Chamonix, France – Tom โEvans, a former British Army captain, hasโค claimed victory in the prestigious 100-mile ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), solidifying a career shift spurred by hisโค passion for ultra-distance running. Evansโ completed the grueling race, navigating over 17,000 feet โคof elevation gain across three countries, to becomeโ the first British man to win the UTMB since โข2010.
Evans’โ triumph represents a vindication of his โขdecision to leave aโ stable military career and pursueโ ultra-runningโ full-time. โขHis win breaks a thirteen-year drought for British male runnersโฃ at UTMB,โ following Jez โฃBragg’s victory in โข2010 – a race shortened due to inclement weather. The resultโค also positionsโข Evans as a leading figure inโข the sport, demonstratingโ theโ potential for โฃathletes to successfully transition from eliteโค military service to professionalโ endurance competition.
American Ben dhiman finished second, โขover thirty minutesโข behind Evans, while โfellow Brit Josh Wade secured third place on theโ podium.
Evans’ journey into ultra-running began with a bet and his entry into the 2017 Marathon des Sables, where he placed โthird, fueling his confidence in hisโฃ endurance capabilities. A year later,he won the UTMB’s ‘CCC’ race (Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix). As then, he has represented Great Britain at the worldโค Half-Marathon Championships and the 2023 worldโ cross Country Championships in Belgrade.
His UTMB victory echoesโ the success โof Lizzy Hawker, who dominated the women’s race between 2005 and 2012, securing five wins.Evans’ achievement marks a new chapter for British ultra-running, signaling a resurgence in the nation’s competitive presence on the international stage.