Monaco Run Gramaglia: Cassandre Beaugrand breaks French 5K record, Diane Van Es sets European record

The Monaco Run Gramaglia brought 3,800 runners to the Principality on February 8 and 9, with five races, a fast course and a string of standout performances under the winter sun.

This celebration of running was defined by the French 5K record set by Olympic and world champion Cassandre Beaugrand, as well as the European record claimed by the Netherlands’ Diane Van Es. The men’s race went to Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli. France’s Djilali Bedrani also made a major impression with a blistering 13:22. Here’s a look back at a spectacular 2025 edition.

Monaco, where anything is possible… and records are made

Quai Albert 1er was overrun by a field packed with athletes boasting exceptional records, cheered on by a raucous crowd. All three 5K European records are now held on the Monaco course: women-only, mixed and men’s. The unique setting draws runners from around the world every year, from elite athletes to amateurs. It is easy to see why: the route takes in some of the Côte d’Azur enclave’s most iconic landmarks, including Port Hercule, Monte-Carlo Bay, the Formula 1 Grand Prix tunnel and Larvotto. It made for a memorable weekend.

The women’s 5K was won for the second year in a row by Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw in 14:33, lowering her own course record. Much of the attention, however, was on a major star of French triathlon: newly crowned Olympic and world champion Cassandre Beaugrand. The 27-year-old triathlete set a French record for the distance in 14:53. Racing for AS Monaco, she erased the previous national record of 14:58, set by Sara Benfarès in Hyères in 2022.

With Cassandre, the eventual fourth-place finisher, still to come, a major achievement had already been secured: Sifan Hassan’s European record (14:53 in Monaco in 2029) had fallen. The Netherlands’ Diane Van Es, the 10,000m European silver medallist in Rome in 2024, claimed the prestigious mark with an impressive 14:39, which also earned her second place in the race. Just behind her, Slovenia’s Klara Lukan, fifth in the 10,000m at the 2024 European Championships, produced an outstanding 14:45 to complete an exceptionally deep podium.

Isaac Kimeli comes within touching distance of European record, Djilali Bedrani takes bronze

In the men’s race, Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli, an Olympic 5,000m finalist in Paris in 2024 who finished eighth, delivered a top-class performance to win in 13:15. He missed Jimmy Gressier’s European record by just three seconds. Germany’s Frederik Ruppert took second in 13:21, chased home by France’s Djilali Bedrani in 13:22. The 3,000m steeplechase European silver medallist, who represents SA Toulouse UC, made a superb breakthrough by improving his personal best from 13:40.

Record turnout for the 10K

Another event record was set: the biggest field ever for the 10K. Under brilliant sunshine, 1,227 runners set off through Monaco’s iconic streets for a thrilling race. After an intense effort, Cédric Siebert crossed the finish line first with his arms raised, clocking 30:44. He finished ahead of Hamid Boudhair in 31:03 and Julien Geydon in 31:47 to complete a strong podium. In the women’s race, Augustine Emeraux won convincingly in 34:06, holding off a late charge from Aurora Bado in 34:27 and Justine Guerard in 35:37, with both joining her on the podium after a hard-fought battle.