It’s been a month since 18montrose made the trip to Chamonix for the world’s biggest trail running event: UTMB Mont-Blanc.

The UTMB World Series is a collection of the most prestigious trail races on the planet, spanning distances from 25k to full ultras across every corner of the globe. But Mont-Blanc is the crown jewel, the race that every trail runner dreams of. Thousands spend the year chasing Running Stones (entry tokens) just for the chance to enter the ballot, with only 2,300 lucky athletes securing a place on the start line.

The UTMB itself is a legendary test: 171km, 10,000m of elevation, and a strict 46.5-hour cut-off. Along the way, athletes must make it through multiple checkpoints by tight time limits, or face the heartbreak of disqualification.

The 18montrose team flew in to soak up not just the race, but the culture that surrounds it - a scene often described as the Paris Fashion Week of trail running. Chamonix becomes a playground of innovation: prototype shoes, exclusive launches, and endless conversations from brands like The North Face, Satisfy Running, norda and Nike showcasing their latest innovations with fellow running obsessives. The atmosphere is relentless, carrying on day and night, as supporters line the streets and cheer every finisher across the line.

Throughout the week, multiple races unfold ETC, OCC, TDS, CCC, PTL, and of course, the UTMB. Each is a rite of passage in its own right, demanding courage, grit, and resilience from all who take part.

The undisputed highlight this year was watching British athlete Tom Evans power through some of the harshest weather conditions the event has ever seen to claim his first UTMB victory, a moment of history on the world stage.