Portugal finally has its UTMB World Series stamp. Oh Meu Deus by UTMB 2026, the first Portuguese race ever to join the circuit, delivered a packed three days from Friday May 1 to Sunday May 3 between the Serra da Lousã, the Serra do Açor and the Serra da Estrela. Roughly 2,000 athletes from 62 nationalities took the start lines across five distances, in a region the organisers have made a point of celebrating for its post-wildfire recovery.
And it delivered the goods on the front line: a course record on the 100M, a French head-to-head settled in the final kilometres of the 100K, and a Portuguese show on home soil over the shorter formats.
OMD 100M: Rubén Diéguez sets the record, finishes with his son
The flagship 167 km, 8,700 m+ traverse from Lousã to Seia was the headline act. Spaniard Rubén Diéguez Quiroga, from the Bierzo region just north of Portugal, opened gaps on the decisive sectors and never looked back. He stopped the clock at 21h42'15" for the win and the new course record on this point-to-point monster, then crossed the line in Seia hand in hand with his son. Compatriot Victor Maneiro Freire took second, with Portugal's Rogério Pronto the first home finisher in third.
The women's race went to Poland's Paulina Krawczak, the Altra-sponsored Polish army athlete who has been quietly building a serious ultra résumé. Spain's Marta Muixí took second and Elena Vaseva rounded out the podium.
OMD 100M podium
- Men: 1. Rubén Diéguez Quiroga (ESP) 21h42'15" · 2. Victor Maneiro Freire (ESP) · 3. Rogério Pronto (POR)
- Women: 1. Paulina Krawczak (POL) · 2. Marta Muixí (ESP) · 3. Elena Vaseva
OMD 100K: Garrivier leads for 80 km, Athané reels him in
The 94 km, 5,300 m+ Torre traverse produced the race of the weekend. France's Thibaut Garrivier, former CCC winner, Transvulcania champion and 5th at UTMB 2025, controlled the front from the gun and led at every checkpoint up to and including Torre, mainland Portugal's highest point at 1,993 m.
But after Lapa dos Dinheiros, around 80 km in, the long overnight effort started to bite. Compatriot Thibault Athané, who had run patiently from the chase pack, gradually closed the gap and went past in the final kilometres to win in 9h50'58", just 8 minutes 45 seconds ahead of a fading Garrivier. Spain's Genis Porqueras rounded out the men's podium in 10h00'37", less than a minute behind second place after nearly 100 km of racing.
The women's race went to Catalonia's Silvia Puigarnau, with France's Marie Janod in second and Ilona Kirsnė third.
OMD 100K podium
- Men: 1. Thibault Athané (FRA) 9h50'58" · 2. Thibaut Garrivier (FRA) 9h59'43" · 3. Genis Porqueras (ESP) 10h00'37"
- Women: 1. Silvia Puigarnau (ESP) · 2. Marie Janod (FRA) · 3. Ilona Kirsnė
OMD 50K: a Portuguese double on Saturday
The 52 km, 2,900 m+ middle distance through the glacial valleys above Loriga belonged to the home team on Saturday. Ludvik Fernandes took the men's win ahead of Pedro Barros, with Spain's Aitor Pulgarin Arribas in third. The women's race was an all-Portuguese top two, Brigida Ines João in front of Sofia Vieira, with Spain's Lucia Peon Santomé third.
OMD 50K podium
- Men: 1. Ludvik Fernandes (POR) · 2. Pedro Barros (POR) · 3. Aitor Pulgarin Arribas (ESP)
- Women: 1. Brigida Ines João (POR) · 2. Sofia Vieira (POR) · 3. Lucia Peon Santomé (ESP)
OMD 20K: home wins on Sunday morning
Sunday's 22 km São Romão loop closed the festival with another Portuguese double on the men's side: Miguel Silva and Mário Coelho went 1-2, with Spain's Alvaro Ramos Peña third. The women's race went international: Belgian Joke Descheemaeker took the win, France's Capucine Arbez-Gindre was second, and Ana Carolina Oliveira third.
OMD 20K podium
- Men: 1. Miguel Silva (POR) · 2. Mário Coelho (POR) · 3. Alvaro Ramos Peña (ESP)
- Women: 1. Joke Descheemaeker (BEL) · 2. Capucine Arbez-Gindre (FRA) · 3. Ana Carolina Oliveira
A debut that lives up to the build-up
Oh Meu Deus has been one of the most respected ultras in Iberia for fifteen editions, and the jump to UTMB World Series status was always going to bring scrutiny. The 2026 edition answered with 2,000 starters from 62 countries, a brand new course record on the 100M, an instantly memorable French duel on the 100K, and a Portuguese podium presence on every distance. The recovery story of the Lousã, Açor and Estrela mountains, scarred by recent wildfires, sat in the background of every kilometre.
Portugal's place on the UTMB World Series map has clearly arrived.