The Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB 120K brought plenty of excitement to Tuscany this March, with the rolling trails and vineyard landscapes setting the stage for a brilliant day of ultra racing. With Western States Golden Tickets on the line, the field was packed with talent, and the racing delivered all the way through. It felt like one of those events where every checkpoint mattered, with strong battles unfolding in both the men’s and women’s races across the Tuscan hills.
One of the highlights of the weekend was Courtney Dauwalter’s win in the women’s race. Her appearance in Chianti came together unexpectedly after the Tenerife Bluetrail was cancelled, but she made the switch count. Dauwalter raced closely with Norway’s Yngvild Kaspersen for much of the day before taking the win in 11:31:55, with Kaspersen finishing just behind. It was another classic Courtney performance, calm, tough, and strong when it mattered most.
The men’s race was just as entertaining, with Thomas Cardin pulling away late to take victory in 9:58:38, finishing under 10 hours on a demanding course. He managed to break clear after a close contest with Andreas Reiterer and Vincent Bouillard, who rounded out the podium. With elite performances, tight finishes, and Golden Tickets awarded for Western States, Chianti once again delivered a memorable weekend and a reminder of how exciting the early ultra season can be.