© Corentin Baudry / STADION-ACTU
Everything you need to know about the 2025 Bordeaux Half Marathon: new features, favorites, and schedule
The 10 km and 5 km of the Quais de Bordeaux return this year, coordinated by the Stade Bordelais club. New for this edition, both iconic formats will take place alongside the half marathon. This Sunday, November 9, 24,000 runners will set off in the heart of the city known as “the Port of the Moon.” A strong field of competitors and course changes will mark this 2025 edition.
The 2024 edition of the 10 km des Quais de Bordeaux crowned Etienne Daguinos in 27’49, setting a new course record. The women’s mark also nearly fell, with Alice Mitard making her debut over the distance in 33’15. The race showcased impressive depth, with 65 athletes under 32 minutes, 39 under 31, and 13 breaking the 30-minute barrier. A total of 6,000 participants filled the streets of Bordeaux. This year, that number will rise to 24,000, as the 5 km, 10 km, and half marathon—usually held a few weeks apart—will all take place simultaneously due to public works on the city roads.
| Major course route changes
The course layout will therefore be modified this year. The half marathon will start at 9:00 a.m. near the Jardin Public on the Cours de Verdun. There will be no section on the right bank, which means runners will not cross either the Pont de Pierre or the Pont Jacques-Chaban-Delmas. The section through the Bacalan district, in the north of the city, will instead be extended compared to previous editions.
As for the 10 km, which will start at 12:30 p.m. from the same location, the race will finally take place entirely on the road, unlike previous editions that were held on pedestrian paths. The course is designed to be very flat, starting next to the Jardin Public, winding through the Chartrons and Bacalan districts before returning along the Garonne River on the roadway, passing in front of the Cité du Vin, and finishing on the iconic Place de la Bourse.
Four separate start waves will be organized to ensure smooth flow and optimal conditions for all participants. A new feature this year, the routes of both the 10 km and the half marathon will weave through the streets of the city center, not just the main avenues — a chance to discover the Gironde capital at full speed.
The 5 km will start from the right bank, near the Parc aux Angéliques, continue across the Pont Jacques-Chaban-Delmas, and lead participants to the Place de la Bourse after following the Bordeaux waterfront.
| An exceptional 10 km
ur le 10 km, la lutte pour la victoire s’annonce intense chez les femmes. Marie Lohéac-Bouchard, championne de France en titre à Cogolin, s’avance comme la grande favorite. L’interne en médecine vient de battre son record personnel en 32’50 et connaît bien les lieux : elle s’était imposée sur le semi-marathon bordelais l’an passé en 1h14’01. Le record de l’épreuve, détenu par Alice Mitard en 33’15, pourrait bien tomber. Mais cette dernière, finaliste aux derniers championnats de France sur piste, sera elle aussi au départ, déterminée à défendre sa marque.
Face à elles, la locale Javote Gueret, en pleine ascension, aura à cœur de briller devant son public. Troisième du 5000 m aux Championnats de France Élite 2025, la Bordelaise affiche une progression impressionnante et pourrait bien effacer son record personnel de 33’16. Autre prétendante sérieuse, la Brestoise Laëtitia Bleunven, troisième des Championnats de France de cross-country 2024, s’était illustrée l’an dernier en 33’34. De quoi promettre un duel de haut niveau sur les quais de la Garonne.
La course masculine s’annonce tout aussi relevée. Emmenée par Arthur Cosson, qui devrait imprimer un rythme soutenu autour de 14 minutes au passage du 5 km, l’épreuve promet un spectacle de haut niveau. Le record local d’Étienne Daguinos, établi l’an passé en 27’49, sera difficile à battre, mais il pourrait bien être sérieusement menacé.
Parmi les principaux prétendants à la victoire figurent les Bretons Simon Bédard (record personnel en 28’05) et Florian Le Pallec (28’20), deux coureurs en pleine forme. Le récent champion de France du 5 km, Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier (29’15), sera également de la partie, tout comme Hugo Hay, finaliste du 5000 m aux Jeux olympiques de Paris 2024. De retour après une saison presque blanche, le coureur du Sèvre Bocage AC, crédité de 1h01’43 sur semi-marathon, aura à cœur de frapper fort et d’effacer sa vieille marque de 30’53 datant de 2018.
Le plateau français est particulièrement dense : Pierre Boudy (28’55), champion de France espoir 2025 de cross-country, Antoine Puydebois (29’06), champion de France junior 2025 du 10 km, Arthur Gervais (29’05), Clément Touati (29’18), champion de France 2024 du 5 km, Simon Denissel (29’55) et Téo Dabos (30’31) complètent une start-list prometteuse. La présence de l’Irlandais Jack O’Leary (record en 28’23) vient encore relever le niveau d’une édition qui s’annonce palpitante.
| The half marathon, the most popular distance of all
The half marathon also promises to be very fast, though slightly less dense as it attracts a more popular field. Jason Pointeau currently preparing for the Valencia Marathon on December 7, will be among the frontrunners. His goal: to improve on his 1:03:35 mark from 2024. The physical education teacher intends to test his form after an altitude training camp in Font-Romeu.
On the women’s side, Mélody Julien from Tarn will line up with major ambitions — to break the French record, recently set last October by Alessia Zarbo from Antibes with 1:08:20 in Valencia. Julien clocked 1:10:26 a few weeks ago at the French Half Marathon Championships. The Olympic marathoner also ran 1:07:17 at Marseille-Cassis, the fastest time ever achieved by a French woman on that legendary course.
One of Bordeaux’s major running events returns this year with three race formats — the 5 km, 10 km, and half marathon. A total of 24,000 runners are expected this weekend to push their limits along the Quais, while a strong contingent of France’s top athletes will battle it out in the Gironde capital, much to the delight of the spectators.
✔ All the informations about the Semi-Marathon de Bordeaux
Emma BERT
Journaliste
