UTMB OCC: Blandine L’Hirondel and Jonathan Albon claim breathtaking 55km victories
- L’Hirondel smashes women’s record on her way to 20th place
- Albon emerges victorious in ‘Battle of the Britons’
The OCC, which starts in Switzerland and finishes in France, is known as a “hard and fast” event favoured by speedy runners. The racecourse consists of three major climbs, and it is on the last one – to the ski resort of La Flegere, the race is often decided. The 2021 edition was no exception.
The absence of Chinese runners did not diminish the competitiveness of the race, especially in the male category, where international marathoners, obstacle course world champions, trail running and sky running world champions were pitched against each other.
Former USA collegiate track and road star Hayden Hawks, who won the CCC in 2017, told the Post before the race: “It’s very competitive – with Robbie Simpson, Remi Bonnet, Jonathan Albon, Ruy Ueda, Nicolas Martin ... We all have different running backgrounds and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.”
True to expectations, the runners went off at a blistering pace, storming up the first major climb, La Bovine.
