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🇫🇷 France /Sports

French runner Blandine L'Hirondel wins UTMB world championship

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • French runner Blandine L'Hirondel won the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) 173km race in Chamonix.
  • L'Hirondel, who has been managing an iliac endofibrosis condition, took the lead around the 70km mark and finished in 21 hours, 54 minutes, and 49 seconds.
  • American favorite Courtney Dauwalter, a three-time winner, withdrew from the race.

French runner Blandine L'Hirondel has claimed victory at the prestigious Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix, completing the grueling 173-kilometer course with 10,000 meters of positive elevation gain in 21 hours, 54 minutes, and 49 seconds. The win marks a significant achievement for L'Hirondel, who has been managing a persistent iliac endofibrosis condition for months.

French runner Blandine L’Hirondel won Saturday the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix, finishing the loop (173 kilometers, 10,000 meters of positive elevation gain) in 21 hours 54 minutes 49 seconds.

— Le FigaroAnnouncing the winner of the main UTMB race.

Despite her physical challenges, the 35-year-old gynecologist established her dominance early in the race. She took the lead around the Lac Combal in Italy, approximately 70 kilometers into the course. From that point, L'Hirondel steadily increased her advantage over her competitors, enduring significant suffering and several falls in the final kilometers before crossing the finish line far ahead of the field.

The race also saw a surprising withdrawal from one of the leading favorites, American runner Courtney Dauwalter. Dauwalter, a three-time champion of the UTMB in 2019, 2021, and 2023, was considered a strong contender for this year's title. Her decision to pull out of the race added an element of unexpected drama to the event.

Yet diminished for months by an iliac endofibrosis, the 35-year-old runner and gynecologist led the race from Lac Combal in Italy (after about 70 km) to gradually widen the gap before finishing far ahead of her competitors, despite great suffering and several falls in the final kilometers.

— Le FigaroDescribing Blandine L'Hirondel's performance and challenges during the race.

This year's UTMB saw 2,500 participants embark on the challenging loop around Mont Blanc, which began on Friday evening. Runners have until Sunday evening to complete the course, testing the limits of endurance and mental fortitude against the backdrop of the stunning alpine scenery.

The other big surprise of the evening is the withdrawal of American Courtney Dauwalter, one of the main favorites among women.

— Le FigaroReporting on the unexpected withdrawal of a top competitor.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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