This year's 100km CCC route had a total elevation gain of 6,050m. Of the 2,121 athletes who started this 100km race, 485 did not finish (DNF) and 1,641 successfully finished. The cut-off time was 26 hours and 30 minutes.

Francesco Puppi and Martyna Mlynarczyk emerged victorious in the men's and women's 100km races, respectively. Puppi, the Italian athlete and a legend in men's trail running, achieved the biggest win of his career, surpassing two American rivals, David Sinclair and Drew Holmen. Meanwhile, Polish runner Mlynarczyk caused a surprise by winning the women's race, despite competing against three recent champions: Toni McCann (South Africa), Yngvild Kaspersen (Norway), and Blandine L’Hirondel (France).

A breathtaking race in the women's 100km CCC category

The women's event was highly anticipated, with all three recent UTMB champions participating. They occupied the top three spots upon reaching the first rest stop, Refuge Bertone. Kaspersen led, only 14 seconds ahead of L’Hirondel, while McCann, the reigning UTMB champion, trailed by just 18 seconds.

At the La Fouly checkpoint (40.5km), L’Hirondel took the lead, almost a minute ahead of Mlynarczyk. McCann remained in third place, nearly 2 minutes behind. Kaspersen, having initially led, had to withdraw due to an ankle injury. Later, McCann also fell and had to quit, leaving L’Hirondel as the only remaining runner from the trio of champions.

The race then witnessed a breakthrough as Mlynarczyk surged ahead, leading L'Hirondel by 1 minute and 41 seconds. Spanish athlete Anna Tarasova moved into third place, but significantly behind L'Hirondel. The remaining athletes were far behind, and the competition for the top three seemed settled.

Mlynarczyk on the 100km UTMB 2025 course. Photo: UTMB

Mlynarczyk on the 100km UTMB 2025 course. Photo: UTMB

However, towards the end, Norwegian runner Sylvia Nordskar unexpectedly caught up, at times even overtaking Mlynarczyk as night fell and the finish line drew near. Mlynarczyk quickly regained the lead and held it until the finish, clocking in at 11:41:55, a mere 18 seconds ahead of Nordskar.

Representing Vietnam, Ha Thi Hau finished 16th in the women's 100km CCC race with a time of 13:03:15. She described it as her most challenging race yet, experiencing stomach and back pain while descending towards the La Fouly checkpoint. Ha Thi Hau considered quitting several times. However, after resting at Champex Lac and encouraged by her support team, she decided to push herself and successfully finished. "The result wasn't great, but it was a memorable race with many experiences. I am very proud and grateful to my team," the Lao Cai native said.

Ha Thi Hau is considered a rising star in Vietnamese and regional trail running. Having started training in 2020, she quickly achieved numerous successes. Her most notable achievement was 4th place overall in the 100km CCC race at UTMB 2024, becoming the first Southeast Asian athlete to reach the top 10 in one of the main races at this prestigious event. She has also consistently ranked highly in other UTMB World Series races, such as the Amazean Jungle Thailand and the Vietnam Ultra Marathon.

Ha Hau after finishing the 100km UTMB 2025 on 30/8. Photo: UTMB

Ha Hau after finishing the 100km UTMB 2025 on 30/8. Photo: UTMB

Puppi asserts his dominance in the men's category

After the start, Italian athlete Andreas Reiterer took an early lead, just 19 seconds ahead of the second-place runner at the first stop at Refuge Bertone. American athlete Anthony Costales then surged forward, maintaining a gap from the chasing pack. At La Fouly (40.5km), four athletes – Puppi, Holmen, Sinclair, and last year's 50km champion Eli Hemming – were separated by mere seconds.

However, by the next stop at Trient (70.6km), Puppi had broken away, establishing a 5-minute lead over the second-place runner. From there, he comfortably controlled the race and finished in 10 hours, 6 minutes, and 2 seconds, more than 7 minutes and 30 seconds ahead of American athlete David Sinclair. Another American, Drew Holmen, completed the top three.

This latest achievement makes Puppi the first Italian athlete to win the race. It is also Puppi's second-fastest result in the 100km CCC race.

"The race was very difficult, but that's what we seek. I am really proud of how I competed and the journey to get to the starting line today. The hardest part was probably the 20km downhill section from Grand Col Ferret. But the real challenge came in Valorcine with the final 20km. I had to give it my all," Puppi said.

Puppi celebrates winning the men's 100km UTMB 2025. Photo: UTMB

Puppi celebrates winning the men's 100km UTMB 2025. Photo: UTMB

The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) is more than just an ultra-marathon; it is an iconic event, considered the "World Cup" of trail running, attracting elite trail and mountain runners from around the globe.

The event takes place annually during the last week of August in Chamonix, France. The main UTMB race course is a magnificent loop around Mont Blanc, taking athletes through three countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland.

UTMB 2025 started 15 minutes earlier than usual. Athletes set off at 5:45 PM on 29/8/2025, Chamonix time, from Place du Triangle de l'Amitie. The race course begins there, passing through famous landmarks such as Col de Voza, Les Contamines, and Les Chapieux in France, crossing Courmayeur in Italy, and then Champex-Lac in Switzerland before returning to Chamonix to finish, welcomed by thousands of fans.

Top 5 women's 100km CCC:

Martyna Mlynarczyk (Poland) – 11:41:55

Sylvia Nordskar (Norway) – 11:42:13

Anna Tarasaova (Spain) – 11:44:18

Blandine L’Hirondel (France) – 11:53:31

Veronika Leng (Slovakia) – 12:00:27

Top 5 men's 100km CCC:

Francesco Puppi (Italy) – 10:06:02

David Sinclair (USA) – 10:13:42

Drew Holmen (USA) – 10:16:15

Arnaud Bonin (France) – 10:26:03

Jeshurun Small (USA) – 10:28:57

Thuy Lien