Etienne Daguinos, Nicolas Navarro and Manon Trapp ready to light up Paris at the Vredestein 20 km

Before enjoying Montmartre’s final grape harvest festivities, Paris becomes a giant playground for running enthusiasts this Sunday, October 12. For its 47th edition, the Vredestein 20 km de Paris promises an unmissable event, combining performance, enjoyment and discovery. Between historic boulevards, lively quays and iconic parks, runners will get the chance to experience the city from a new angle, shoes planted on the asphalt and breathing in time with the energy of the capital.

An edition blending tradition, modernity and star power

The course remains true to its DNA: technical, demanding and stimulating. From the Bois de Boulogne to the banks of the Seine, from the Pont d’Iéna to the Trocadéro, every turn reveals a different panorama: Haussmannian architecture here, contemporary cityscape there, with the Eiffel Tower appearing at the end of a street to remind runners that they are right at the heart of the capital. A few strategic climbs break up the flatter sections, testing strength and pacing, while the wide boulevards offer room to settle into a rhythm and admire the city in motion. 

Once again, the field is particularly strong. Parity will be fully on display, with an elite field that is as balanced as it is talented on both the men’s and women’s sides. The headline names include international runners already familiar with the European circuit, as well as French elites ready to put on a show. Several half-marathon champions and 10K specialists will be chasing fast times on this demanding course. Their presence turns the race into a genuine sporting spectacle, where the leaders can appear at any aid station or key section to the cheers of the crowds. See you from 9 a.m. at the Pont d’Iéna, starting with the first wave!

Daguinos, Navarro and Roudolff-Levisse lead the charge

On the men’s side, Yann Schrub’s absence reshuffles the deck. Leading the lineup, Étienne Daguinos arrives as the natural favorite, two years after his first outing over 20 km (seventh in 58:28). The Bordeaux native, France’s 10K record holder in 27:04, represents the new generation of French distance running. In Tokyo this summer, he had already shown that he was no bit player, finishing 14th in the 5000 m. He comes to Paris intent on making a statement, with a clear preference for fast courses and races that reward boldness.

Behind him, Nicolas Navarro remains a model of consistency. The author of a 2:05:52 marathon personal best, he showed again in Valencia that he is not done yet. His racing intelligence and pacing could allow him to upset the order if the leaders go too hard too early. The SCO Ste Marguerite de Marseille road specialist is currently preparing for the Paris Marathon. Another safe bet, Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse, 2025 French half-marathon champion, comfortably won the first edition of Run Set & Match this Sunday, October 5, and makes no secret of his ambitions: after finishing third in 2024 (58:09), he is clearly aiming higher.

Around them is a deep field of familiar faces: Faustin Guigon, fresh from his victory at Paris-Versailles, Florian Carvalho, the elegant metronome, Clément Leduc, Freddy Guimard, Nicolas Vitre, Valentin Witz… a rare depth of talent promising a fireworks display of racing along the quays. And because a race without international rivals would not really be Parisian, keep an eye on Ethiopian Nigasa Lelisa (1:01:12 for the half marathon), Kenyans Leonard Bor (1:01:45 for the half) and Stephen Ogari, Spaniard Saïd Mechaal, Norwegian Awet Nftalem Kibrab and Swiss runner Morgan Le Guen. In short, a cast worthy of the Eiffel Tower.

Trapp, Sénéchal and Quemener set their sights on Paris glory

On the women’s side, the field has all the makings of a mini French championship. Manon Trapp, who won here in 2024 with the second-fastest time in race history (1:04:44), returns with a clear goal: to challenge the course record of 1:04:30. The Aix-en-Provence runner, French cross-country champion and outstanding half-marathoner, impresses with her consistency and composure.

Alongside her, Anaïs Quemener is making an energetic comeback. After a maternity-related break, the 2023 French champion and 2023 bronze medallist in this race (1:06:59) returns to the top level with her appetite intact. Her fighting spirit and steely mindset could put her back in the podium picture. Floriane Hot, a two-time 100 km world champion, is stepping down from the ultra-distance to enjoy an explosive format, a challenge that suits her: ambitious and generous. Mathilde Sénéchal, French marathon champion (2:37:52) and eighth in the previous edition (1:09:19), should set the pace from the opening kilometres, as should Célia Tabet, the 2025 French short-course cross-country champion in Challans.

