© Emma Bert / Marathons.com
Boulogne-Billancourt Half Marathon: Félix Bour and Augustine Emeraux-Lombard Dominate the Field
For its 28th edition on November 16, the Boulogne-Billancourt Half Marathon, held in the Hauts-de-Seine area just outside Paris, once again drew exceptional enthusiasm, bringing together 12,000 runners. This year, the autumn classic crowned marathon specialists Félix Bour and Augustine Emeraux-Lombard, both sharpening their form ahead of the Valencia Marathon on December 7.
At the intersection of Rue du Dôme and Boulevard de la République, just outside Paris, runners and supporters pack the streets on this Sunday morning. People stream in from every direction—walking, jogging, or emerging from the metro stairways. Some are already dressed in their race-day best, carbon-plated shoes included. Others keep their jackets and track pants on a little longer. Laughter and early cheers ripple through the crowd as a brass band kicks off its first tune.
A collective frenzy begins to sweep through the field. A thick layer of fog blankets the still-sleepy city, giving it a muted, almost otherworldly feel. The crisp autumn air sharpens the senses of those getting ready to run. The tree-lined avenues form a natural tunnel glowing with shades of orange.
Volunteers set up metal barriers while the first runners slip into their starting corrals. The elite athletes finish their warm-up in the reserved zone in front of the archway. Their faces are focused, eyes locked straight ahead. Some linger to tighten their shoelaces one last time; others repeat a few final strides with mechanical precision. There’s a restless back-and-forth movement, a nervous hum. Moments later, the crowd settles into orderly silence. Then the starting gun fires, and all that remains is the rush of pounding footsteps on the damp pavement.
| The most competitive half marathon in France
The 12,000-runner cap was reached early this year, with the final bibs selling out months ahead of race day — clear proof of just how popular this Paris-area event has become. The Boulogne-Billancourt Half Marathon is steadily establishing itself as one of the must-run road races in France.
The field was remarkably deep: 41 runners broke 1:08, 96 dipped under 1:10, 195 ran faster than 1:12, 365 went under 1:15, and 2,264 finished below 1:30. Along the wide boulevards, the Seine riverbanks, and the shaded green sections of the course, spectators lined the route in large numbers, giving runners chasing personal bests a welcome boost.
| Félix Bour Takes Command
If there was one runner who didn’t need an extra boost of motivation, it was Olympian Félix Bour, who claimed victory in 1:03:29. Registered at the very last minute, the French athlete from Racing Multi Athlon was the unexpected guest of the day. Winning the race? Almost a formality, but also a welcome reset after the frustration he experienced at the New York Marathon a few weeks earlier.
For him, the half-marathon offered the perfect chance to turn the race into a structured workout while soaking up the warm atmosphere along the course. It was a way to combine business with pleasure: a marathon-specific training session in the middle of a 200-kilometre week. On the menu were segments of 8 km, 6 km, 3 km, 500 m, 600 m, and a final surge to secure the win, with recovery sections of one to three kilometres at around 3:20 per kilometre pace. After navigating the crowd and completing media interviews, Félix Bour jogged off again, explaining he still had “five kilometres left to finish the session.”
Behind him, Lounès Benamara of Lyon Athlétisme crossed the line in 1:03:33, followed by former elite cyclist Clément Lhotellerie in 1:03:46 to complete the podium.
“I came here in 2019, and I felt there were even more people along the course this year. I was leading during my intervals, then easing off to recover. The others would move ahead, I’d come back, and Lounès Benamara and I ended up together in the final kilometre. It was a good chance to work on my finishing kick. I’d been waiting for this race to see where I stood. I was able to confirm my form, and that’s what convinced me to line up for the Valencia Marathon this December.”
Félix Bour
| Augustine Emeraux-Lombard Claims the Win
On the women’s side, the race was tightly contested from start to finish. In the end, it was marathon specialist Augustine Emeraux-Lombard, representing Nancy Métropole Athlétisme, who proved the strongest, finishing ahead of Emilie Jacquot-Claude (1:13:21) and local athlete Loréna Meningand (1h13’30). Determined and tenacious, Emeraux-Lombard spent the entire race “chasing ahead” and “latching on” to the runners in front of her to push for the best possible performance.
The road-running specialist set a new personal best with 1:13:12, improving on her previous mark from February 2025 (1:14:10). A promising sign as she continues her build-up for the Valencia Marathon.
“I didn’t start too fast because I didn’t want to get carried away, especially knowing there were a few climbs in the Bois de Boulogne. I set off at the planned pace, between 3:25 and 3:28 per kilometre. I passed the other women around the second or third kilometre. It gives me confidence for what’s ahead, since I’m aiming to break my personal best in Valencia in a few weeks. The goal will be to run somewhere around 2:32.”
Augustine Emeraux-Lombard
| A fast yet truly unique course
This smooth and varied course, featuring gentle uphill sections and repeated surges in the Bois de Boulogne, is both well known and widely appreciated. The race passes through or runs alongside several emblematic locations, including the City Hall, La Seine Musicale, the Parc des Princes, the Longchamp Racecourse, and the Albert Kahn Museum with its gardens.
The Boulogne-Billancourt Half Marathon was eagerly anticipated by the twelve thousand runners taking part. Fast and distinctive, this essential event in France’s road-running calendar offered a great show for the public as well as for the elite competitors.
✔ All the results of the Boulogne Semi-Marathon
Emma BERT
Journaliste
