2026 UTMB — Blandine wins, completes the 'full Grand Slam'; Chen Lin…

The women's competition in the 2026 UTMB World Final (UTMB category) has just concluded. After 174 km of fierce racing, French home athlete Blandine L HIRONDEL claimed the title in 21:54:49 , with Rachel ENTREKIN and Emily SCHMITZ finishing second and third respectively.

In this race, Blandine was part of the lead pack from the early stages, with fierce competition and frequent changes in position. It wasn't until the 68 km Lac Combal checkpoint that Blandine passed Rachel ENTREKIN to move into first, after which the race came under her control and she went into solo-lead mode.

Over the following sections Blandine steadily extended her lead, and by 155 km at Vallorcine she held a 42-minute advantage. On the final climb before the finish at La Flegere, exhausted but propelled by surging crowds, Blandine was visibly moved to tears.

She ultimately reached the finish in Chamonix first in 21:54:49 to take the women's UTMB title, becoming the second woman after Ruth CROFT to complete the OCC, CCC and UTMB triple crown — a UTMB Grand Slam. She is also the first French woman to win UTMB in ten years.

American Rachel ENTREKIN held the lead several times between 40–60 km. After being overtaken by Blandine at Lac Combal she dropped to second, but she did not let her placing slip further. Despite several falls on the final mountain sections, Rachel held on under pressure, finishing as runner-up in 22:15:54.

Fellow American Emily SCHMITZ steadily climbed from 7th after Courmayeur at 80 km and moved into a consistent third by 114 km in La Fouly. Although Emily cut nearly five minutes off the gap to Rachel in the final stage, she ultimately took third, 1 minute 36 seconds adrift.

Chinese athlete Chen Lin reached the Chamonix finish in 25:21:43, charging from 25th to 14th after 100 km and showing impressive grit and determination.

With the women's UTMB category decided, this year's UTMB World Final competitions across divisions have come to a close. Let's look forward to next year's exciting races!

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Text/Editor: HP

Photos: RUNYEAH

Visuals: Max

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2026 UTMB — Blandine wins, completes the 'full Grand Slam'; Chen Lin charges late to overtake 11, 14 finishers