Courtney Dauwalter is dethroned by unexpected victory of Ruth Croft

In a surprising turn of events at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) 2024, New Zealand's Ruth Croft emerged as the women's race champion. This victory marked a significant milestone for Croft, her first in the prestigious ultra-running event.

Croft's triumph came as an outsider's victory, mirroring the men's race where Tom Evans clinched the title following the withdrawal of favourite François D'Haene. The race saw a thrilling competition, with Croft finishing in 22 hours, 56 minutes, and 23 seconds.

The UTMB's nerve center, located at the heart of the event, played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the participants. This control room provides live GPS tracking, an alert system, and alternative routes to navigate the challenging terrain.

Prior to the race, Courtney Dauwalter was anticipated to win due to her impressive track record, having secured victories in 2019, 2021, and 2023. However, a dip in Dauwalter's pace during the descent of the Grand Col Ferret opened the door for Croft to take the lead.

Meanwhile, Camille Bruyas, a French athlete, delivered a commendable performance, achieving the second-best time among women with a time of 23 hours, 28 minutes, and 48 seconds. Bruyas finished the race in 25th place, overall, men and women combined, marking her second time achieving this time in the UTMB, four years apart.

In the 2023 race, Croft finished second, behind Katie Schide. This year, however, she managed to turn the tables and secure the top spot.

The UTMB's nerve center, with its live GPS tracking and alert system, along with the provision of alternative routes, proved instrumental in maintaining the safety of the ultra-runners as they circled Mont-Blanc. Despite extensive efforts, the search results do not contain information regarding the person in charge of the security center at UTMB.