Races
OCC
Orsières Thursday morning. Sixty kilometers to Chamonix. The 2026 course climbs to Tête de Balme before the drop into the Argentière valley.
60 km+9,733 ft-9,341 ft14h302,946 ft to 7,490 fttech 8/10Checkpoints per race bookpoint-to-pointUTMB week2026 redesignAugustRunning Stones · 3 stones
Distance60 km
Gain+9,733 ft
Loss-9,341 ft
Altitude2,946 ft to 7,490 ft
Technicality8/10
Air40°F to 80°F
- Start3,004 ft
- High7,490 ft
- Low2,946 ft
- Finish3,396 ft
- Champex-Lac at mile 4.3
- Trient at mile 15, cutoff 5.5 hours, crew
- Vallorcine at mile 22, cutoff 8.5 hours, crew
- La Flegere at mile 30, cutoff 12 hours
- Finish Chamonix at mile 35, cutoff 14.5 hours, crew
Terrain
Field, 2026 · 12-year samplescraped
Starters1945
Finish rate80%
Median11:23
Sub-241563
Geometryderived
Steepest drop1,906 ft-17.2% over 2.1 mi
Night miles2 misunset near 18:00 local
Weather at the cruxderived
At hour 9 of race, feels like 39 C (99 F).Sample of 7 race days, medium confidence.At hour 9 of race, apparent temperature P90 is 39 C / 102 F.
Course records
Men04:44:58Francesco PUPPI
Women05:18:21Toni MCCANN
The cruxCol de Balme and Tête de Balme (2,321 m) (near mile 24)
Course DNA
The Course
OCC runs 60 km through Orsières to Chamonix, Switzerland / France. +9,733 ft gain and -9,341 ft loss. Surfaces skew 80% trail / 15% jeep / 5% paved. Col de Balme and Tête de Balme (2,321 m). High point near 7,490 ft. Low near 2,946 ft. August temps run 40°F to 80°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 19.
The Work
Train for 9,733 feet of climbing across 60 km. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 14h30 total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 8/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 24.
Kit
August in Orsières to Chamonix, Switzerland / France: plan for 40°F to 80°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 14h30 pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 9. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 80% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 19.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 9. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 19. Col de Balme and Tête de Balme (2,321 m) near mile 24 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 12 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
Results
OCC finish lines.
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Sources (4)
- Field stats (2026): https://utmb.world/utmb-index/races/2280.hokautmbmontblancocc.2026?page=1
- OCC 2026 runner manual, aid stations table: https://utmbmontblanc.com/en/page/376/occ.html
- Qualifier: utmb_stones: https://utmb.world/utmb-world-series
- Course record (M): https://utmb.world/utmb-index/races/2280.hokautmbmontblancocc.2023?page=1