© Nevers Marathon by Nexson
Nevers Marathon 2025: Matthieu Lespine and Carole Stéphan Shift Into High Gear
The famed Nevers Magny-Cours motor racing circuit traded its roar of engines for the rhythm of nearly 1,500 runners this weekend, welcoming the seventh edition of the Nevers Marathon. The venue—better known for Formula-style racing—offered a striking backdrop as Matthieu Lespine and Carole Stéphan delivered commanding victories in an atmosphere where running took the place of horsepower.
Motor bravado was useless here. Instead, the Nevers Marathon 2025 carved out a refreshing sporting interlude in a setting that never fails to impress. The usually rubber-scented track turned into a playground for runners, wrapped in warm autumn vibes, seamless organization, and that extra spark that turns a simple race into a date circled in red on the running calendar.
Each year, the loop usually reserved for fast cars becomes a magnet for marathoners. Its technical profile—rolling sections, twisty segments, and brief escapes into the Burgundy countryside—creates a dynamic challenge where the imaginary growl of engines gives way to the very real breathing of a determined pack.
| Matthieu Lespine: A Masterclass Morning
In the men’s field, French runner Matthieu Lespine (from the Yonne region) took charge early and never loosened his grip. He crossed the line in 2:33:53, after hitting 10 km in 34:35 and the half marathon in 1:17:37. Behind his seemingly effortless stride lay a clear and deeply personal goal. As he explained with a smile and a steady breath, “I was aiming for around 2:30.” Nevers, he said, served as a launchpad for a truly wild project: a one-and-a-half-year run to Beijing planned for next year.
Despite his long-term horizon, this win carried particular weight. He still remembers a past edition when, as he joked, “my beard froze.” The icy 2023 atmosphere didn’t return this time, but the intensity on the tarmac certainly did.
Behind him, Quentin Champouret pushed hard to claim second place in 2:35:46, while Matthieu Hardy secured third in 2:43:21, also taking the Masters win. Jean-Baptiste Brihat (2:46:22) and Benoît Wagner (2:47:28) kept the pace honest, rounding off a competitive men’s race.
| Carole Stéphan: Controlled Power in Motion
Later in the morning, French marathoner Carole Stéphan seized control of the women’s race, winning convincingly in 3:00:54 after a 10 km split of 39:26 and a half in 1:28:34. She admitted with a laugh: “I started really fast. Maybe too fast.”
Along the canal, time stretched as solitude took over, but the magic returned approaching Magny-Cours. “The crowd at the finish really lifts you up. It gives you wings,” said the marathoner, who recently completed all six Abbott World Marathon Majors. Julie Chaboud (3:17:09) and Corinne Bayle Nougaillac (3:18:43) rounded out a strong women’s podium. Pauline Montfort, the first Senior, clocked 3:31:03 with a solid effort.
| On the Half Marathon: The Cougny Brothers Keep the Story Alive
The half marathon also delivered a memorable chapter—almost a family affair. Florian Cougny claimed his first victory over the distance in 1:09:45, flashing a grin that said it all. “I wanted to run under 1:10, and I did it. I also came to beat my brother’s time,” he admitted. His brother Adrien had won the race last year. Luc Matray finished second in 1:11:00, just ahead of triathlete Anatole Beghin in 1:13:49.
In the women’s field, French 100 km international Camille Chaigneau dominated in 1:18:19, only weeks after completing four marathons. “The plan was to turn it into a strong-paced training run,” she explained. Garance Perrot followed in 1:24:18, with Helia Villar third in 1:27:14.
| The LAP Race: A Playground for the Day’s Rockets
The day before, Tommy Charlot once again shined on the Lap—a 4.411 km tour of the circuit he knows better than anyone. He claimed a third straight victory in 14:02, just 18 seconds off his own course record set in 2023. “In the end, I did exactly what I did last year,” he joked. He broke away early to finish ahead of Sébastien Darmigny (14:50) and Léo Jeandot (15:06). Among the women, Juliette Gobet brought fresh energy with a clean win in 17:55, followed by Judith Le Guernigou (18:24) and Anaïs Gauthé (19:19).
| A Weekend That Felt Like a Running Festival
Nevers delivered yet another weekend full of passion, grit, and celebration—a meeting point where smiles and personal breakthroughs coexist on a historic circuit. Matthieu Lespine and Carole Stéphan added their chapter to an edition lifted by a large and enthusiastic crowd. The event continues to carve its place among France’s standout marathons, leaving runners with a result, memories, and that extra spark that lingers after a great day on the road.
✔ Find the full results of the 2025 Nevers Marathon
Dorian VUILLET
Journalist
