Video summary
The 2026 UTMB World Series season is defined by a significant shift in the men's field, as defending champion Kilian Jornet has withdrawn due to a persistent knee injury that also affected Jim Wormsley and last year's winner Tom Evans. With these three major names absent, the race for the title has become wide open, creating opportunities for other top contenders to step up. Ben Demont, who finished second last year and recently placed highly in other major events, is considered a strong favorite to improve on his previous result. Similarly, Josh Wade, Caleb Olsen, Vincent Blumard, and John Alburn are all highlighted as serious threats; Blumard, in particular, is noted for breaking the Western States course record and possessing immense talent, while Alburn looks to build on his success at shorter distances by making a breakthrough at the 100-mile distance.
In the women's category, the dynamic remains more predictable with Ruth Croft standing as the undisputed favorite, having won last year by a commanding margin and being the only woman to have secured victories in all three major races. Her primary challenger is three-time champion Courtney Dewalt, who struggled significantly last year but could return to form if her previous performance was an anomaly. Beyond the top contenders, several dark horses are identified, including Henriette Alburn, who will make her debut at the full 100-mile distance after winning shorter events recently, and resilient athletes like Emily Hogood, whose incredible determination in finishing a race despite severe difficulties last year suggests she could perform well this time. Other notable mentions include Fiona Pascal, aiming for a top-five finish, and Rachel Entrenken, who treats the 170km course as an easy run but may face stiff competition from the elite pack.
The CCC race continues to be celebrated for its deep talent pool, featuring world-class runners like Christian Minoio and Ben Rubio who are expected to podium if they perform at their best. The field includes young stars like Hans Troyer, a 26-year-old course record holder at Black Canyon, alongside experienced campaigners such as Dan Jones and Hugh Chatfield. In the women's division, the competition is fierce with Jennifer Lar and Meow Yao emerging as the top contenders after breaking records or winning major events recently. The race also promises emotional moments with the return of Ingild Casperson seeking redemption after an injury last year, alongside Gemma Hillia Moses, who prioritized CCC over a Western States ticket, and Holly Paige, who has overcome numerous severe injuries to return to elite competition.
Finally, the O Cierre course in Champlac presents a unique challenge with a new high-altitude section at Tet Dalm and a fast valley finish, setting the stage for an exciting race. The women's field is led by Tove Alexanderson, a multi-sport world champion with extensive gold medals, followed closely by rising star Sarah Alonzo, who recently placed second to Alexanderson at Zagama. Naomi Lang is also highlighted as a promising British talent. On the men's side, Francesco Poopy is predicted to win after his strong performance last year, though he faces stiff competition from Remy Bonet, who broke the vertical kilometer record, and former champion Peta Engel. The absence of Chris Jones adds a layer of uncertainty for the UK runners, leaving Robbie Simpson as the main representative, although the longer course may not suit his style. Overall, all three races are described as stacked with talent, making it difficult to predict exact outcomes but ensuring thrilling competition across the board.
Read the full video transcript
It's UTMBB week once again, the biggest
week in the trail running calendar. But
this year, the defending champion isn't
coming back. The two greatest
ultrarunners of their generation are
both nursing the same injury. And yet,
across all three races, UTMB, CCC, and
OC, the fields are absolutely stacked.
So, let's get into it. Who is going to
win? And who are our dark horses at this
year's UTMBB week?
The UTMBB men's race is wide open with
Kian Jet, the four-time champion, having
pulled out with an ongoing knee injury.
He could barely walk downstairs after
Zagama in May and he DNFed Western
States and hasn't raced since. It's
probably the right call. Now, that would
have left the door open for Jim
Wormsley, but he has just this last few
days pulled out as well with a similar
knee injury. He DNFED at mile 62 Forest
Hill at Western States. And to be
honest, it's probably the right call for
him as well. And Tom Evans, of course,
last year's champion, the first Brit to
win UTMB since Jez Bragg back in 2010,
is not coming back to defend his title.
He's been at UTMB the last four years.
