Sébastien Raichon of France and Anna Troup of Great Britain won the men’s and women’s races at the 2026 Winter Spine Race after dramatic late withdrawals reshaped the standings in one of the world’s toughest ultramarathons.
The race follows the 268-mile Pennine Way from Edale, England, to Kirk Yetholm, Scotland, and is known for extreme weather, sleep deprivation, and high dropout rates. Runners set off at 8 a.m. on Sunday, January 11, battling snow, ice, and strong winds left behind by Storm Goretti.
A Long Route Through Severe Conditions
The Winter Spine Race traces what is often called the “backbone of England,” crossing remote moorland, mountains, and exposed ridgelines. This year’s conditions were especially harsh.
Freezing temperatures, snow, and gale-force winds marked the opening days. Later, rising temperatures caused snow to melt into slush and ice, creating unstable footing and sheets of ice. The difficult terrain contributed to a large number of runners failing to finish.
Many participants were still on the course when the winners reached the finish line.
Men’s Race Turns Late
For much of the race, Eugeni Roselló Solé of Spain appeared to be in control. A veteran of the event, he led for long stretches and built a commanding advantage after passing the 224-mile mark at Bellingham nearly 10 hours ahead of Raichon.
But with fewer than 30 miles remaining, Roselló Solé was forced to withdraw near Burness at mile 240 due to extreme exhaustion. He had been racing for more than 78 hours.
His withdrawal opened the door for Raichon, who had run a steady, conservative race while moving gradually up the field. Raichon crossed the finish line early Thursday morning in 95 hours and 43 minutes.
James White of Great Britain finished second in 101:52, followed by James Hargreaves of Great Britain in 105:20.
Raichon is a multiple-time winner of the 280-mile Tor des Glaciers, but this marked his first Winter Spine Race victory.
Women’s Race Decided by Injury
The women’s race also hinged on a late withdrawal.
Johanna Antila of Finland led early and was joined by Anna Troup by the second checkpoint at Hawes, 109 miles into the race. The two ran together for more than 100 miles, often separated by only minutes as they navigated the toughest sections of the course.
They reached Bellingham, 224 miles in, side by side, holding a clear lead over the rest of the women’s field. A shared finish appeared possible.
But about 25 miles from the end, Antila was forced to withdraw due to ongoing foot problems.
Troup continued alone to the finish, winning in 106 hours and 19 minutes. The victory made her only the third person to win both the summer and winter editions of the Spine Race.
Fiona Horsfield of Britain finished second in 112:48, and Sophie Grant of New Zealand placed third in 117:32 in her Winter Spine Race debut.
“Terrifying” Night on Cross Fell
Troup, who is based in the Lake District, said one section stood out as the most difficult.
“It was really tough,” she said to The Mail after finishing. “Getting up on Cross Fell in the dark was terrifying. I don’t often put myself in those situations, but yeah, it was really scary.”
She also offered advice to other women considering extreme endurance events.
“They don’t have to jump in at the deep end,” Troup said. “They can build up from smaller distances and join some of the women’s WhatsApp and chat groups to get that sense of community.”
A Race Defined by Attrition
The Winter Spine Race has a reputation for ending more dreams than it fulfills. This year’s race followed that pattern, with injuries, hypothermia concerns, and exhaustion forcing several pre-race favorites to withdraw early.
Despite the setbacks, Raichon and Troup emerged as clear winners in a race where patience, resilience, and decision-making proved as important as speed.
Race organizers said results will continue to be updated as more runners make their way to the finish in the days ahead.
