u/happysysadm

As stated in the official announcement:

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CCC – HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc 100K
France, Italy, Switzerland — August 28, 2026 (top 3 M/F)

Men

• Cristian Minoggio (Italy) — declined
• Miguel Arsinio (Spain)
• Hans Troyer (USA)
• Luke Grenfell‑Shaw (GBR)

Women

• Yngvild Kaspersen (Norway)
• Toni McCann (South Africa)
• Miao Yao (China)

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What a shame! I was really hoping he’d step up into it — such a good guy.

To me, the broadcast failed to actually follow and stay with the race leaders as the dynamics shifted. And this breakdown from the Borderlands podcast hits the nail on the head regarding the tracking bottleneck.

Visually the production was great, but we completely missed the actual live racing at the front.

Why aren't they using on-trail roaming cameras to follow the lead pack, with mountain bikes or e-MTBs, or even electric dirt bikes (no noise, zero emission)? Ok, sometimes you can lose the signal and switch back to fixed camera at the aid stations, but the focus to me should be on the leaders.

Hi,

what's your take on the race after the fact?

To me, the fast start by Hans made for a lot of the elite to go the first half of the race way too fast. I wonder if most of the notable DNF - I am thinking to Kilian, Jim land Hayden - are not related to this. Also, to me, Puppi suffered in the last 30 miles because of the fast pace in the first half. Maybe he could have kept his first place if he wasn't too tired against the attack by Vincent.
In any case, lesson learned, never underestimate a UTMB champ.

Kudos to Ryan for his race. It was brilliant to see him live his dream. Third place wall deserved.

For sake of pure curiosity, here's Francesco's, Ryan's and Thomas' strava logs of their Western State:

Francesco Puppi Western States | Run | Strava

Ryan Montgomery Western States 🥉 | Run | Strava

Thomas Cardin 4th at western. | Run | Strava

Before you ask, Vincent Bouillard activities are private.

Found this video by Talk Verty to Me breaking down the entire elite field for this year's race. It’s honestly a really detailed and solid analysis of the top 42 runners, ranking everyone from potential winners down to the top 10 ceilings.

The countdown is over. Tomorrow the Western States 100 kicks off, and with unusually cool weather locked in, the women's course record is under serious threat.The women's field is incredibly stacked. Cast your vote in the poll and drop your full podium predictions and dark horses in the comments!

Abby Hall (Bib F1): Returning with the #1 bib after a stellar Top Ten finish to explore what's possible.

Jennifer Lichter: One of the most hyped and heavily backed contenders with elite speed to win the whole thing.

Fuzhao Xiang (Bib F2): The international powerhouse chasing a historic sub-16 hour performance.

Marianne Hogan (Bib F3): Top-tier 100-mile experience and a proven podium finisher in the canyons.

Tara Dower (Bib 17): Leading the ultra-hungry Golden Ticket entrants with flawless preparation.

Riley Brady: Dangerous elite outsider fully capable of crashing the podium party.

If your favorite runner isn't listed in the poll options above (due to Reddit's 6-choice limit), make sure to cast your vote for 'Dark Horse' and type their name explicitly in the comments below!

View Poll

The Men's Heavyweights to Watch:

Jim Walmsley (Bib 46): The undisputed king returns. With an elite 100M UTMB Index and unmatched course history, he is the benchmark. Will the cooler weather allow him to completely annihilate his own course record?

Kilian Jornet (Bib M3): The legend is back in the canyons. He knows how to win here and has nothing left to prove. Can his tactical brilliance match Walmsley’s raw pace on this specific terrain?

Adam Peterman (Bib 38): The former champion is back on the Golden Ticket route. Unbeaten when healthy, his elite engine is a massive threat if he's firing on all cylinders.

Hayden Hawks (Bib 40): A veteran of the canyons who has proven he can run at world-record splits when his nutrition and pacing click perfectly.

Hans Troyer (Bib M8): Returning after a stellar Top Ten finish last year. He has been climbing the ranks and checking in with great results recently. Can he shock the veterans and snatch a podium spot?

Francesco Puppi (Bib 14): The ultimate wildcard. Completely ignored by some mainstream podcast "fluffer rankings" due to a lack of 100M history, but his short-course data shows he has the raw power to shock everyone on his debut.

If your favorite runner isn't listed in the poll options above (due to Reddit's 6-choice limit), make sure to cast your vote for 'Dark Horse' and type their name explicitly in the comments below!

View Poll