Thomas Lorblanchet

About

Thomas Lorblanchet (born May 26, 1980 in Clermont-Ferrand) is a French trail runner who was one of the defining figures of mountain ultra running through the late 2000s and 2010s. A former triathlete who turned to trail full-time, he became the first-ever Trail World Champion in 2009 at Serre Chevalier — the inaugural edition of what became the sport's foremost global championship. He holds the record for victories at the Grand Trail des Templiers, one of France's most prestigious ultra races, with four wins (2007, 2008, 2010, 2013). In 2012 he won the Leadville Trail 100 in Colorado, becoming the first and only European to take this iconic American race. He accumulated over 100 career victories across France, Europe, and worldwide, and achieved two top-five finishes at the Western States 100 before retiring from professional competition in 2017. Now a physiotherapist and osteopath practicing in Clermont-Ferrand, Lorblanchet was elected to the city's municipal council in 2026.

Notable Wins

• — Trail World Championship 2009 (inaugural)
• — Grand Trail des Templiers 2007
• — 2008
• — 2010
• — 2013 (record 4 wins)
• — Leadville Trail 100 2012 (first European winner)

Race History