Ben Dhiman Sets New Benchmark at UTMB with Sub-19 Hour Finish

Ben Dhiman achieved a historic milestone at the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix, France, becoming the first runner to finish the 108-mile course in under 19 hours. The 34-year-old American won the race with a time of 18 hours, 16 minutes, and 29 seconds, surpassing the previous winning time by over an hour.

Dhiman's victory came after a challenging journey, having previously failed to finish the race in 2023 and 2024. He built a significant lead during the race, reaching the 80km mark in Courmayeur with a 20-minute advantage. Despite facing tough competition and adverse weather conditions that delayed the race start, Dhiman maintained his lead throughout the course.

His closest competitor, Baptiste Chassagne, finished second in 18:47:38, while Caleb Olson secured third place just under a minute later. Dhiman's performance marks him as the second American man to win the men's race in the event's 23-year history, following Jim Walmsley's victory in 2023.