Course de l’Escalade: Jimmy Gressier blows away the field in Geneva

At exactly 2:35 p.m. on Sunday, the elite women set off first from Rue de la Croix Rouge for three laps, covering 7.323 km. Among them were Aude Clavier, partner of the 10,000m world champion, along with Manon Trapp, Anaïs Bourgoin and many others. At precisely 3:10 p.m., the leading men took on the same distance, but at a faster pace. The first to reach the finish in Parc des Bastions was therefore Jimmy Gressier, clocking 20:34 and finishing well clear of the field.

Jimmy Gressier makes a brilliant return to racing

The Boulogne-born runner, crowned 10,000m world champion in Tokyo last September, made his long-awaited return to competition on Sunday. It was no surprise to see him choose this race, which the 28-year-old particularly enjoys for its simplicity, warm atmosphere and the fierce battle it delivers every year. Last season, Swiss runner Dominic Lobalu edged him in a sprint finish, giving the crowd one of the closest finishes in the event’s history. This time, Gressier gave his rivals no chance, taking control halfway through the race and never looking back at his pursuers, Kenyan Boniface Kibiwott and Dutchman Mike Foppen. The Frenchman was able to savour the win as he cruised over the final metres like a king entirely at ease.

I wanted revenge after finishing second last year, when we had to wait for the photo finish. Today, I made sure there wouldn’t be a photo finish and that I would be the winner. I started more cautiously so I’d still have my legs in the middle of the race. It’s really an important head-to-head battle, and it’s also about putting on a show for the crowd. I’m leaving satisfied!

The other Frenchmen also put in solid performances. The 2024 European 3000m steeplechase champion, Alexis Miellet, who had to ease back this summer because of a stress fracture, claimed an excellent 11th place, just ahead of 1500m specialist Romain Mornet, only six-tenths of a second behind. Flavien Szot, winner of the 10 km des Voies Royales, finished 14th, while Sacha Liguori of CA Montreuil, third at the Paris-Versailles, placed 32nd.

Winnie Jeptarus rules the roost as French women shine

Kenyan runner Winnie Jeptarus claimed victory after a blistering final lap, finishing in 23:39. She was followed by Dutchwoman Diane Van Es, the current European 5 km road record-holder, and compatriot Sylvia Changeiwo. Manon Trapp secured an impressive fifth place, less than a minute behind the winner. Dressed head to toe in purple and wearing her customary smile, she was cheered on by her partner Faustin Guignon, winner of the Paris-Versailles two months ago. World Championship 3000m steeplechase finalist Flavie Renouard finished ninth, just ahead of French 5000m champion Aude Clavier, who was 10th, with only four seconds separating them.

Ardèche native Mélanie Allier followed closely behind. Fresh from a training camp in South Africa, 1500m bronze medallist at this summer’s French Elite Championships Bérénice Cleyet-Merle finished 17th, just as radiant as when she won the 10 km des Voies Royales alongside her partner, Flavien Szot. Her close friend Anais Bourgoin, France’s second-fastest woman of all time over 800m, finished 22nd.

From festival fun to elite racing, there’s an event for everyone

At the Course de l’Escalade, there is something for everyone. On Saturday, the famous Course de la Marmite turned Geneva into a carnival: Super Marios, Teletubbies, M&Ms and dinosaurs were among the costumes worn by more than 5,000 participants. There were no times or podiums, just the pleasure of running through the cobbled streets, up flights of stairs and demanding slopes, with cheers coming from balconies and pavements all along the route. On Sunday, the FlexiMix race brought together up to 3,000 participants. Everyone ran at their own pace and chose whether to complete one, two or three laps of the undulating 3.6 km course, all in a friendly, non-competitive atmosphere.

For the more experienced runners, Escaladélite remains the headline event: 7.323 km and three demanding laps for athletes capable of handling Geneva’s technical terrain and cobbles. The 166 women and 558 men on the starting line had to provide a qualifying time or pass through the “pace blocks” to earn a shot at qualifying for the elite field the following year. It is a way to bring tradition, enjoyment and performance together.

The 47th edition concluded with the traditional relays, featuring two runners per team taking turns over four laps of approximately 1.7 km each. In the men’s relay, Cancela and Orler, racing under their own names, took the win in 21:32. In the women’s race, two friends competing as the duo “À la der” crossed the finish line first in 24:50. Finally, the mixed relay went to the Warpelin siblings, racing as “Les Warpi”, in 23:02.

A reputation that keeps growing

This joyful, popular Geneva event attracts thousands of runners every year: more than 46,000 in 2023, making it Switzerland’s biggest road race and one of Europe’s most iconic. Its success rests on a careful balance: it is welcoming and inclusive for the general public while remaining highly competitive, with national and international elites providing an inspiring spectacle for young runners. The event’s history, which commemorates the attack on Geneva by Savoyard troops in 1602, also adds to its aura. And its unusual course, combining cobbles, stairs and technical climbs, presents a genuine challenge that can surprise even high-level athletes.

The winners of the men’s and women’s Escaladélite races breaking open the traditional chocolate cauldron brought the rainy but cheerful 47th edition to a close. With 3,300 children taking part in three age-appropriate races, the young runners were able to watch the champions in action, stars in their eyes.

➜ All the results from the 2025 Course de l’Escalade