ABOUT THIS EPISODE
UTMB 2026 brings the trail-running world to Chamonix for 108 miles (174 km) and roughly 32,500 feet (9,900 m) of climbing through France, Italy and Switzerland. Garrett and Tanner break down UTMB, CCC and OCC, the biggest names in every field, and make full podium picks, winning-time predictions, dark-horse calls and DNFs before race week begins.
UPDATE — Episode recorded Tuesday, August 18. Since recording, Kilian Jornet has withdrawn from UTMB because of his ongoing knee injury, and Jim Walmsley is also out. You’ll hear discussion on both runners and predictions based on the field as it stood when recorded.
We also discuss:
How Running Stones, the UTMB Index and the lottery determine who gets to the starting line in Chamonix
Courtney Dauwalter vs. defending champion Ruth Croft, with Rachel Entrekin and Riley Brady trying to break into the UTMB women’s podium
Vincent Bouillard attempting the Western States–UTMB double and Caleb Olson going all-in on Mont-Blanc after skipping his Western States title defense
Why Garrett predicted a Kilian DNF and neither host had Jim Walmsley in the top five before the late withdrawals
Jennifer Lichter entering the 62-mile (100 km) CCC after winning Western States, plus a men’s field with 18 of the top 19 entrants carrying a UTMB Index above 900
Tove Alexandersson at OCC and Francesco Puppi vs. Rémi Bonnet over roughly 37 miles (60 km) and 11,500 feet (3,500 m) of climbing
Plus, Project 168:
Phil Gore begins Project 168 on August 23: one 4.167-mile (6.71 km) lap every hour for 168 consecutive hours. If he completes the full seven days, he’ll cover 700 miles (1,127 km) while raising money for Telethon. We talk about joining Phil for a virtual lap and our group order for the official Project 168 shirt.
If you want the names, numbers and picks to know before UTMB, CCC and OCC , you’re in the right place.
Links
Watch and track UTMB live — https://live.utmb.world/
HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc — https://montblanc.utmb.world/
UTMB Index, Running Stones and qualification — https://utmb.world/
Phil Gore / Project 168 — https://philgore.com.au/
Rafael Hidalgo YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@rafaelhidalgo
#UTMB2026 #UTMBMontBlanc #TrailRunning
