Ruth Croft has made UTMB history in Chamonix, becoming the first New Zealander to win the race and the first woman to complete the set of UTMB World Series Finals victories.
The 36-year-old crossed the line in 22:56:23, more than 30 minutes clear of France’s Camille Bruyas, after a dramatic night of snow, hail, and shifting fortunes in the Alps.
The victory adds UTMB to Croft’s previous wins at CCC (2015) and OCC (2018, 2019), giving her the full sweep of the series’ three finals. No other woman has achieved that. It also comes a year after she finished runner-up in her UTMB debut, when Katie Schide broke the course record.
“I knew if I wanted to have a chance then I needed to start aggressively this year,” Croft said at the finish. “As soon as it started to get cold I knew I just had to survive the night… and then as soon as day broke I was able to start moving a bit better.”
She also paid tribute to Courtney Dauwalter, who entered as the three-time champion and heavy favorite: “It was a privilege to get to race her finally but she’s the GOAT – always has been, always will be.”
How the race unfolded
The women’s field went out hard in wet, unsettled conditions. Croft and Dauwalter traded early leads, with Croft even pushing through the fan-lined climb to Notre-Dame de la Gorge ahead of the American.
But through the night, as snow lashed the high passes, Dauwalter looked in control. She hit the Arnouvaz checkpoint at 100 kilometers with an 11-minute advantage, while Croft sat in third, six minutes further back.
Everything changed on the climb to the Grand Col Ferret. Dauwalter’s pace dipped, and by Champex-Lac (128 km) Croft had surged past her and taken the lead. From that point, the Kiwi only extended her advantage. By the final aid station at La Flégère, she was nearly half an hour clear of Bruyas, who held strong in second.
Dauwalter, meanwhile, slipped back but continued to fight on, cheered every step of the way by the crowds. Germany’s Katharina Hartmuth was chasing her for the final podium spot as the race entered its last kilometers.
A race shaped by the weather
The 2025 edition was defined by adversity before it even began. Landslides forced organizers to reroute the opening kilometers between Chamonix and Les Houches, and the start was moved to 5:45 p.m. Friday.
During the night, deteriorating weather conditions led officials to cut out the exposed Pyramides Calcaires section entirely, shortening the race by around 45 minutes for the leaders. The combination of rain, freezing temperatures, and snow tested runners in ways that went beyond the usual 10,000 meters of climbing.
Croft, who had DNFed at Transvulcania in May because of hypothermia, said that experience helped her manage the cold.
“Last year I really enjoyed UTMB but last night was a very different experience. As soon as it started to get cold I knew I just had to survive the night so I backed off quite a bit and just made sure I stayed as warm as possible. And then as soon as day broke I was able to start moving a bit better. From there I just had better sensations overall.”
What it means
For Croft, this win is the culmination of a decade in Chamonix.
She first appeared here in 2015, winning CCC in her debut year. For New Zealand, it marks the nation’s first ever UTMB champion, male or female. And for the women’s field, it was another reminder that no matter how dominant the résumé, Mont Blanc can humble anyone.
Dauwalter had not lost a 100-mile race she finished in eight years, but on this night, Croft’s blend of aggression and patience proved untouchable.
