Michel Poletti completes the UTMB at 71 years old, 23 years after co-founding it
Michel Poletti, co-founder of UTMB Mont-Blanc, completed the 2026 UTMB at 71 years old in 44:58:26 and finished first in the men's 70-74 age category.
The Frenchman crossed the finish line in Chamonix after nearly 45 hours of racing . He finished 1.578th overall, 1.335th among the men, and 1st in the 70-74M age group.
Beyond the result, his participation has a special meaning: Poletti was one of the driving forces behind the race in 2003 and, 23 years after that first edition, he has once again completed the Tour du Mont Blanc as a runner.
Almost 45 hours to complete the UTMB
The UTMB Mont-Blanc is the 100-mile race that runs through the Mont Blanc massif, crossing France, Italy and Switzerland, starting and finishing in Chamonix.
Poletti completed the approximately 174-kilometer course in 44:58:26, with an average speed of 3,9 km/h . The official LiveTrail tracking also recorded 6:38:43 of stop time during the entire race.
| Date | Michel Poletti at the UTMB 2026 |
|---|---|
| Age | 71 years in the Making |
| Category | -70 74M |
| Time | 44:58:26 |
| General ranking | 1.578 º |
| Male classification | 1.335 º |
| Category classification | 1 º |
| Average speed | 3,9 km/h |
| Stop time | 6:38:43 |
23 years after the first edition of the UTMB
The result takes on a different dimension because of Poletti's connection to the race itself. Catherine and Michel Poletti, along with a group of friends, spearheaded the creation of the UTMB in Chamonix in 2003 , giving rise to an event that over the years has become one of the world's leading trail running races.
Michel Poletti didn't limit himself to the role of organizer either. He participated in the first edition of the UTMB in 2003 and finished in an outstanding 17th position with a time of 28:31:03.
That first route was 153,3 kilometers long with around 8.000 meters of elevation gain. Twenty-three years later, Poletti has once again traversed the massif and crossed the finish line in Chamonix at the age of 71.
A runner who continues to compete regularly
His participation in the 2026 UTMB was not an isolated appearance either. Poletti's official record shows that he continues to compete very regularly in trail and ultra-distance races.
During 2026 alone he had completed six other races before the UTMB: Chianti Ultra Trail, Grand Raid Ventoux, Trail 100 Andorra, Restonica Trail, Monte Rosa Walserwaeg and Boréalys Mont-Tremblant.
Among them is the Andorra Trail 80K , 79 kilometers and 3.900 meters of positive elevation gain, which he finished in 15:42:23, and the Restonica Trail 100K, where he completed 69 kilometers and 3.950 meters of positive elevation gain in 16:48:26.
His activity had already been intense in 2025, with participation in events in Europe, Asia, Australia and America and distances that exceeded 100 kilometers.
He had also completed the UTMB again.
The 2026 edition is not the first time Poletti has returned as a runner to the race he helped create. In 2022, he completed the UTMB again , then over 170,3 kilometers and 10.050 meters of elevation gain, with a time of 41:57:48.
Four years later he has done it again, this time at 71 years old and also taking first place in his 70-74M category.
Another story from UTMB 2026
The week in Chamonix also saw another performance linked to the world of triathlon. Jan Frodeno won his category in the UTMB 2026 OCC after completing the 61,4 kilometers in 6:31:55 and finishing 58th overall.
In the case of Michel Poletti, the story directly connects the origin and the present of the UTMB: in 2003 he was 17th in the first edition that he helped to create and in 2026 he crossed the same finish line again at 71 years old, also finishing first in his category.
This content has been created with the support of AI tools and reviewed by the Triathlon News editorial team.
