On August 29 (Beijing Time), another marquee event at UTMB finished — the race unfolded as a true rollercoaster.NorwayrunnerYngvild Kaspersencame from behind to win the women's title in 12:01:14.。
South Africa's Toni McCann was overtaken just before the finish and ultimately took second, with a time of12:06:14.
China's trail queen Yao Miao returned to the CCC after eight years and claimed third in 12:15:41, marking her fourth consecutive year finishing on the podium in Chamonix.
The 2026 CCC was exceptionally tough: the course was rerouted before the start, the distance rose to 107.8 km, total ascent reached 6,198 m, and the race was hit by heavy rain from the gun.
The women's race was mainly focused on Yao Miao (2018 CCC champion), Toni McCann (2024 CCC champion), andYngvild Kaspersen (2023 CCC champion)—these three former CCC champions.
After departing from Courmayeur, Yao Miao was in strong form and stayed in the lead, whileToni McCann also kept close behind,until La Fouly (40.7 km), where Toni McCann completed the pass.
Around the 70 km mark there was a minor incident — similar to last year's OCC — when a passing train held upToni McCann; Yao Miao reached the train crossing at the same time, erasing the roughly 200 m gap she had. However, after restarting Yao Miao's left leg appeared to be somewhat troubled.
Yao Miao at one point took the lead on the long climb before Les Tseppes (82.9 km),but the leg injury still affected her pace, and at one stage she had to rely on painkillers to continue,allowing Toni McCann to seize the opportunity and retake the lead, while the runner who had been trailing them—Yngvild Kaspersen—began to push hard, and her pursuit grew ever closer.
Yngvild Kaspersen fell as low as 20th among the women during the race, but after Champex-Lac (54.2 km) she mounted a surge, moving up to around 10th place.
50-80 km,Yngvild Kaspersen mounted a dramatic comeback; after departing Trient (79.1 km) she had risen to third among the women.
Later, after leaving Vallorcine (90.1 km) she again overtook Yao Miao, but her charge was not yet over,Toni McCann also couldn’t withstand Yngvild Kasperse’s furious late pursuit; the latter became the first woman to return to Chamonix’s Triangle Square, where the classic “Viking rowing” was staged again at the foot of Mont Blanc. Toni finished second in 12:06:14.
By finishing third among the women, Yao Miao earns a Golden Ticket to the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. Will she attempt a 100-mile race again next year? The last time Yao Miao did so was at UTMB in 2019 — will she have the chance next year?
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Text/Editor: David
Image source: Pao Ye Da Bao Zha
Visuals: Max
