Triathlon Alpe d’Huez 2026: the results

Midweek saw one of France’s most popular and iconic triathlons: the Alpe d’Huez Triathlon, celebrating its 20th anniversary. Nearly 5,000 triathletes (and duathletes) from across Europe lined up across the three formats on the program.

This 20th anniversary kicked off on August 3 with a duathlon: 6.5 km of running in Bourg d’Oisans, then the legendary Alpe d’Huez climb on the bike, and finally 5.5 km of running right in the heart of the resort.

More than 1,000 athletes signed up for this “appetizer”, won by France’s Émile Blondel Hermant in the men’s race and Belgium’s Josie Vanhoutte in the women’s.

Women’s podium:

1 - Josie Vanhoutte (Belgium) 1:59:33

2 - Margaux Bontant (France) 2:00:27

3 - Marine Claudel (France) 2:00:38

Men’s podium:

1 - Émile Blondel-Hermant (France) 1:30:42

2 - Wout Driever (Netherlands) 1:32:37

3 - Rémy Guerineau (France) 1:33:43

L Triathlon: a first for Steger, a 3rd crown for Siffert

The main event came two days later with the L triathlon. It’s a hybrid format dreamed up by the organizing team, led by former long-distance triathlon world champion Cyrille Neveu, and the course hasn’t changed in 20 years, which says it all.

It all starts with a 2,200 m swim, rolling start, in the always-chilly waters of Lac du Verney.

Next up is a brutal, spectacular ride through the Oisans: 118 km, 3,200 m D+, with four main climbs:

Alpe du Grand Serre: 15 km at 6.5%
Col de Malissol: 3 km at 7%
Col d’Ornon: 14.4 km at 4%
And the famous Alpe d’Huez climb with its 21 hairpins: 13 km at 8%

It’s leg-shredding stuff, especially before the final high-altitude run: 19.4 km over three loops, with 350 m D+.

Nearly 2,000 athletes wanted to tick off this L triathlon this year. France’s Pierre Dupuy had his moment in the spotlight by exiting the water first, but the favorites quickly went to work on the bike.

Louis Richard, a two-time EmbrunMan winner and runner-up here in 2024 and 2025, posted the fastest bike split (3:47:46). But the former pro cyclist had to give way on the run to the duathlon winner, France’s Émile Blondel-Hermant. In the end, it was Austria’s Thomas Steger who took the win in 5:33, after coming out of the water in 19th place, moving to the front on the final climb to Alpe d’Huez, and then holding off Émile Blondel-Hermant on foot.

In the women’s race, Switzerland’s Alanis Siffert took the win for a third straight victory at the top of the 21 hairpins. She beat France’s Jeanne Collonge (winner in 2016 and 2023) by 9 minutes 30, with fellow Swiss Nina Derron in 3rd.

Women’s podium:

1 Alanis Siffert (Switzerland) 6:13:00

2 Jeanne Collonge (France) 6:22:30

3 Nina Derron (Switzerland) 6:32:12

Men’s podium:

1 Thomas Steger (Austria) 5:33:41

2 Émile Blondel-Hermant (France) 5:36:07

3 Louis Richard (France) 5:38:48

The M distance to wrap things up

This 20th anniversary wrapped up on Thursday, August 6 with the M distance, also tailored to the terrain: 1,500 m swim, 28 km bike including the 21-hairpin climb, and a 6.4 km run, bringing together more than 1,800 triathletes.

France’s Keran Gallou and Léane Blanchard dominated from the 21 hairpins onward, taking control on the climb and putting their names on the roll of honor.

Men’s podium:

1 Keran Gallou (France) 1:55:18

2 Emmanuel Lejeune (Belgium) 1:57:38

3 Pau Noguera (Spain) 1:57:56

Women’s podium:

1 Léane Blanchard (France) / 2:16:25

2 Lena Vaillier (France) / 2:20:04

3 Océane Le Bris (France) 2:22:03

Full results