But beware: international opposition is looming, led by Ethiopian Bikile Gudina (1:05:54) and the Kenyan trio of Winny Chepkwemoi, Vivian Cheruiyot (not the Olympic 5000 m champion, but still a 1:08:16 half-marathoner) and Schlastica Jepkemboi. The battle promises to be as compelling as it is tactical.

€3,000 bonus for a new course record

With a field like this, the race is set to be fiercely contested. Last year, Yann Schrub completed the course in 58:07, just two seconds behind Ethiopian winner Hayimro Yele (58:05). In the women’s race, Manon Trapp took the win in 1:04:44. Those are world-class times on a demanding course. The bar is set high.

A €3,000 bonus will be awarded for any new course record, currently standing at 57:19 for the men and 1:04:30 for the women. A special bonus will also go to the highest-ranked French athletes finishing in the top 10, on top of the overall prize money. Plenty of extra motivation for our favorite French runners.

Para-sport elites make their debut in Paris

A first for the Vredestein 20 km de Paris: elite wheelchair athletes will set off at 8:50 a.m., delivering a spectacle every bit as intense as the race for able-bodied runners. Eight top-level athletes from France and across Europe, five men and three women, will make up this pioneering field.

Among the men, Julien Casoli, a six-time Paris Marathon winner, returns determined to dominate the course. He will have to fend off Thibault Daurat, a freshly medalled world silver medallist over 5000 m, as well as fellow Frenchman Ali Mehiaioui, Briton Illias Zghoundi and Dutchman Lito King Anker, in a promising, breathless duel.

The women’s international field will stand out for both its quality and diversity. Nadège Monchalin is returning, joined by Thiphaine Marescaux, while Irishwoman Shauna Bocquet, eighth in the 5000 m at the Paris Paralympic Games, will bring serious power. Italian Rita Cuccuru, winner of the 2024 Paris Marathon, and Spaniard Carmen Gimenez, runner-up at the 2025 Paris Marathon, complete this high-calibre women’s field.

How to watch the race live

For those who prefer to follow the action from the sofa, the race will be broadcast on Ici Paris Île-de-France (formerly France 3) from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., as well as streamed on Stadion’s Facebook page. Benoît Durand, Jean-Baptiste Protais and François-Xavier de Chateaufort will call the battle live, while Yvan Hallouin will showcase the course’s highlights and Christian Mirabeau will meet the runners. Every key moment, every smile, every overheated stretch: it will all be captured live.

Runners here for the challenge and the fun

The Vredestein 20 km attracts a wide range of runners: seasoned athletes chasing a fast time, regular racers looking to test their limits, and enthusiasts who value atmosphere and shared experience above all else. That mix creates a unique buzz on the Parisian asphalt, where competition blends with celebration. The crowd’s cheers, music spilling from the speakers and thousands of footsteps landing in rhythm make this race a truly collective event.

For those chasing a time, the course offers interesting opportunities to set personal bests. The flat sections through the city centre allow runners to settle into a rhythm, while a few strategic climbs test power and pacing. Every kilometre is lived intensely, and crossing the finish line in the capital remains a memorable experience.

The spirit of a race for its time

Beyond performance, the Vredestein 20 km reflects a resolutely modern outlook. The organisers are prioritising sustainability through initiatives designed to reduce the event’s environmental impact, while promoting inclusion and opening the race to all profiles, from juniors to athletes with disabilities. This approach puts enjoyment and respect for the city and its residents at the heart of the event.

Paris, city of light and city of running, reveals a dynamic and unifying face through this edition. Whether they come for the time, the enjoyment or the experience, participants are brought together by the same momentum. More than a competition, the Vredestein 20 km de Paris becomes a celebration of running, collective energy and the beauty of the capital seen through a runner’s eyes.

✔  All the practical information, including schedule, race numbers, live tracking and course map, can be found on the official website of the Vredestein 20 km de Paris.