Salon-de-Provence Marathon returns in style with 12,000 runners

Aircraft, sunshine and standout performances: six years after its last edition, the Salon-de-Provence Marathon delivered quite a show on Sunday, October 5. Watched over by the Patrouille de France, the event drew more than 12,000 runners across the airbase tarmac and Provençal streets. Siwa Kipruto, Hugo Nelaton and Charlotte Mahieu stood out, but it was the whole city that turned out to support its marathon runners.

The Patrouille de France left its mark on more than just the “GP Explorer: The Last Race” at Le Mans’ Circuit Bugatti on Sunday. With aerobatic formations overhead and marathon runners below, the symbolism was perfect: Salon-de-Provence took flight. Despite the success of its first two editions in 2016 and 2019, this marathon is not yet the fastest in the country, but it is arguably one of the liveliest. The race got underway at 9:30 a.m. from Place Morgan beneath the deep blue sky typical of Salon. The 1,730 marathoners set off on a course that was as beautiful as it was demanding, including a now-legendary stretch through Air Base 701, opened specially for the occasion. This year, the mistral stayed relatively calm, making way for a fast, rhythmic race amid huge crowds along Boulevard Foch, Cours Carnot and Place Morgan.

Siwa Kipruto in a class of his own

In the marathon, Siwa Kipruto (FC Sochaux Montbéliard) lived up to his status as favorite. Out front from the opening kilometers, the Kenyan raised his arms first in 2:27:18 and was never threatened. He did not quite erase the course record set in 2019, when Kipkorir-Mutai ran 2:21:53, but he delivered a solid performance on a demanding course. Louis Galvan (Cognac AC) finished in 2:39:36, more than twelve minutes behind the winner, while Bertrand Brochot completed the podium in 2:41:42.

In the women’s race, Chloé Favre won in commanding fashion in 3:21:44, finishing 98th overall. She beat Corinne Bayle-Nougaillac (3:22:55) and Émilie Peruzotti (3:25:18) at the end of a marathon made tricky by rising temperatures.

A thrilling half marathon

Shorter but just as competitive, the half marathon lived up to its promise. Hugo Nelaton won a sprint finish in 1:13:02, 55 seconds ahead of Quentin Larue (1:13:57, Sardines Triathlon). Enzo Stival (Sporting Club Marseille) took third in 1:13:58, with the podium decided by the narrowest of margins.

In the women’s race, Charlotte Mahieu gave her rivals no chance. Her 1:20:26 was more than enough, as she finished 33rd overall in the 21.1 km race. Behind her, Karine Lopez (1:24:50) and Victoria Gouault (1:27:32) completed the podium. A total of 4,632 runners were classified over the distance, confirming the half marathon as the day’s most popular race.

Local runners shine over 10 km

The 10 km also produced its share of strong performances. Romain Latour won in 33:13, ahead of Corentin Périn (33:38) and Aodrenn Bergeron (34:28). In the women’s race, Astrid Moreau made an impression with 36:08, the fifth-fastest time overall and an impressive performance. She finished ahead of Rémy Naceri (37:41) and Ava Verret (41:31), in a race that saw 3,118 finishers.

A city on the move

In Salon, the race goes well beyond sport. Shopkeepers bringing out chairs, families gathered at intersections and applause echoing through the narrow streets have turned the Marathon into a full-fledged city event. The 2025 edition confirmed its popular roots, polished organization and distinctive identity: a race where stopwatch precision meets genuine human warmth.

Running in Salon-de-Provence is a little like flying in your own way. With the Patrouille de France overhead, pine trees, olive groves and melodic cheers all around, the marathon retains its unmistakably Provençal character, shaped by light and shared effort. It is a race that grows every year without losing its soul.

✔ All the results from the 2025 edition of the Salon-de-Provence Marathon