Ben Dhiman wins 2026 UTMB with historic sub-19 hour time

American runner Ben Dhiman won the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix, completing the 174 km course in 18 hours, 16 minutes, and 29 seconds. This performance marks the first time a runner has finished the loop in under 19 hours, setting a new benchmark for the event despite a modified route. Dhiman took the lead early in the race and maintained a significant gap over his competitors.

French runner Baptiste Chassagne finished in second place with a time of 18:47:38, followed by American Caleb Olson in third. The men's race was notable for the absence of several top competitors, including Kilian Jornet and Jim Walmsley.

The women's race saw significant developments, including the unexpected withdrawal of triple champion Courtney Dauwalter at the 70 km mark. Blandine L’Hirondel took the lead in the women's category during the competition. The event, which spans France, Italy, and Switzerland, faced initial delays due to thunderstorms before proceeding under favorable night conditions.