Sea, Sun and People at the Royan Marathon

Under near-summer sunshine, the Côte de Beauté shone during its ninth edition, which drew a record field. More than 6,000 runners lined up across the three races over a packed sporting weekend, producing plenty of memorable finish-line moments. Marathon favourite Freddy Guimard was unable to take part for medical reasons.

We will have to wait until the tenth edition of the Marathon Royan U Côte de Beauté to see whether the record set by Bordeaux runner Freddy Guimard in 2024 will be broken. The Alès Athlétisme athlete, the overwhelming favourite in Royan, had to withdraw the evening before the race. It was 47-year-old Poitiers runner Tahar Mezhoud who claimed the top step of the podium after 2:38:17 of racing. The women's race was won by Gironde runner Anne-Laure Armellini in 3:10:42. She crossed the line at the same time as the men's half-marathon winner, Didier Violino, who clocked 1:10:36. A memorable sporting moment at the finish line. There was plenty of joy too as Julia Paduch made an explosive finish in the half-marathon. The runner from Périgord won in 1:19:59, almost three minutes faster than her time last year, 1:22:47, which had also secured her victory.

The 10K saw Cognac runner Fabien Pondaven claim his second victory in the event, finishing in 31:17. The women's race went to Marjorie Moron of Touraine, who won the 2025 edition in 37:58.

A supportive crowd

Spectators lined the entire course to cheer on the 6,000 athletes taking part in the 10K, half-marathon and marathon. While newcomers were somewhat surprised by the course's modest elevation gain of 195 m, everyone praised the route along the coastline and the exceptionally warm organisation.

Finishers by race

Marathon: 1,264 finishers
Half-marathon: 2,799 finishers
10K: 1,788 finishers
Children's races: 600 registered runners

✔ All the results from the 2025 edition of the Marathon de Royan U Côte de Beauté