Tom Evans, the triumph of a champion

After finishing 3rd in 2022 and suffering two consecutive DNFs in 2023 and 2024, Tom Evans (GBR, UTMB Index 910) finally delivered. Lying in wait during the first part of the course, Evans chose his moment carefully.

On the climb to Grand Col Ferret, the Brit made a decisive surge, leaving his rivals behind. Mastering his effort, he calmly managed to widen the gap, growing his lead: from 23 minutes at Les Tseppes and 29 minutes at Vallorcine. Fueled by his consistency and prowess on the descents, he crossed the finish line in Chamonix in 19:18:56, claiming one of the greatest victories of his career. He also became the first British male winner in UTMB history.

Tom Evans – wins ©UTMB 2025

“It was the most incredible race possible. I think in the end we were blessed with this very British weather… Snow, rain, a bit of warmth at the end—we had a little bit of everything. It was a truly spectacular day where the mountains test you with everything they have, and they always win,” said Tom Evans at the finish.

Ben Dhiman (USA, UTMB Index 904), consistent throughout the race, crossed the line as a solid runner-up, 32 minutes later, with a final time of 19:51:37. He delivered a strong performance, as he held off all challengers, finishing ahead of Josh Wade (GBR, UTMB Index 866), who staged an incredible comeback in the second half of the race. Wade completed the podium in 20:05:06.

On the French side, three runners made it into the Top 10. Thibaut Garrivier (UTMB Index 887) finished 5th (20:20:25), followed by Ludovic Pommeret (UTMB Index 895) in 6th place (20:40:34), who at 50 years old once again completed his Mont-Blanc loop in the Top 10 to arriving to clamorous cheers. Yannick Noël (UTMB Index 880) placed 7th.

Chinese athletes also made their mark with three in the Top 10, led by the highly anticipated Ji Duo (CHN, UTMB Index 906) in 4th place. Jiasheng Shen (CHN, UTMB Index 894) finished 8th, and Jiaju Zhao (CHN, UTMB Index 896) came in 10th, a historic achievement.

Notable withdrawals among the men included four-time winner François D’Haene (FRA, UTMB Index 865), who complained of right hip pain during the night; Jonathan Albon (GBR, UTMB Index 926), who retired at Champex-Lac aid station (km 128); and Théo Detienne (FRA, UTMB Index 877), leading much of the first half of the race in his first 100-mile experience.

Ruth Croft, first woman to win all 3 UTMB World Series Finals

Ruth Croft – Photo courtesy ©UTMB

A decisive morning

The women’s race offered plenty of drama until the final kilometers. Three-time defending champion and highly awaited Courtney Dauwalter (USA, UTMB Index 843), true to her relaxed style and smile, led until Arnouvaz, followed by Camille Bruyas and Ruth Croft.

Gradually, the trio pulled ahead, creating a gap that seemed decisive. During the night, with gaps stabilized, Ruth Croft overtook her competitors upstream of Champex-Lac (km 128). The New Zealander never looked back. Courtney Dauwalter struggled at dawn and ultimately lost her 3rd place to Katharina Hartmuth after Vallorcine, finishing 10th after a tough day in which she could not regain momentum.

Team Adaptive and everyday heroes

UTMB is not just about performance; it’s above all a human adventure, where every runner writes their own story. This year, once again, many faces exemplified the resilience and collective strength that define the event.

Team Adaptive made a strong impression throughout the week and today. Two adaptive athletes took the start of the 2025 flagship race: Yanis Debaud, paralyzed in the right foot, and Fanny Barbara, running with only one lung. They were determined to complete their journey and cross the finish line.

As Chamonix celebrated the first finishers, thousands of amateur runners were preparing for their second night around Mont-Blanc, holding on to volunteers’ encouragement and spectators’ cheers. Every step toward the finish line is an intimate victory, a story of courage that resonates as strongly as the podiums.

UTMB 2025 Results

Top 3 Women

• Ruth CROFT (NZL, UTMB Index 845) – 22:56:23
• Camille BRUYAS (FRA, UTMB Index 755) – 23:28:48
• Katharina HARTMUTH (USA, UTMB Index 762) – 24:16:39

Top 3 Men

• Tom EVANS (GBR, UTMB Index 928) – 19:18:56
• Ben DHIMAN (USA, UTMB Index 914) – 19:51:37
• Josh WADE (GBR, UTMB Index 905) – 20:05:06