La Route du Louvre celebrates its 20th anniversary with record turnout

On Sunday, May 11, 15,500 participants across all events joined the celebrations for La Route du Louvre’s 20th anniversary. Early starters enjoyed the sunshine without suffering too much from the heat. Once again, the race lived up to expectations, much to the delight of the running community.

A 5K bringing together 2,000 participants, a 10K attracting 5,000 runners… Is the spectacular finish on the forecourt of the Louvre-Lens behind La Route du Louvre’s growing appeal? Or is it the beauty of the landscapes along the route that sparks runners’ curiosity? With running enjoying such a strong surge in popularity, beginners and seasoned runners alike have every reason to discover this race with so much to offer.

For this year’s edition, the sun showed up, and the heat that came with it made things difficult for the less well-prepared participants. Fortunately, between the Lille metropolitan area and the former mining basin, runners were treated to a varied, well-designed course winding through towns and cities across northern France and along towpaths, enough to make them forget, for a while, the sometimes demanding conditions.

Something for every runner, at remarkably reasonable prices

At unbeatable prices, the three running events organized by the Hauts-de-France Athletics League and the region of the same name quickly reached last year’s registration numbers. All it took was €10 before December 31, 2024, followed by just €2 more before May 4 to secure a bib for the FFA Bronze-certified 10K, which started at 9:15 a.m. from Place Jean-Jaurès in Lens.

At a price that was hard to beat, the FFA Silver-certified marathon also enjoyed unprecedented success. Entry cost €35 before the new year, then €45 after 2024, an extremely accessible price for an event of this scale. The race started at 9:30 a.m. in Seclin for devotees of the marathon distance. The 5K, also sold out and FFA Bronze-certified, cost €5, rising to €8 after the deadline. That was still a very reasonable price for a race starting at 10:30 a.m. from the same start line as the 10K.

It is also worth noting that FFA-licensed athletes from the Hauts-de-France League could register for free for every distance, while FFA-licensed athletes from other regions received a €2 discount on each event. A compelling proposition for runners looking for affordable races without compromising on quality!

Kenyans dominate the marathon as Ethiopian runner takes the women’s title

Seven: that was the number of Kenyan runners occupying the top seven spots in the marathon. The undisputed kings of the distance, they flew through the race at an average speed of more than 19 km/h. John Ewoi Kametho ultimately took the win in 2:09:18, chased home by compatriots Albert Kipkirui (2:09:25) and Vincent Kipsang Rono (2:09:38).

In the women’s race, the queen of Hauts-de-France was not Kenyan but Ethiopian. Young Kena Girma Elala opened up a gap in the first few kilometers and won alone in 2:32:56. It took nearly 21 minutes for the runner-up to appear: Constance Lestrelin in 2:53:51. Coralie Baudoux completed the podium in 2:58:20.

French podium sweeps on the 10K and 5K

The 10K was the perfect middle ground and delivered on every promise. Téo Ellena won in 31:28 after a tight sprint with Alexandre Hennion (31:30), representing Zoom Volt Runners, and Tom Juste of RC Arras (31:32). In the women’s race, Adélaïde Hardeman earned a convincing win in 37:18, finishing 40 seconds ahead of Élodie Bellettre. Rising star Anaïs Maquinghen took third in 39:57.

For those who preferred shorter distances or wanted to work on their speed, the 5K offered a great chance to shine. RC Arras took center stage thanks to Cloé Hotte and Louise Desclée, who finished in 16:44 and 17:30, respectively. Émilie Grassart of Racing Multi Athlon completed the women’s podium in 17:44. In the men’s race, Bastien Meurisse won in 15:06, ahead of young Valentin Debret, also licensed with RC Arras, and Titouan Schmitt.

La Route du Louvre marked its 20th anniversary with record participation, combining a wide range of events with attractive entry fees. This edition appealed to elite runners and local enthusiasts alike, further cementing the race’s popularity.

✔ See all results