Courtney Dauwalter delivered another masterclass in ultrarunning patience, coming from behind to win the 2026 Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB 120k in Italy. The American overhauled Norway's Yngvild Kaspersen in the final section of the race through the Tuscan hills, using the combination of relentless pacing and late-race strength that has become her signature across nearly a decade at the top of the sport.
Kaspersen led for much of the race, building what appeared to be a comfortable advantage through the middle kilometres as Dauwalter sat back in a patient second place. But as the race entered its final quarter, the pattern that has repeated itself across dozens of Dauwalter's ultra victories emerged once again: her pace held steady while those around her began to fade. By the time she moved past the Norwegian, the outcome felt inevitable, and she pulled clear to win with time to spare.
In the men's race, France's Thomas Cardin won in 9:58:38, finishing under the 10-hour mark on a course that winds through the vineyards and medieval villages of the Chianti region. Cardin has steadily built his reputation on longer courses, and the Chianti victory further establishes him as one of the most consistent performers in European ultra trail running.
The result continues Dauwalter's remarkable run of form that has seen her dominate women's ultrarunning since her breakout at the Western States 100 in 2018. Now widely regarded as the greatest female ultrarunner in history, she shows no signs of slowing down, and her ability to perform at the highest level across a range of distances — from 100 kilometres to 200 miles — remains unmatched in the sport. The UTMB World Series circuit continues with races across Europe and beyond through the summer, building toward the flagship UTMB Mont-Blanc in August.