Marathon de la Loire: 14,000 runners celebrate in Saumur
© MARATHONS.COMOn Sunday, May 10, Saumur in Maine-et-Loire hosted the Marathon de la Loire and its packed race schedule. Around 14,000 participants took the start, cheered on by huge crowds. Maxime Lopes and Bettina Billon claimed victory in the headline marathon.
On the banks of the Loire, the flagship event celebrated its eighth edition in ideal conditions and in front of passionate crowds. The course, winding through Loire Valley landscapes and villages steeped in heritage, drew runners and spectators alike. Alongside the marathon, the programme featured a half-marathon, a combined event with 12 km of canoeing and 17 km of running, and a 5K fun run held on Saturday, a new addition this year.
Maxime Lopes and Bettina Billon take the headline marathon wins
Florian Caro’s successor is none other than Maxime Lopes, the coach and podcaster, who won in 2:20:36, although he fell short of the course record of 2:15:39. It was a fine comeback for a runner who missed his target at the Hamburg Marathon two weeks earlier. Julien Hervé (2:21:35) and Brice Denis (2:27:58) completed the podium.
In the women’s race, Bettina Billon was the fastest in 2:48:53, finishing well clear of Virginie Barbier (2:55:26) and Eléonore Roudil (2:56:37).
In the para category, Pascal Prevost crossed the line first in 2:46:34, ahead of Seb Lhuissier (3:54:45) and Mayeul Cassan (4:35:59). In the women’s race, Justine Drapeau completed the distance in 3:55:15.
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© MARATHONSLahoucine Dazi and Raphaëlle Jourdrin take half-marathon gold
Another much-anticipated race on the programme, the half-marathon delighted the many supporters lining the course. Lahoucine Dazi won in 1:08, although he remained some way off the 1:04 course record set by Nicolas Vitré. Emilien Colineau (1:09:51) and Jeremie Charpentier (1:10:05) completed the winning trio.
In the women’s race, victory came down to Raphaëlle Jourdrin (1:20:27) and Pauline Melin (1:20:33), while Laura Zandronis finished third.
Canoe and run combined: a festive, original competition
If there is one signature format at the Marathon de la Loire, it is the canoe-and-run combined event, which brought together 814 participants, or 407 two-person teams. Teams tackled 12 km of canoeing on the Loire followed by 17 km of running, making for a challenge that was as festive as it was competitive. The event perfectly captures the race’s friendly, inclusive identity, as does the open-to-all 5K fun run.
On the banks of the Loire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Marathon de la Loire brought together compact fields and passionate crowds. From the marathon and half-marathon to the canoe-and-run combined event, the race has established itself over the past eight years as an unmissable fixture in the region.