American Katie Schide wins the UTMB for the first time

This 2022 edition of the UTMB was marked by duels. Those between Jim Walmsley and Kilian Jornet then between Jornet and Mathieu Blanchard for men. And the one between Katie Schide and Marianne Hogan for women. Equally breathtaking.

The 30-year-old American had decided to make this edition of the UTMB her day of glory. In the absence of a great figure in the discipline, double reigning winner, Courtney Dauwalter, the race seemed more open this year. So Katie Schide chose to take matters into her own hands from the start, taking the lead at the Saint-Gervais refueling station (21st km, out of 170) and sinking alone into the night after Contamines-Montjoie (31st km). But that was without taking into account a less good blow in the early morning and the ambitions of another athlete, those of the Canadian Marianne Hogan.

The latter managed to catch up with Schide on the descent of the Grand Col Ferret (km 102) and to race in the lead until kilometer 135. Because, unfortunately for Hogan, physical pain will eventually catch up with her. Schide, weakened by the effort but still conquering, regained the lead at the level of the Bovine mountain pasture, never to let go. The American won in 23h15 in Chamonix and took her first victory in the UTMB.

“I think I don’t realize yet. It’s not real. Last year I was very sick a week before the race, I almost didn’t go. I don’t have the impression that it was a big battle with Marianne, it was more: she feels good, me less, so she passes me in front. And vice versa. We saw each other for just a second and walked past each other. We just talked a little bit when I played her the last time. I didn’t think it was going to happen because she looked so strong.”reacted Katie Schide.

And the one who resides with her French companion, the trail runner Germain Grangier, in the Mercantour, appreciated the fervor of the public present on the road, she had set herself the objective of returning to Chamonix before dark. “Honestly, I really felt like I was in a local race when I was racing, Schide smiles. There were so many people I knew. It was special. My goal was to finish before dark. I never finished the UTMB before the start of the 2nd night. When I felt really bad, and I felt really bad, I almost stopped at La Fouly, I told myself that I could finish before dark, even if I was going slowly. It pushed me. »