UTMB Andorra Preview: Three Distances, Three Very Different Stories
Rod Farvard
The UTMB World Series heads to the Pyrenees this weekend as Andorra once again delivers one of the strongest mountain-running lineups outside the sport's biggest majors.
While the 100-mile race features the biggest names, the depth across the 100K and 50K means there should be action throughout the entire weekend.
And if recent weeks have taught us anything, it's that mountain races rarely go according to the UTMB Index rankings.
The 100M: Rod Farvard headlines the field
The marquee event belongs to Rod Farvard.
The American arrives with the highest UTMB Index in the race and continues to build a reputation as one of the strongest mountain ultra runners in North America. With Western States ambitions always lurking in the background, Andorra represents another opportunity to prove himself on a highly demanding European course.
But he won't have things his own way.
Frenchman Thibault Marquet and Italy's Philipp Ausserhofer bring very different strengths to the race. Marquet has become a reliable performer in mountainous ultras, while Ausserhofer enters as perhaps the most recognizable personality in the field. Known across social media for his spectacular mountain content and summit backflips, the Italian has increasingly backed up the image with strong race performances.
Americans Richard Lockwood and Portuguese veteran João Rodrigues add further depth, while Sweden's André Jonsson and Spain's Jordi Gamito provide plenty of mountain experience.
On the women's side, Martina Valmassoi stands out as the clear favourite. The Italian has repeatedly proven herself on long and technical mountain courses and arrives with the strongest résumé in the field. Anastasia Davydova, Andrea Vlasakova and Mélanie Delasoie look like the most likely challengers.
The 100K: A more open battle
If the 100M has a headline act, the 100K feels much harder to predict.
American Allison Baca arrives as one of the strongest women racing anywhere in Andorra this weekend and could dominate if she runs to her potential. Spain's Marta Martínez Abellán and Germany's Juliane Rössler add further quality to the women's competition.
The men's race is equally intriguing.
French duo Guillaume Tiphene and Valentin Benard both have the profile to thrive on Andorra's steep terrain, while local runner Samuel Ponce will enjoy strong home support throughout the race. Spain's Borja Fernández and Oriol Barbany could also play major roles if the pace turns aggressive early.
Unlike the 100M, this race feels likely to stay together longer before splitting apart in the latter stages.
The 50K: Perhaps the strongest race of the weekend
The shortest distance may actually deliver the most competitive racing.
Kenya's Robert Pkemoi enters with a massive UTMB Index and immediately becomes one of the favourites for the entire weekend, regardless of distance. The former mountain-running specialist has the speed to make life difficult for everyone.
Belgian standout Maximilien Drion should be one of the main challengers, while Spain's Mario Olmedo, Daniel Castillo and Claudio Díaz ensure a strong local presence.
The women's race features perhaps the biggest name in Andorra this weekend: Blandine L'Hirondel.
Fresh off her victory at Transvulcania, the French star enters as the woman to beat. If she has recovered well from La Palma, she will be extremely difficult to match over this distance.
Spain's Gemma Arenas and Italy's Anna Ongaro look like the strongest challengers, but L'Hirondel's recent form puts her firmly in the spotlight.
What to watch
The beauty of UTMB Andorra is that it sits in an awkward but fascinating spot on the calendar.
Some athletes arrive building toward bigger summer goals. Others are targeting this race specifically. Some are chasing UTMB Finals qualification, while others are looking for momentum after spring campaigns.
That often creates unpredictable racing.
Rod Farvard versus Europe's mountain specialists in the 100M.
Allison Baca against a deep international women's field in the 100K.
And Blandine L'Hirondel returning just weeks after Transvulcania in the 50K.
For a race weekend that often flies under the radar, UTMB Andorra is shaping up to be one worth watching.
