Press release - Chamonix (France), Monday August 25th 2026
HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc 2026 DISCOVERIES AND BREAKTHROUGHS ON THE ETC AND YCC, TWISTS AND TURNS ON THE TDS® To be found in the press release: News of the day: “Favorites bow out and first finishers on the TDS, emerging young talents” Coming up: “A Tuesday of suspense, rising talent and solidarity” The Figure: €500,000 Did you know? “The origins of the TDS® name” The Interview: “Beppe, the man who has been shaping the course for 11 years” Photos and News Access – royalty-free, with the specified credits duly acknowledged Race results The HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc 2026 continues this Tuesday. On the TDS, Remy Brassac (FRA, UTMB Index 869) claimed the men’s victory in 19:28, ahead of Pierre-Adrien Hivert (FRA, UTMB Index 807), while the suspense remains high in the women’s race ahead of the expected battle tonight between Sarah Vieuille (FRA, UTMB Index 726) and Alice Meignié (FRA, UTMB Index 724). On the Italian side, a new generation of trail runners also took center stage with the starts of the YCC and ETC, for a day defined by determination and pushing personal limits.
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DAILY NEWS Marked by particularly demanding overnight conditions, with heavy rain, muddy trails and temperatures close to 0°C at altitude, the TDS® saw two favorites withdraw: Louison Coiffet (FRA, UTMB Index 947) during the night, followed by Clovis Chaverot (FRA, UTMB Index 883). These withdrawals reshuffled the race, allowing Remy Brassac to take the lead, followed by Pierre-Adrien Hivert. On the ETC, runners faced a short and intense format. Favorites Marie Nivet (FRA, UTMB Index 765) and Taylor Stack (USA, UTMB Index 921) came out on top. Among the participants, Maria Petit, a blind Catalan athlete from Team Adaptive, took on the challenge. She lost her sight at the age of 17 following a motorcycle accident and now races in the mountains using a guide bar and two guides, who provide the necessary instructions and act as her “steering system” on technical sections. Taylor Stack: “I had never raced this course before. I really like this type of race, where it’s very intense, very aggressive and very fast. I felt like I was at my limit from the start, on a first climb that was really steep. There was hardly any opportunity to ease off or recover.” Finally, the YCC showcased the future talents of trail running, aged 13 to 19. French runner Charlotte BRINGUIER (FRA, UTMB Index 640) and Norwegian runner Isak DRØPPING (NOR, UTMB Index 749) were the first to cross the finish line in the junior category.
COMING SOON This Tuesday evening, the TDS® will reach its climax with a battle between women’s favorites Sarah Vieuille (FRA, UTMB Index 726) and Alice Meignié (FRA, UTMB Index 724). Tomorrow morning, the next generation will once again take center stage with the start of YCC The Revenge: the 200 best young runners from the first Courmayeur stage will meet again for a second mixed 7.5 km effort race in Chamonix. The youngest runners, aged 3 to 13, will also take part in one of the seven Mini-UTMB races, designed to introduce them to the passion for trail adventure. The afternoon will also feature the presentation of the 60 elite runners from the Top 10 H/F of the UTMB World Series Finals, gathering in front of the public at 4 p.m., led by women’s legend Courtney Dauwalter (USA, UTMB Index 859) and Ben Dhiman (USA, UTMB Index 946), who finished second in the 2025 edition. Team Adaptive will highlight its 15 athletes with physical or intellectual disabilities, representing four nationalities. A true laboratory for accessibility in trail running, the team supports them and provides the equipment they need to experience the same adventure as able-bodied athletes. There will also be a presentation of solidarity initiatives with organizations working in food aid, inclusion and access to the mountains.
DID YOU KNOW
THE NUMBER
?
500,000€ Invested every year, with 150 buses, 15 lines and 42 stations operating during race week: the UTMB Mobility system, rolled out since 2004, enables runners and accompanying persons to travel around Mont-Blanc without private cars, with the aim of reducing congestion in the valleys. More than 80% of the strategic points along the UTMB course are inaccessible by private car.
The TDS® full name is “Trace des Ducs de Savoie.” This 145 km race (9,500 m of elevation gain), also known as “the wild alternative to the UTMB,” follows the ancient trade, military and pilgrimage routes used by the Dukes of Savoy during the Middle Ages and the early modern period to connect their territories between Italy (the Aosta Valley) and France (Savoy).
THE ENCOUNTER Beppe, 11 years shaping the Italian section of the PTL For 11 years, Beppe, an Italian who is now 69, has been overseeing the PTL course. It all began in 2014, when he discovered the PTL® as a runner. “There is something that gets into your heart,” he says. Captivated by the family atmosphere, he became a volunteer before joining the Course Committee of the Amis de l'UTMB Mont-Blanc, the team responsible for designing and securing race routes and defining their regulations. Beppe focuses specifically on the Italian section of the PTL and, together with the rest of the PTL® committee, takes part in checks on the most demanding sections in France and Switzerland year after year, ensuring that every passage remains practicable. This commitment shapes Beppe’s year, with a few days each month dedicated to it, but he continues to approach it with the same passion: “It’s something I do with enthusiasm. It’s not just that I like it [...] it’s a family atmosphere, we all get together, we talk, and it’s really beautiful.” However, this edition could well be his last with the organization. Very involved in Italy, particularly in supporting people with disabilities and on adapted ski slopes, Beppe now hopes to travel with his wife, who has also retired. An emotional chapter may be coming to an end for this behind-the-scenes figure, who for many years has worked, kilometer after kilometer, to ensure that the legend of MontBlanc remains accessible.
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Note to editors UTMB® World Series UTMB® World Series is the trail running circuit that brings together the best athletes in the sport and amateur runners in top international events held in some of the most beautiful places on the planet. The UTMB® World Series is rooted in a passion for the mountains and respect for the environment and offers trail running enthusiasts the chance to experience the UTMB® adventure across the globe, with events taking place in Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas. This is the way for everyone to start their quest towards the HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc, where the UTMB® World Series finals take place. Launched in May 2021 with the collaboration of UTMB Group and The IRONMAN Group, the UTMB® World Series circuit brings together 69 events in 35 countries. For more information, visit https://utmb.world | Press Area & Photo
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