He probably deserves a year off. He
posted on Instagram saying, "Sometimes
you've got to look at the bigger
picture." He also dnfed at Hard Rock
this year. He's also got, we think,
possibly a Bob Graham round planned for
later in the year, so we'll see if that
happens. And by the way, if you haven't
yet watched my documentary about Tom
Evans winning UTMB last year, then
[music] please go and watch that. It's
really good. I promise you, you'll
really enjoy. but it's only 25 minutes
long. So, go and watch Tom Evans. You've
got to win UTMB, it's called, and it's
out now on YouTube. So, with those three
big names not in the picture, it does
leave UTMB's men's race wide open for
somebody to grab their chance. Now,
coming back after a really strong year
and a second place finish in 19 hours 51
last year, Ben Demon from the States,
who now lives in the Pyrenees, so that
the mountains are his home. He's coming
back. He was fifth at Transvul Volcania
this year. He was second at Mont Blanc
90K. He was named third best ultr runner
of the year this year as well. So, he
has a really good chance to step up and
go one better than he did last year. And
last year's third place runner, Josh
Wade, he came in in just over 20 hours
last year to get that third place. He's
done really well this year as well. He
won at UTS. He came third at Trans Grand
Canaria. He has a real chance as well of
stepping up and doing one or two
possibly better this year. That would be
great for the UK. If he could do well
again this year, someone who I think
stands a really good chance if things go
there when if he runs his race is Caleb
Olsen from the USA. He won Western State
in the second fastest time ever last
year. He also set a course record at
Trans Grand Canary Classic. not an easy
race. So, Caleb has a real opportunity.
The only thing is he has possibly been
suffering with a few injury niggles. Uh
there was a few DNFs, I think, this
year. So, it's a little bit of an
unknown whether Caleb is on top form.
We'll soon find that out when he hits
the mountains. But good luck to Caleb
and keep an eye out for him. talking
about fast Western States times. Caleb
Olsson may have run the second fastest
time in Western States history last
year, but this year Vincent Bulliard
broke the Western States course record
in a time of 13 hours 46 minutes. So, he
is on top form as well. He won UTMBB as
a complete rank outsider in 2024 again
when people dropped from the field and
he took his chance. Vincent is arguably
the most inform runner in the field this
year. He has an absolutely massive
chance of getting his second UTMB title.
This time people will know his name and
he will be massively cheered across the
line as a French runner if he can win
UTMB this year. John Alburn from the UK
comes into UTMB 2026 still primarily
known for being better at the shorter
distances. He won OCC in 2021. He won
CCC in 2023,
but he did step up to the 100 mile
distance last year at Western States,
which is his only 100mile finish so far.
He started UTMB 2025, ran alongside Tom
Evans for much of the race, but was
forced to pull out with an injury at
Champagne Lac. Could he go any better
this year? He is primed and ready for a
really good finish at a 100mile
distance. He won Trans Grand Canary 126
km this year. So, he is ready. He is
fit. He's raring to go. And I know he
really wants this. So, who on earth do
we pick from Vincent Bulliard, Ben
Demon, Josh Wade, John Alburn, and Caleb
Olsen? It's anybody's race. I have
absolutely no idea on their day any of
those runners could win this race. Am I
going to pick one?
Dark horse, Josh Wade.
The most likely on talent,
Caleb Olsen. The one who wants it the
most, John Alburn.
But it's anybody's race. Unlike the
men's race, the women's race does have
the big names in it. Ruth Croft, last
year's champion. She won in 22 hours and
56 minutes last year, 30 minutes ahead
of second place. She is undoubtedly the
clear favorite this year. She's the only
woman to have won OC, CCC, and UTMB.
She's had 21 podium finishes at UTMB
series events. There's no one to touch
her at the moment if she runs to her
best. The one person, of course, who
could challenge Ruth if she runs to her
best is the three-time champion Courtney
Dewalt. She won in 2019, 2021. And in
2023, not only did she win UTMB, but she
took the triple crown of Western States,
Hard Rock, and UTMB, the only person to
have ever done that. But last year was
tough. She led the race for 120 km but
eventually faded finishing in 10th place
3 hours behind the winner Ruth Croft. If
Courtney is going to win, she's got to
prove that last year was a blip and she
is right back on it again. Now, not only
is John Alburn one of my dark horses for
the men's race this year, but his better
half Henriette is my dark horse pick for
the UTMBB women's race. It'll be her
first 100 mileer. She won Trans Grand
Canary Classic last year and then she
came back and won it again this year.
