2026 UTMB Race Preview and Predictions

Play Fantasy Freetrail here.Links Discussed in the show:Course Description: 42km with 3,800m of vert (24 mileas and 10,300 feet)Manu Merillas Strava file from 2025 SWS finals win in 4:02:08Anastasia Rubstova Strava file from 2025 SWS finals win in 4:55:25Men’s overall points standings entering final.Women’s overall points standings entering final.For some reason the last two minutes of audio cut out but my picks for the women’s field are:* Sara Alonso* Patricia Pineda* Eva Delafosse* Greta Garcia* Alice BausseronSubstitutions I’m considering: Natalie Beadle or Elena Karanfiloska for 5th place. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robrunsround.substack.com/subscribe

Play Fantasy Freetrail here.Links discussed in the show:Strava links to Jon Albon’s win in 2023 in 6:32:19 and Ruth Croft’s win in 2017 in 7:27:31.Jim Walmsley’s instagram post discussing Templiers and its atmosphere/importance in the trail running world.Ellie Greenwood’s Ultrarunning Magazine article about Grand Trail Des Templiers.French wikipedia page for Festival des Templiers.Runraid French Website describing in depth the history and stats around the race. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robrunsround.substack.com/subscribe

Play Fantasy Freetrail here.Links Discussed in the show:Uphill Route strava file. 3.1 miles and 2,481 feet of climbing (5km and 756m).Up/down route strava file. 9.4 miles and 4,069 feet of climbing (15km and 1,240m).WMRA Women’s World Cup point standings.WMRA Men’s World Cup point standings.WMRA World Rankings (not the same as world cup standings). Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robrunsround.substack.com/subscribe

Play Fantasy Freetrail here:Fantasy.freetrail.comLinks Discussed in Podcast:Alain SB Course record? Strava file from 2023 Race in 2:57:08https://www.strava.com/activities/9907163798Clementine Geoffray strava file from 2023 win:https://www.strava.com/activities/9903791813Skyrunning YT video: Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robrunsround.substack.com/subscribe

Play Fantasy Freetrail here.Links Discussed in Podcast:UTMB Course Description per their website:Zach Miller Youtube Documentary by Billy Yang.Doug Mayer Book about the history and founding of UTMB. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robrunsround.substack.com/subscribe

Play Fantasy Freetrail here.Links Discussed in Podcast:CCC course description per UTMB website.Strava file for Martyna M. 2025 CCC win. Strava file for Francesco Puppi 2025 CCC win. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robrunsround.substack.com/subscribe

Play Fantasy Freetrail here. Links Discussed in Podcast:OCC course description. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robrunsround.substack.com/subscribe

Links Discussed in show:Doug Mayer Trail Runner Mag article.Doug Mayer Run the Alps article for 50th anniversary of race talking to race legends both male and female.IRunFar 2026 Sierre Zinal Men’s Preview and Women’s Preview.Freetrail Instagram Sierre Zinal stats corner post thanks to Travis Loncar. Run the Alps article on first American and 1977 Sierre Zinal winner Chuck Smead. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robrunsround.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robrunsround.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robrunsround.substack.com/subscribe