I'm coming back to UTMB

It’s been 18 years since I first ran UTMB. I was 20 years old back then, didn’t really know what to expect, and somehow won the race.

I came back in 2009 and 2011 and won both times.

In 2017, I finished 2nd to François d’Haene and 2018, I had an allergic reaction to a bee sting and had to drop mid-race at Refuge Bertone.

In 2022, I ran the race for the sixth time, 14 years after my first win, and had my best day ever around Mont Blanc.

I was in a different place in my career, approaching it differently, and it felt like all those years of experience finally came together.

In 2026, I’ll be back again for a seventhp time. UTMB is one of the few ultras in the world where the depth of the field pushes you to a different level. If I want to see where I stand in long-distance racing, this is where everybody shows up.

I know some people might ask why I’m racing UTMB, as we haven’t always agreed on everything. Since then, I’ve spent long hours talking with Michel and the team. We’re aligned on what matters most and want to work together towards a better sport.

Most of all, I love the mountains, the community, the challenge of that course. The loop around Mont Blanc is brutal and beautiful, and every time I run it, I learn something I didn’t know before.

So I’m coming back 18 years later, and I still feel like there’s more to learn, more to give, more to discover about what my body can do at this distance.

See you in August in Chamonix!

@UTMBMontBlanc @UTMBWorldSeries