L’Hirondel’s sub-22 UTMB seals OCC–CCC–UTMB triple crown
French OB/GYN and trail star Blandine L’Hirondel won the 2026 UTMB women’s race in 21:54:49 — the first sub-22-hour women’s finish — completing the rare triple crown of UTMB, CCC and OCC titles after defending champion Ruth Croft withdrew mid-week.
From early duel to solo coronation
L’Hirondel and Entrekin traded pressure through the night. By Courmayeur the French runner led by nearly five minutes; Entrekin closed briefly at Refuge Bertone, then L’Hirondel stretched the gap to about 15 minutes at Grand Col Ferret and more than 40 minutes by Vallorcine. A hard fall on the final descent left her limping, but she still broke the tape alone in Chamonix.
I can’t believe it.
Americans fill the podium chase
Schmitz’s second-half surge — from seventh at Courmayeur to third — almost caught Entrekin, finishing about 90 seconds back. Arnold (23:05:20) and Canada’s Jazmine Lowther (23:21:55), who rocketed from 14th at halfway into fifth, completed a deep North American showing.
For an athlete who balances clinic shifts with World Series racing, the triple crown seals a Mont Blanc résumé few will match.