Tom Evans Becomes First British Man to Win UTMB

The former British Army captain's surgical approach to training delivers dominant victory in ultrarunning's biggest race.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 7:25am

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Tom Evans, a 45-year-old former British Army captain, has become the first British man to win the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) race, finishing over 30 minutes clear of second place in a time of 19:18:58. Evans's victory caps a remarkable rise in ultrarunning, from a drunken bet to win the Marathon des Sables in 2017 to becoming a world champion. His success is built on a 'surgical' approach to training that blends speed work, vertical training, heat acclimation, and a focus on muscular endurance rather than pure aerobic fitness.

Why it matters

Evans's victory is a landmark moment for British ultrarunning, which has struggled to produce a male winner at UTMB, one of the sport's most prestigious and challenging events. His triumph also highlights the growing influence of multidisciplinary training approaches in the ultra community, as Evans draws expertise from fields like triathlon, cycling, and sports psychology to gain an edge over his competitors.

The details

In the final preparation block before UTMB 2025, Evans's typical training week included a mix of threshold sessions, long easy runs, weighted vertical work, downhill-specific training, and recovery. Key sessions involved ascending 1,000 meters of vertical gain while carrying a 12-15 kg pack, as well as a 'vertical kilometer' treadmill workout. Evans also emphasized passive heat acclimation over active heat training to avoid compromising recovery. His fueling strategy involved 85-88 grams of carbohydrates per hour, a more moderate approach than his previous attempts at 120 grams per hour, which had caused gastrointestinal issues.

  • Evans won the Arc of Attrition in February 2025.
  • Evans won the Tenerife Bluetrail in May 2025.
  • Evans won UTMB on August 29, 2025, finishing over 30 minutes clear of second place.

The players

Tom Evans

A 45-year-old former British Army captain who has become the first British man to win the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) race.

Scott Johnston

Evans's coach at Evoke Endurance, who has guided him to his UTMB victory through a focus on muscular endurance and multidisciplinary training.

Sophie Coldwell

Evans's wife, a British triathlete, who helped create a 'home from home' environment during his UTMB preparation.

Phoebe

Evans's daughter, born in May 2025, who helped shift his mindset from 'needing to win' to 'wanting to win' at UTMB.

Jez Bragg

The last British man to win UTMB, in 2010, before Evans's historic victory in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Genuinely, my goals today weren't to win, my goals today were to look at myself in the mirror and be proud of what I achieved. If you try too hard to win, which I had done previously, it's really difficult. But this year it was all about letting the race come to you.”

— Tom Evans

“Both Ruth [Croft] and Tom have a high speed reserve, meaning they can run aerobically at a much faster pace than many ultra runners. These high end speeds allow them a wide range of successes at the ultra running race distances.”

— Scott Johnston, Coach, Evoke Endurance

What’s next

The judge in Evans's case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow him out on bail for prior incidents of Waymo vehicle vandalism.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.