Another memorable UTMB®
The 22nd edition of the HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc has just concluded after an exceptional week in the MontBlanc region...
More than just a sporting event, the gathering has become a true celebration of trail running, bringing together 10,000 elite and amateur runners, nearly 2,600 volunteers, and thousands of passionate spectators both in the Mont-Blanc valley and around the world.
The biggest event for the brand annually with a large number of activations and the majority of our Elite and Junior Trail Running Teams taking to the start in one of the several races held throughout the week.
Let’s celebrate our athletes
UTMB® – 172 km – 9,600 m D+
The most anticipated race of the week; UTMB Mont Blanc will be remembered as one of the toughest in recent years... From the moment the 2,300 runners left Chamonix under heavy rain, the weather dictated the race. Cold, hail, and more than 15 cm of fresh snow forced the organization to reroute the course, cutting the section over the Pyramides Calcaires and sending athletes directly to Lac Combal.
Safety first, but the challenge remained immense: 172 km with 9,600 m of elevation gain through France, Italy, and Switzerland. For our athletes, it was a day of resilience and pride. For our athletes, it was a day of resilience and pride:
Thibaut Garrivier (FR) was the top French finisher, running a measured race to claim 5th place in 20h20’25”, his best result yet at UTMB.
Ludovic Pommeret (FR) just weeks after winning Hardrock 100, once again defied age and conditions. At 50 years old, he finished 6th in 20h40’34” cementing his legendary status.
Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz (FR) pushed hard early, climbing as high as 5th place, before facing quadricep pain that forced him to dramatically reduce his pace . Refusing to give in, and with his family waiting at the finish, he battled all the way to claim 20th place.
Hélio Fumo (PR) despite difficult conditions, never said die, battling through the night snow and muddy trails, to eventually cross the line in 60th place.
Thibaut Garrivier
UTMB® - 5th Men
20:20:25
Ludovic Pommeret
UTMB® - 6th Men
20:40:34
Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz
UTMB® - 20th Men
22:50:40
Helio Fumo
UTMB® - 51th Men
25:39:48
The 2025 UTMB reminded everyone why it remains the pinnacle of trail running: unpredictable, unforgiving, and unforgettable. We are proud that most of all despite the difficulty, our runners never gave up!!
OCC® – 57 km – 3,500 m D+
The OCC Mont-Blanc saw the first of the UTMB finals held, with a change in conditions that delivered a new race format for 2025...
The OCC Mont-Blanc saw the first of the UTMB finals held, with a change in conditions that delivered a new race format for 2025... In a rain-soaked and rerouted edition of the OCC at UTMB Mont Blanc, Rosa Lara delivered a gutsy performance, climbing from 18th at Champex-Lac to finish 7th overall. The modified route may not have suited the Spaniard’s running style, but she made the best she could of the situation, giving everything to finish with her best result at the race after 9th last year. The 61 km course with 3,400 m of climbing demanded patience and resilience, and Rosa showed both, picking off rivals on the long ascent to Col de Balme before charging into Chamonix in 5h55’54”. From a cautious start to a top10 finish on the sport’s biggest stage, Rosa proved once again that she belongs among the World’s best. Unfortunately for our Suisse Theres Leboeuf who went into the race with high hopes after her 11 place last year and a strong summer of racing and training, was forced to abandon after just 5km in. The return of some achilles tendon pain that she had obtained just prior to the race did not ease up. With more big races before the season ends, she will be back!
Rosa Lara Feliu
OCC® - 7th Women
5:55:54
Theres Leboeuf
OCC® - DNF
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TDS® – 153 km – 9,000 m D+
The week-long UTMB Mont-Blanc festival began in dramatic fashion with the TDS®
Widely regarded as one of the most technical and unforgiving races of the week. Nearly 2,000 runners set off from Courmayeur, Italy, just before midnight on Monday, August 25, facing 153 kilometers and 9,000 meters of climbing on a course reshaped at the last minute by landslides and storms. For the first 100 kms, Diego executed his race plan to perfection. After pacing smartly out of Bourg St. Maurice, he steadily climbed through the field, moving into a group fighting for 7th place at Beaufort. But then, disaster struck: a severe hamstring contracture and cramps robbed him of the ability to push at his planned intensity. From there, the final 10 hours of the race became, a battle of willpower more than speed. Quitting would have been the easy choice, but instead Diego dug into the hidden reserves that define ultrarunning. Step by step, he pushed through the pain, reaching the Chamonix finish line in 12th place. “Disappointment… because my muscle problems didn’t allow me to express myself the way I would have liked. Pride… because I persevered, I held on, and I found those unsuspected resources. Ultra is a science but it takes a lifetime to learn it.” In the women's race, it was a big moment for Belgium ambassador Hélène Dassy who crossed the finish in second place after 24:23:23.
Diego Pazos
TDS® - 12th Men
21:10:02
Helene Dassy
TDS® - 5th Women
24:23:23
Special week for our Youth Team!
This year, we had the privilege of inviting our Youth Trail Team to experience the unique atmosphere of UTMB by competing in the MCC, ETC, and YCC races.
For these young athletes, it was more than just racing — it was an unforgettable introduction to the spirit of trail running on the world’s biggest stage.
MCC (40km/2300mD+) – In hot conditions, Marius Simoneau (FR) was the first of our youth to take on the challenge, showing courage despite tough conditions. French Ambassador Édouard Thouvenin impressed with an outstanding 5th place finish.
YCC Junior (15km/1200mD+) – Jonas Oliva (SUI) ran brilliantly for 9th place, with Kieran Hardie (UK) in 26th. Both showed resilience, backing up the next day in the fast 5km race, finishing 14th and 23rd respectively.
YCC Cadet (8km/600mD+) – Our youngest, Gerard Lopez (ESP), delivered a fantastic week: 9th place in the main race, followed by a strong 5th place in the 3.5km “revenge” race.
ETC (15km/1200mD+) – Facing one of the deepest fields they’ve ever encountered, Sofia Chetelat (SUI) and Lisa Delacroix (FR) both rose to the occasion, running brave and consistent races to finish 23rd and 28th. What an experience for these young athletes, and a beautiful moment for the whole team to witness their growth, courage, and determination on the trails of Mont-Blanc.
Get the athletes’ gear
