© PhotoRunning/M.Bove
Champs-Élysées 10K: Kiprotich and Viciosa Villa Master Paris in the Rain
Persistent rain, slippery cobblestones and elite-level depth. For its 4th edition, the Champs-Élysées 10K welcomed 20,000 runners this Sunday on the world’s most famous avenue. A qualifying race for the French Championships, more demanding than fast, where Martin Kiprotich and Angela Viciosa Villa proved best at handling a tricky, unforgiving course.
A few drops at the start, then steadily intensifying rain as the kilometers ticked by. Paris kept all its magic, but the conditions quickly reminded everyone that this Champs-Élysées 10K is never quite like any other. On a course marked by cobblestones, repeated accelerations and constant changes in elevation, raw speed often takes a back seat to race management and mental clarity.
As with other major Paris races, the event sold out by mid-December. Nearly 20,000 early risers packed the start line, including retired French tennis star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Only in its fourth edition, the race already has a strong identity, bathed in the yellow of sponsor Fulfil and far removed from flat, record-chasing layouts—the long climb alone makes sure of that. Unsurprisingly, the course records set in 2023, for both men and women, were never under real threat.
| Martin Kiprotich, a Commanding Presence in the Rain
With defending champion Soufiyan Bouqantar absent, the men’s race looked wide open on paper. In reality, it quickly found its leader. Ugandan runner Martin Kiprotich set a steady, controlled tempo, never exposing himself, and claimed victory in 28:36 after a perfectly executed race.
Behind him, compatriot Hosea Chemutai pushed the battle all the way to the line, finishing just one second back in 28:37. Ethiopia’s Kbiret Anteneh completed the podium in 28:52, having spent much of the race in the lead pack. A tight finish shaped more by attrition than by sharp accelerations.
| Benjamin Polin, Top Frenchman in a Pace-Driven Race
Just off the podium, French 10K specialist Benjamin Polin delivered the best domestic performance of the day, setting a personal best—his previous mark dating back to December—by finishing fourth in 28:54. Representing Athletic Vosges Entente Clubs, Polin built his race patiently. “The start was really, really fast. I chose to sit back a bit and then move up gradually at my own pace.”
The race quickly settled behind the two Ugandans. The two-time French marathon champion (2024 and 2025) latched onto a small group and relied on his durability. “We ran almost the entire race together. There wasn’t much of a kick at the end, so I tried to make the difference in the final sector, after the bridge, over the last 400 meters.”
The final time exceeded his expectations. “Honestly, I didn’t think I’d run this fast here. Sub-29 on this course, in the rain, is a really nice surprise.” Polin knows the Champs-Élysées is not built for fast times. “It’s not a record course, but it suits me. I come from cross-country and trail running, with lots of changes in rhythm. The time is a bonus.”
| A Deep and Highly International Top 10
Behind Polin, Morocco’s Brahim Bakkou finished fifth in 29:29, just ahead of Kenya’s Kiprop Rotich (29:30). Abdelilah El Maimouni placed seventh in 29:36, confirming his consistency on demanding road formats. Algerian runner Ali Messaoudi finished eighth in 29:46, while France’s Mathieu Brulet rounded out the top 10 in 30:02. A notably strong French presence, reinforced by the race’s status as a qualifier for the French Championships.
| Yoann Durand, Racing for the Love of It
Finishing 14th overall in 30:34, French veteran Yoann Durand approached the race as a structured training session. “Today was really a workout, with blocks at 10K pace and tempo running.” The course and weather supported that choice. “It’s not a super-fast course. With the cobblestones and the rain, it gets very slippery. From a competitive standpoint, there’s a small downside, but in terms of enjoyment, everything is there.” At 40 years old, the 2021 French half marathon champion embraces a different definition of performance. “It’s about enjoying daily training, keeping the fire alive. I know I’ll never run 28:15 again, but I try to hang on and keep pushing myself.”
| Mustapha Salmi, A Learning Experience
For Mustapha Salmi, the day quickly became complicated. Finishing 28th in 32:37, he had to manage rib pain that appeared as early as the second kilometer. “I suffered the entire race. I finished just to finish.” Between the international depth, cold, rain, and thermal shock after several days at 25°C, conditions were far from ideal. For sure.
“On this course, in this weather, it’s impossible to be at your best.” Clear-headed but freezing after doping control, “Muss Life” stayed focused. “This race mainly serves as a benchmark.” What’s next comes fast: the Paris Half Marathon on March 8, in a specific preparation context linked to Ramadan.
| Angela Viciosa Villa, Spain in Full Control
In the women’s race, the dynamics quickly centered around a Spanish trio from the Oysho team, which ultimately swept the top five places. Angela Viciosa Villa took control early and won in 33:24, delivering a perfectly managed race.
Behind her, young talents Queralt Criado Ocaña (33:30) and Paula Herrero Aguirre (33:36) confirmed Spain’s dominance on this demanding course. Morocco’s Soukaina El Khayami finished just off the podium in 34:25, while another Spaniard, Irati Lorza Leinena, completed the top five in 34:38.
| French Women Well Represented in the Top 10
The top French finisher, Dounia Afalah, placed sixth in 35:03, just ahead of Loréna Meningand, seventh in 35:11, in what was clearly treated as a training effort. For Meningand, who doesn’t particularly enjoy the distance, the 10K fit neatly into her marathon build-up. “The goal was to run around 3:30 per kilometer. I’ve got 3:31 on the watch, so that’s perfect.” Before the start, she had already logged eight kilometers of work, with another session planned later in the day. Despite the rain, the course still earned praise. “Honestly, the course is cool, even if in the rain your shoes quickly turn into ice skates.” Louise Beux (8th in 35:26), Charlotte Lanoix (9th in 35:39) and Pauline Servat (10th in 36:04) completed a women’s top 10 that once again highlighted French depth.
In the rain and on the cobblestones, the Champs-Élysées 10K once again confirmed its identity. Not a race for records, but a true test of control, resilience and composure. Qualifying for the French Championships, deep and spectacular, it continues—edition after edition—to stand apart among Parisian 10K races.
✔ Full results of the Champs-Élysées 10K 2026
Dorian VUILLET
Journalist
