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10K Montmartre AG2R La Mondiale: a successful first edition with 10,000 runners
Following the Eiffel Tower 10K in December, which brought the year to a close, the 10K Montmartre AG2R La Mondiale kicked off the Paris racing season on January 18. A total of 10,000 runners took to the streets of Paris’s 18th arrondissement for the inaugural edition of the event. The demanding and unconventional course crowned Gabriel Briand and Lorea Irigaray as the winners.
Metro trains spill out runners in a sinister hiss, their colourful shoes giving them away. Before the glowing screens of their GPS watches even show 7:30 a.m., participants have already flooded the empty boulevards. All are heading towards the town hall of Paris’s 18th arrondissement, still fast asleep.
At the foot of the building, still lit by Christmas decorations, volunteers are already hard at work. The finish arch slowly inflates before being raised above the asphalt. Darkness still lingers. The sound of carbon-plated shoes being slipped on grows louder, the crowd thickens, and the announcer calls runners to make their way to the start. Elite athletes take their positions, faces set and focused. The smell of fuel and the hum of motorbikes signal that the starting gun is moments away.
| The launch of an extraordinary urban 10K
While some races are loved for their fast profiles, others draw runners for their extraordinary settings. For its inaugural edition, this new addition to the French running calendar offered a unique course, weaving between demanding cobbled streets and iconic landmarks.
The event, which drew 10,000 runners, delivered stunning views of the City of Light. Passing beneath the Sacré-Cœur was undoubtedly the most striking moment of the course, along with the journey through the various neighbourhoods of the 18th arrondissement. Not to be overlooked were the iconic cobbled sections of the Montmartre hill, marked by a succession of climbs and descents. With 153 metres of elevation gain and numerous stretches through lively areas, the race appealed to runners of all abilities.
| Gabriel Briand and Lorea Irigaray, on top of… the Montmartre hill
The punishing profile did nothing to slow down the winners. Gabriel Briand dominated the race in 31:16, ahead of Adrien Guillonnet in 31:59 and Anthony Barrière in 32:23.
“I was caught out a bit at the start, I set off from behind and it took me about 500 metres to move back to the front. After that, I took the lead and eased off on the flat sections to save energy for the hill. I love that kind of steady climb. The course is magnificent, it was a real pleasure to run in Paris.”
Gabriel Briand
The Pays de Fontainebleau Athlétisme athlete, currently in the midst of his cross-country season build-up, will be one to watch closely in the coming weeks. In the women’s race, Paris-based Lorea Irigaray claimed victory in 36:33, ahead of Ciara Boyd-Squires Long in 37:08 and Julie Bolo-Jolly in 38:41. The race winner went on to compete just a few hours later at the Île-de-France regional cross-country championships, where she finished 12th.
“I was accompanied by my pacer, Bastien, with the goal of getting to the front early and staying there. That’s exactly what we did, holding the pace and gradually picking up seconds. The rolling sections allow you to warm up properly before starting the climb. The course is well balanced, and it’s great that you can find your rhythm over the opening kilometres before the tougher parts. It’s playful, it goes up and down, there are surges, you never get bored, and that’s exactly what I love. I train here, so I know every climb on the course, which makes winning even more special.”
Lorea Irigaray
Among the crowd of enthusiasts, a familiar face joined the festivities: world champion triathlete Vincent Luis (51:48). The reason for his presence? A stop at his own café in the arrondissement, La Chance Café.
| Promoting physical activity
With a course blending history, culture and sport, the event’s aim, in partnership with AG2R La Mondiale, was to promote an accessible and inclusive approach to physical activity that fosters social connection. This ambition was reflected in a dense and diverse field of runners. The organisers also supported the Etendart association, enabling 21 young members of the Etendart Running Club to take part in this race, as well as the Paris Half Marathon on March 8. An initiative designed to democratise running in working-class neighbourhoods and to promote diversity and inclusion through sport.
Montmartre hill and its surrounding neighbourhoods came alive with runners for the duration of the morning. The 10,000 participants in this memorable first edition confirmed the success of an event that was popular and inclusive, combining personal challenge with cultural immersion.
✔ All the results of the 10K Montmartre AG2R La Mondiale
Emma BERT
Journaliste
