The CCC once again proved why it’s one of the most gripping races of UTMB week, as Italy’s Francesco Puppi and Poland’s Martyna Młynarczyk ran away with victories on a dramatic day in the Alps.
Puppi, 33, delivered the performance of his career, storming to the win in 10:06:02 after a patient first half and a decisive move through Champex.
Already a world champion in shorter mountain races, Puppi has spent 2025 reinventing himself as a long-distance contender, switching to Hoka and stacking wins at Canyons, Lavaredo, Chianti, and Transgrancanaria.
On Friday in Chamonix, he made that evolution feel complete, arriving alone down the finish chute with arms raised, the crowd roaring as he crossed.
“It was about running my own race,” Puppi said afterwards. “The weather made it tough all the way, but I managed to stay calm, and in the last downhill I finally let myself enjoy it. This is a special day for me.”
The women’s race belonged to Martyna Młynarczyk, who powered through the 100km in 11:41:55 to claim the biggest win of her career.
A national champion in Poland and a fast-rising name in European ultras, Młynarczyk has built a reputation for toughness and consistency across the trail circuit. Last year’s CCC gave her a taste of the front of the field, this year she returned to Chamonix sharper, stronger, and ready to finish the job.
She ran confidently throughout, opening a gap in the latter stages and holding firm on the final descent into town, greeted by chants of “Martyna” as she hit the finishing stertch.
For both winners, it was more than just a victory lap in Chamonix.
Puppi showed he is not just a specialist but a full-fledged 100K contender on the world’s biggest stage, while Młynarczyk’s breakthrough was a landmark for Polish trail running, placing her squarely among the elite women of the sport.
The CCC is sometimes described as UTMB’s “little sister,” but anyone watching the drama unfold on Friday knows that undersells it. The course, the atmosphere, the calibre of racing all stood on their own, producing moments that will be remembered long after this week is done.
