The 2026 UTMB World Final will be held August 24–30.
UTMB (177 km, 10,000 m elevation gain), CCC (101 km, 6,100 m elevation gain), and OCC (61 km, 3,500 m elevation gain) are the three main categories of the UTMB World Final and the most closely watched.
With the strongest elite field in history announced, who are the top ten men and women in each of the three categories?
In the UTMB field — on the women’s side, defending champion Ruth Croft and veteran powerhouse Courtney Dauwalter both return and are the biggest favorites. This year’s Western States 100 runner-up Riley Brady, Chinese runner Xiang Fuzhao (last year’s Western States 100 runner-up), Nepal’s Sunmaya Budha (making her first attempt at a 100‑mile race), and American Abby Hall (last year’s Western States 100 champion) also have chances.
On the men’s side, Jim and K “the King” will race head‑to‑head again; last year’s Western States 100 champion Caleb Olson, this year’s Western States 100 champion Vincent Bouillard, and last year’s UTMB runner‑up Ben Dhiman make the title wide open.
In the CCC women’s field, this year’s Western States 100 champion Jennifer Lichter leads, followed closely by Chinese runners Yao Miao and Chi Lingjie; 2024 CCC champion Toni McCann returns to challenge.
On the men’s side, Italian veteran Cristian Minoggio — who battled Jim to the finish in last year’s OCC — leads, followed by American David Sinclair, French home favorite Benjamin Roubiol, New Zealander Daniel Jones, with Meng Guangfu in sixth.
In the OCC women’s field, Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson is the clear favorite. How much of a threat can the other runners pose?
On the men’s side, Swiss climbing machine Remi Bonnet and Italy’s Francesco Puppi lead; France’s Frederic Tranchand, Italy’s Daniel Pattis, and Sweden’s Petter Engdahl are also very strong — the competition will be fierce.
Finally, a preview of the race start times (Beijing Time):
OCC — August 27, 14:15
CCC — August 28, 15:00
UTMB — August 28, 23:45
Paoye Da Baozha will provide full live coverage — stay tuned.