Thibault Marquet and Marie Dohin (both France) have won the UTMB TDS (148k, 9.300m+). Both ultra runners underlined how strong France is at the moment in the ultra world.
The men’s race was a battle between the French, who all showed to know how to pace themself, because none of the top 10 finishers ran up front at the beginning of the race. None, except for Marquet. The French Dynafit runner passed the first checkpoint at Checrouit – Maison Veille, 6,6 kilometres into the race and with 791 metres of climbing done, as number 7. Four and a half kilometres later, with another 500 metres of climbing done, he was in the lead.
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Marquet unstoppable
A lead Marquet lost just for a couple of kilometres, going up the Col du petit Saint Bernard, 35 kilometres into the race (2.433m+). By the time the ultra runners passed Cormet de Roselend, the second highest peak of the race with 2,543 metres, Marquet was leading again and this time kept that lead until the finish, where he passed a frenzied crowd, who left their dinner for a moment to welcome him home.
Behind Marquet, who needed 18 hours, 59 minutes and 36 seconds to complete the Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie (TDS), Alban Berson finished second in 19:56:40, improving on his fourth place of 2021. Gautier Airiau made it with his third place an all French podium. The Scott Running Team runner stopped the clock at 20:07:22.
Ales Sedlak (Czech Republic), the number 17 of the Lavaredo ultra trail 100m this year, was with his sixth place the first non-French runner in the top 10, behind Nicolas Gourdon (fourth) and Kevin Roux (fifth).
Wilhem prevents French podium
Ariane Wilhem prevented the women’s race from getting an all French podium also. The Swiss Compressport runner was the only one who could follow Dohin a bit. She finished 36 minutes behind the French Kiprun runner: 24:06:01 versus 24:42:03.
An hour after Wilhem Céline Finas, Dohin’s compatriot and teammate, completed the podium. She needed 25 hours, 41 minutes and 41 seconds to complete the 148 kilometres of running and 9.300 metres of climbing around the Mont-Blanc.
All results of the TDS 2024
