultrafly |
UTMB 2026: Ben Dhiman breaks the 19-hour barrier
The 2026 edition will be marked by one name: Ben Dhiman.
The American completed the UTMB in 18 hours, 16 minutes, and 29 seconds, becoming the first man capable of finishing the race in under 19 hours. An even more impressive performance considering the magnitude of the course.
The organization had to make modifications due to weather conditions, so we should be somewhat cautious when talking about an absolute course record. Still, the time perfectly reflects the level the race reached.
And Dhiman was not the only one; Baptiste Chassagne finished second in 18:47:38 and Caleb Olson was third in 18:48:24. All three finished in under 19 hours.
Olson also staged a spectacular chase in the final section, finishing just 46 seconds behind Chassagne, after so many hours of running.
The men's podium was as follows:
| Position | Runner | Time | Shoes |
| 1st | Ben Dhiman | 18:16:29 | ASICS Metafuji Trail 2 |
| 2nd | Baptiste Chassagne | 18:47:38 | On Cloudultra Pro |
| 3rd | Caleb Olson | 18:48:24 | Nike ACG Ultrafly Trail |
And here it's worth dwelling on the shoes. Dhiman won using the ASICS Metafuji Trail 2, commercially launched just weeks before the UTMB. The model uses a specific trail carbon plate in an X-shape, FF LEAP, and FF BLAST PLUS.
Chassagne made a completely different choice with the On Cloudultra Pro. Unlike ASICS' carbon, this model's Speedboard is not carbon, demonstrating that even at the highest level there are very different ways to build a competitive ultra-distance shoe.
And Olson finished third with the Nike ACG Ultrafly Trail, which does incorporate a split carbon FlyPlate and uses Vibram Megagrip underfoot.
Three runners under 19 hours. Three quite different shoes.
Blandine L’Hirondel completes a spectacular story
If Ben Dhiman was one of the main protagonists of the men's race, Blandine L'Hirondel made history among the women. The Frenchwoman won the UTMB 2026 with an official time of 21:54:49, completing the 174 kilometers and 9,700 meters of positive elevation.
With this victory, she also achieved something especially difficult: having won the OCC, CCC, and UTMB throughout her career. That is, the three major finals of the UTMB World Series.
Rachel Entrekin finished second with 22:15:54, while Emily Schmitz completed the podium with 22:17:28. A difference of less than two minutes between second and third after more than 22 hours of competition.
ASICS Metafuji Trail 2, one of the great protagonists of UTMB 2026
If we have to choose a shoe that stood out particularly during this edition, it would probably be the ASICS Metafuji Trail 2.
Not only because Ben Dhiman achieved the most important victory of the weekend with it. It also appeared twice on the OCC podium, on the feet of Sara Alonso and Miguel Benítez.
That is, the same shoe performed at the highest level in both a race of about 60 kilometers and a 174-kilometer race. That says a lot about how competitive trail footwear is evolving.
The Metafuji Trail 2 uses a construction that in some aspects recalls the path taken by asphalt super-shoes: high-rebound foam, carefully designed geometries, and carbon, but adapting the entire setup to the stability and irregular terrain typical of mountains.
Is carbon also conquering ultra-trail?
Yes, but with nuances. The Chamonix podiums show that plates and high-rebound foams are making increasingly strong inroads into competitive trail running.
But they also demonstrate something even more interesting: they are not essential.
The On Cloudultra Pro shoes used by Baptiste Chassagne to finish second in the UTMB do not use a carbon plate. And yet, Chassagne ran 174 kilometers in less than 19 hours.
In the mountains, many more variables come into play than on asphalt. Grip, lateral stability, protection, the ability to adapt to different surfaces, and, above all, the runner's confidence in their shoes can be as important as energy return.
That's why we shouldn't interpret UTMB results as a ranking of "the best trail shoes." They are a sample of the different solutions used by the world's top runners.
This week, other UTMB races also took place:
- PTL (300 km and 25,000 m of positive elevation)
- TDS (145 km and 9500 m of elevation)
- MCC (40 km and 2350 m of elevation)
- ETC (15 km and 1200 m of elevation)
What can we learn from the UTMB 2026 shoes?
Probably the main conclusion is precisely diversity. On the OCC, CCC, and UTMB podiums, we found models from Nike, ASICS, Salomon, Merrell, Kailas, HOKA, adidas Terrex, and On.
Some incorporate carbon. Others do not. Some prioritize a very lightweight and fast construction, while others seek a greater balance between protection, cushioning, and stability.
And it makes sense, an OCC of about six hours poses different needs than a CCC of more than ten hours or a UTMB where the winners spend almost a full day running.
Furthermore, we cannot forget something important: the shoe used by a professional athlete is not necessarily the best for us. Their weight, technique, speed, experience, and muscle capacity can be completely different.
That's why at BeUrban, we always recommend using this type of information as inspiration, not as the sole purchasing criterion.
Frequently asked questions about UTMB 2026
Who won UTMB 2026?
Ben Dhiman won the men's category with 18:16:29 and Blandine L’Hirondel won the women's category with 21:54:49.
What shoes did Ben Dhiman use to win UTMB 2026?
Dhiman used the ASICS Metafuji Trail 2, a model with an X-shaped carbon plate, FF LEAP and FF BLAST PLUS.
What shoes did Baptiste Chassagne use?
The runner-up ran with the On Cloudultra Pro, which use a non-carbon Speedboard.
Which Spaniards made it to the podium at UTMB Mont-Blanc 2026?
In the OCC, Sara Alonso was third in the women's category and Miguel Benítez was third in the men's category.
How many kilometers is the UTMB?
The 2026 edition officially recorded 174 kilometers and 9,700 meters of positive elevation for the race competed by Blandine L’Hirondel.
How long is the CCC?
The CCC 2026 was 108 kilometers and 6,200 meters of positive elevation, starting from Courmayeur and finishing in Chamonix.
UTMB 2026: trail never been so fast
After a week of racing, Chamonix is slowly returning to normal. But the 2026 edition leaves some unforgettable images.
Lauren Gregory's finish just three seconds ahead of Naomi Lang. The two Spaniards on the OCC podium. Kailas's double win in the men's CCC. Yngvild Kaspersen's victory. Blandine L’Hirondel's historic OCC-CCC-UTMB triple.
And, of course, Ben Dhiman crossing Chamonix after only 18 hours, 16 minutes, and 29 seconds.
We have also seen something that BeUrban follows very closely: how trail gear is changing.
Carbon, new foams, high stack heights, and increasingly fast shoes are arriving in the mountains, but the results of this UTMB also remind us that there is no single formula.
Because in a 50, 100, or 170-kilometer race, it's not just about how much energy return a midsole offers.
It's about being able to trust your shoes when your legs have been telling you to stop for hours.
At BeUrban you will find shoes, apparel, and equipment to prepare for your next trail goals, both online and in our stores in Elche, Valencia, Murcia, Alcoy, Villena, Cartagena, Santa Pola, Yecla, and Torrevieja, where our team can help you find the gear that best suits your distance, terrain, and running style.