She is a tough cookie. If she can get it
right on her very first appearance at
the UTMBB Full Distance, we are in for a
treat. And I have chosen Henriette as
the subject of my next big documentary.
I'm going to interview Henriette this
week in Shamine and then film her around
the UTMBB course in her first major
100mile race. So, my dark horse pick for
a podium place at the UTMB women's race
is Henriette Alburn. Keeping an eye on
the Brits in the women's race, Fiona
Pascal won the Keianti Ultra Trail to
earn her Western States Golden Ticket
last year, came fifth at Western States
after being chased by a bear as well,
and then back that up with a top 10
finish at Western States this year.
[sighs and gasps] Her sister Beth Pascal
won the Western States race in 2021. So
doing well at 100 miles is in the
family. Let's see if Fiona is good
enough to finish perhaps in the top 10
or even top five at this year's UTMBB.
And my final pick in the women's race is
the Cocaadona 250 threetime champion.
She won it ahead of all the men and
broke the course record this year at the
Coca-Cola 250. Rachel Entreken. Let's
see how she does. It's an interesting
one because 170 km is virtually a park
run for her. So, she'll kind of stroll
it, but we'll see how fast she can do
it, whether she can keep up with the
elites at the front end of the pack. If
you're going to force me to pick one,
I'm just going to go with the obvious,
I'm afraid. Ruth Croft. For me, I can't
see anyone touching her unless she has
an injury or a really bad day or
Courtney does something incredible or
Henriette pulls something out the bag.
If Ruth and Courtney have a bad day,
CCC always delivers and this year the
field is deep as ever. The two highest
ranked runners are Christian Minoio and
Ben Rubio. Minoio finished second at OC
last year, just a few seconds behind Jim
Wormsley. Also second to Jim Wormsley at
the Trail World Championships was Ben
Rubio. Both of them should finish on the
podium if they run their best races, but
this is CCC and it's the depth that
makes it special. Adam Peterman won
Western States and the World
Championships back in 2022, was third at
CCC in 2024, and has just won the
Canyons 100K again. Hans Troyer is only
26 and was named number five ultra
runner of the year last year and set a
course record at Black Canyon 100K in
February. Dan Jones from New Zealand has
won Tarawera three times and finished
fourth at CCC in 2024.
Hugh Chatfield is our top British runner
at this year's CCC. You may remember
Hugh as the winner of the Dragons Back
in 2023. And for those of you that don't
know, Dragons Back is a six-day
multi-stage race across the spine of
Wales. And 2023 was in a heat wave. So,
he knows what it's like to suffer, but
the last time he ran CCC, he came 36th.
So, he will need to step up a bit if
he's going to make it into the top 10.
[music]
If you want to call it,
let's go for an outside shot of Hans
Troyer having the race of his life at 26
years old and winning CCC. They are all
hard to call, but the women's CCC race
this year might be the hardest of them
all. Jennifer Lar won and broke the
course record at Western States this
year. Meow Yao won OCC last year, 2025.
And Ingild Casperson is back from
Norway. She won in 2023 at CCC. Tony
Macccan from South Africa won CCC on her
100k debut in 2024.
Came back last year but fell and injured
herself whilst in third place. So she'll
be back for redemption. From the UK,
Gemma Hillia Moses is the one to watch.
She won the Ark 50 80k on the Cornish
coastline this year. She's also won
Monestrail 50k in June and did well at
the Keianti Ultra Trail. She actually
turned down a Western States golden
ticket in order to focus on CCC. So, she
is in for this race. Let's see how she
does. And finally, Emily Hogood from
Zimbabwe. She ran UTMBB last year.
Things didn't go to plan, but rather
than pull out, she carried on just to
complete the race. It took her 38 hours
and she finished in 69th place. That is
unheard of for an elite athlete just to
carry on like that. But I think it tells
you something about her character and
that kind of resilience could see her do
really well at CCC this year. I really
don't know again with this one, but I'm
going to go for a fight out between
Meowya and Jennifer Lar. I think those
two are probably the highest ranked and
the most likely to do well in the
women's race at CCC this year.
