© Marathon du Beaujolais
Beaujolais Marathon 2025: Jérémy Mansuy and Perrine Géraud Bring Sparkle to the Most Festive Edition Yet
This weekend, the Beaujolais International Marathon once again turned into a full-blown celebration — a swirling mix of brass bands, costumes, colour and wholehearted effort. In the middle of this joyful chaos, French runners Jérémy Mansuy and Perrine Géraud delivered two very different but equally brilliant performances. Mansuy claimed a historic three-peat, while Géraud ruled on home soil with striking authority. A lively, generous edition — steeped in gamay and endless encouragement — that lived fully up to its reputation.
Even though this year’s Beaujolais vintage is said to have a hint of banana, it certainly didn’t make Jérémy Mansuy slip. The 21st edition of the Beaujolais International Marathon unrolled like a long, colourful ribbon through the vineyards, carried by shouts, live bands, wild costumes, pure effort and that contagious goodwill that drifts from village to village. Villefranche-sur-Saône once again lived a Saturday suspended in time.
The slogan “The Magic Charity Running Festival” wasn’t just marketing — it came alive everywhere, from the start line in Cercié to the final turn into town. The event keeps growing too: more than 33,000 runners from 98 countries took part, all eager to discover a course unlike any other. And beyond the celebration, €200,000 were raised and donated to several regional hospitals.
| The Beaujolais Turns Into an Open-Air Stage
From early in the morning, the hillsides vibrated as runners swept by. Bands belted out their songs, volunteers cheered on a multicoloured pack, castles watched like silent stone spectators, and groups of friends transformed every aid station into a mini party.
Surreal at times, joyful always. Costumes appeared by the dozens: giant boots, walking grape bunches, superheroes convinced they were born to run, hyperactive mummies, pirates quicker than expected. Few things capture the Beaujolais spirit better than these little scenes witnessed between strides.
| Jérémy Mansuy Puts On Another Masterclass
On the marathon distance, once again all eyes were on Frenchman Jérémy Mansuy. The Lyon-based runner added another chapter to his local legend, becoming the first athlete ever to win the Beaujolais Marathon three times in a row. His finishing time of 2:26:31 confirmed a level of control that comes from knowing the route almost like an old training partner.
Yet his own account shows a race far more nuanced than it looked. He admitted going out very quickly, hitting the halfway mark in 1:13:00, a pace he found borderline too fast. “We went off super fast — 1:13 at halfway,” he recalled of that key moment. He confessed he feared he wouldn’t be able to sustain that rhythm and decided to ease off: “I was scared I wouldn’t hold it, so I slowed down on the climb to be sure I could finish well and enjoy the atmosphere.”
His relationship with this race is unique, almost personal. He spoke about the pressure he felt, the pre-race nerves blending with excitement. “A bit of pressure and apprehension before the start,” he admitted. And then came the immense relief — almost surprised. “In the end, I’m happy with my race. I never thought I’d run this fast. I was more expecting around 2:30.”
Behind him, Ludovic Bailly-Basin (wearing a shirt, no less) clocked 2:30:30, with Damien Bourgoin in 2:32:47completing the podium after a hard-fought battle. Stéphane Ricard and Mathis Nogales pushed each other right to the second, both finishing in 2:38:15.
| Perrine Géraud Rules at Home
Among the women, Saturday unquestionably belonged to Perrine Géraud. A clear victory, controlled stride, steady tempo and a near-constant smile carried her through a long journey on familiar territory.
Crossing the line more than three minutes ahead of French runner Céline Aujogues, the Morgon Runners athlete delivered a strong statement. She described a year built on rigorous, focused work. “I trained really hard this season,” she said. Then came a heartfelt thank-you: “I was coached by a great trainer, Anthony, who really helped me. I’m so happy it paid off.”
Well-acquainted with the course’s traps, she enjoyed it even more this time. “We know the course — it’s beautiful. And this year, the weather was great, I got cheers all the way. Amazing.”
A tougher moment appeared around the 30 km mark, on a climb after Arnas, where her expression betrayed a brief struggle. She addressed it openly: “A tough moment at 30 km after Arnas — the climb was hard. But compared to last year, I dared to start fast and apparently it was the right strategy.”
Her final time of 2:58:58 sealed her story, accompanied by a modest pride: “Very happy with the time — I wanted to break three hours, I ran 2:58, perfect.” Aujogues followed in 3:02:02, with Fanny Carrez close behind in 3:02:50, an impressive depth for such a lively course.
| Other Distances, Other Heroes
On the half marathon, the absence of five-time winner Julien Devanne opened the door to a new storyline. French runner Igor Bougnot seized the opportunity in 1:06:21, ahead of Dylan Magnien (1:11:05) and Loïc Moulin (1:11:12). Among the women, Camille Richer took control in 1:28:30, followed by Cécilie Garod (1:31:41) and Astrid De Lamartine (1:32:05).
On the 13 km, Flavien Coindard dominated again, crossing the line in 43:11, a few seconds ahead of Ghislain Airiau (43:29). Jules Chanteau completed the podium in 45:37. In the women’s race, 20-year-old Mickaelle Aguera claimed her first Beaujolais victory in 52:26, with Mélanie Ratel (55:42) and Julie Clavelier (58:37) rounding out the podium — a perfect snapshot of the mix of generations and energy that defines this festival of running and conviviality.
| A Course That Tells the Story of a Region
France’s most festive marathon does more than draw a route: it tells a story through its landscapes. Vineyards stretching to the horizon, sweeping panoramas, hilltop châteaux, rolling paths and villages transformed into natural grandstands. The race becomes a journey of initiation where every runner writes their own version of the Beaujolais. Cheers echo at every bend, and musicians turn every climb into a small theatre.
✔ See all the results from the 2025 Beaujolais International Marathon
Dorian VUILLET
Journalist
