The Tom Evans UTMB withdrawal means the defending champion will not return to Chamonix for the 2026 race, despite not being injured. Evans confirmed the decision this week and said he will attend the event as a supporter rather than a competitor.
Tom Evans UTMB Withdrawal Reshapes Chamonix
Evans won last year’s race in 19:18:58, one of the fastest times in UTMB history. However, his summer has been unsettled. The British runner entered the Hardrock 100 as the favorite before stopping after 58 miles in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains because of the altitude.
In a message shared on Instagram, Evans explained that stepping away was a decision based on the bigger picture. He will still be present in the French Alps, giving fans the chance to see the 2025 winner supporting the race from the sidelines.
His withdrawal also guarantees another new men’s champion. Kilian Jornet was the last man to successfully defend a UTMB title, doing so in 2009, and he has also withdrawn from the August 28 race.
A New Battle for the Men’s Title
With Evans absent, Jim Walmsley enters the conversation as the leading contender. The Chamonix course-record holder has a UTMB Index of 967 and is expected to face a strong challenge from Ben Dhiman.
Dhiman finished second 12 months ago and won the event in 2022. His return gives the field a proven former champion, while Walmsley will look to convert his course knowledge and current standing into a victory.
More Major Names Missing
The women’s race will also be without Katie Schide. The American won both Western States and UTMB in summer 2024 and still holds the women’s course record of 22:09:31, but a foot injury has ended her attempt at a double this year.
The race begins at 5:45 p.m. CET on August 28. Competitors must complete the 110-mile Mont Blanc course before 4:30 p.m. on August 30, with the route passing through Italy, France and Switzerland before returning to Chamonix.
Organizers expect 846 elite runners representing 54 nationalities across the 2026 races, alongside more than 1,000 additional entrants. The men’s and women’s winners will each receive €20,000.