Last but not least is OCC, the final one
of the three in the World Series finals.
OC stands for Orier where it starts in
Switzerland, Champlac Shaman. It's
normally a 5455
kilometer race but this year they have
changed the course. There is a new high
section at Tet Dalm 2,321
m above sea level and then crucially a
flat fast section through the valley to
finish in Shamine. Should be an awesome
race. Really excited to see how this
goes. I am racing it myself, but I will
be in wave three way behind the elite
runners. The highest ranked woman is
Tove Alexanderson from Sweden. She has
37 different world championship golds
across multiple sports like orientering,
ski orientering, sky running, trail, and
mountain running. She also won the World
Trails short trail event by 34 minutes
with a bandaged forehead. So, she is
definitely one to watch at OC this year.
But if Alex Anderson doesn't win it, my
pick is Sarah Alonzo from Spain. She won
Zagama in 2025. She was second this year
at Zagama to a course record run by Alex
Anderson and she also came second to her
at the Trail Worlds. She is hungry. She
is new and a rising star. I really like
Sarah and I think she could do really
well. Naomi Lang is the British pick at
OC this year. She took bronze at the
Trail Worlds just behind Alonzo, 39
seconds behind Alonzo. She's only 25
years old. She's another rising star.
Let's see how she does at this year's
OC. Now, two women who may not
necessarily be vying for the win, but
are still major elite athletes,
certainly in my eyes. Alicia Vargo is
back racing again after four children
and a broken vertebrae after a dog
attack. It's fantastic to see Alicia
Vargo back on the start line of a major
race. and our friend Holly Paige. She
suffered terribly with injuries over the
years, but Holly Paige is on the start
line for the UK at OC this year. She's
arguably one of Britain's most naturally
talented trail runners over short
distance. She won the Skyrunner World
Series. She won the Golden Trail Grand
Finale in South Africa. She was a
regular podium finisher at the highest
level. butt injuries like a torn knee
ligament descending Mont Blanc. Um a
tree collision in the Azors, concussion
at the Matahorn Ultra, ankle surgery.
She's been through everything. Um she's
had some decent CCC finishes in the
past. I'd really love to see her come
back and do well at OC this year.
Talking of the Golden Trail Series,
someone who always seems to be there and
won it in 2022. Remy Bonet is running OC
this year. In October last year, he
broke the vertical kilometer course
record. A race with this much climbing.
Remy has to be right up there with the
top runners at this race. Keep an eye on
Remy Bonet for the win at OC this year.
But of course, it's an absolutely
stacked field with deep talent. Remy
will not have it his own way. Francesco
Poopy is back, having won the race in
2023.
Last year, he ran the second fastest
time ever to win CCC, the first Italian
to win that race. He will not be letting
Remy get away with anything on the OCC
course this year. Another former CCC
champion is back in Peta Engel. He won
CCC in 2022. the first man to break 10
hours for that race. He is back to race
OCC this year. He pushed Killian Jornet
at UTMB right to the last few miles of
that race a few years ago. Let's see
what PETA can do at OC this year. Now,
we would have had two absolutely top
class UK runners at OC this year.
Unfortunately, Chris Jones has had to
pull out. Chris pushed Jim Wormsley all
the way in OC last year. It's just a
shame he's not going to be able to make
the start line this year. But that
leaves us with Robbie Simpson. Not a bad
substitute. Second at OC in 2021, third
in 2022. The longer course may not suit
Robbie, has to be said, but we'll see.
61 km for Robbie Simpson to see if he
can get on the podium at OC this year.
Let's see. Do you know what though? I'm
going to go for Francesco Poopy, last
year's CCC winner, to win it at this
year's OC. Let's see if I'm right. What
do you think of this year's races, UTMB,
CCC, and OC? Who is going to be on the
podium for the men and women in all
those three races? Let me know in the
comments down below. If you think I'm
way off the mark or if you think I've
got it spot on. Thank you very much for
watching all the way to the end. If you
haven't subscribed to the channel,
please do that now. I will see you on
the start line of OC later this week.
Take care. Bye-bye.