World champion Jimmy Gressier to race Marseille-Cassis 2025
© STADION-ACTUIt’s a welcome surprise for the 20,000 runners expected on the start line of the 20 km Marseille-Cassis on October 26. 10,000 m world champion Jimmy Gressier will be there, not to chase a fast time, but simply to enjoy himself. To share the roads, the effort and the crowd-fueled atmosphere of one of France’s finest races.
A world champion out for a jog… almost
A few weeks after a golden summer in the Land of the Rising Sun, highlighted by his world title over 10,000 m and a bronze medal in the 5,000 m, the Boulogne-sur-Mer native is easing back into training. For his return to racing, he has chosen to swap spikes and the Tokyo track for the Route de la Gineste, the legendary climb linking Marseille and Cassis. It stretches for nearly 10 km and reaches an altitude of 327 m. The goal for the day is simple: no pressure, just enjoy it. The European 5 km record holder will start in the middle of the field alongside his partner Aude Clavier, the French 5,000 m champion, for a race that is first and foremost a celebration.
It’s a great way to reconnect with road running while taking in an exceptional setting: the sea, the Calanques and the distinctive atmosphere that gives Marseille-Cassis its charm, where elite athletes and passionate runners share the course.
Marseille-Cassis, a must-run classic
Created in 1979, this 20 km race remains a fixture on the French running calendar. For its 46th edition, all 20,000 entries sold out in just a few days, a sign of the event’s ever-growing appeal. It draws a huge crowd and a consistently strong elite field. This year, a spectacular battle is expected between Félicien Muhitira of Rwanda and Samuel Kibet of Uganda, the race’s two most recent winners. Organizers are even hoping to see them break the mythical one-hour mark, something that has not been achieved since 2017.
Jimmy Gressier, a local star with global reach
Although he will arrive in Cassis with no time goal, Jimmy Gressier is also at the center of the athletics news cycle. After five years at INSEP, the 28-year-old from northern France recently announced that he would leave the high-performance center and return to his hometown, Boulogne-sur-Mer, to continue his career. It’s a homecoming that should do him good and allow him to reunite with his first coach, Arnaud Dinielle.
A symbol of his international stature, the Boulogne-sur-Mer native is also one of five nominees for World Athletics’ Athlete of the Year award, alongside American star Noah Lyles among others. The Frenchman’s nomination recognizes an outstanding season, defined by his dominance over the longer distances in Europe and his growing impact on the world stage. Voting is open until October 19, with details available on the World Athletics website.
On the slopes of the Gineste, Jimmy Gressier will trade a medal for a smile. A world champion among everyday runners: that’s also the spirit of Marseille-Cassis.
✔ See you in Marseille on Sunday, October 26, 2025, for the 46th edition of the 20 km Marseille-Cassis.