After not racing it in 2024, Courtney Dauwalter is formally returning to UTMB. The American ultrarunning legend introduced her plans on Instagram, confirming she’ll be on the beginning line in Chamonix on Aug. 29 for this yr’s version.
Dauwalter is already a three-time winner of the 171K mountain loop by means of France, Italy and Switzerland, with titles in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Her return this summer season provides a brand new layer of pleasure to an occasion that’s all the time electrical.
UTMB within the highlight
UTMB is understood for its large climbs and the quantity of consideration it instructions globally. With greater than 10,000 metres of vertical achieve, it’s one of the crucial prestigious and punishing ultras on the calendar. Dauwalter’s final win there was a part of an unprecedented triple—she gained Western States, Hardrock 100 and UTMB in 2023, changing into the primary individual ever to perform all three wins in a single yr.
This yr, Dauwalter’s UTMB prep has seemed completely different. In Could, she tackled Cocodona 250, the place she took a no-doubt disappointing DNF on account of abdomen points on the 108-mile mark—however introduced she could be again in 2026. In June, she gained the 120K Laravedo Extremely-Path by UTMB in Italy’s Dolomites. “An enormous, powerful evening & day on the paths adopted by a high-energy, scrumptious end line,” she posted after the race. So glad to have taken a 120k tour across the Dolomites. What a race, what a spot!”
“Subsequent up: UTMB!” she wrote in her most up-to-date announcement. “Can’t wait to attempt to carry my finest to this 100-mile loop round Mont Blanc. See you in a month, Chamonix!”
A rivalry on pause—for now
Whereas Dauwalter is in, her major rival, Katie Schide, hasn’t but confirmed whether or not she’ll return to defend the crown she took final yr. The 2 American stars have constructed one of many sport’s most fun rivalries, and followers are watching carefully to see if this yr’s version will carry one other chapter.
Final August, Schide ran a blistering 22:09:31 to take each the win and Dauwalter’s earlier course file. Solely final month, Schide pulled off a exceptional win at Hardrock 100—once more edging out Dauwalter’s file—main followers to buzz a few potential shift within the sport’s stability of energy.
