Significant Course Changes Coming to OCC

Big news from Chamonix for the upcoming OCC race at the UTMB Finals this coming summer. (This seems to be a permanent change – not just a one off):

OCC 2026: the course is evolving 

This year, the OCC is reinventing its high-altitude section with a brand-new route between Col de Balme and Col des Posettes. 

What’s new: 
– A new high point: Tête de Balme (2,321 m) 
– More trails on the Swiss side
– The climb to La Flégère has been removed from the course 

The 2026 course is now 60 km with 3,500 m of elevation gain.

A speculation as to why the changes needed to be made from French Reference Trail (auto-translated):

According to information circulating in the Chamonix trail community, tensions have arisen between the UTMB organization and the consorts of La Flégère and Lognan, collective owners of the land concerned. These landowners would have toughened their conditions of access to the passage, complicated negotiations for the 2026 edition. A reality that the organization has not officially commented on in detail, but which would partly explain this choice of alternative route.

This all gives us plenty to speculate and compare GPX profiles in the coming days. But I want to make a couple of quick points before processing it more:

• Changing somewhat historic routes will always leave the super fans in a bit of a pickle as it makes comparing past times now more difficult or even moot.
• If UTMB is able to separate the routes for UTMB, CCC, OCC in big section onto their own trails this leaves the trails with fewer total runners – which is great for the environment – or would allow them to let more runners into the specific races.
• Now I want to run OCC again, time to get more stones!

From folks who know the route and area a bit better than me:

Some are saying that the new high point and trails selected in Switzerland are a really nice addition, but missing on the iconic climb to La Flégère – while “just” a boring ski hill – is a bummer.