Success for the first edition of Urban Trail Tours with 3,000 runners
The Urban Trail Tours, organized by the Tours 10K, 20K, and Marathon Committee, was a resounding success at its launch. Participants could choose between two routes, 9 and 19 kilometers long, passing through iconic locations in the capital of Touraine. It was a unique and demanding experience, as they had to climb hundreds or even thousands of steps depending on the route they chose.
Despite the intensity of the effort, it was clearly the sunshine that dominated the bustling streets of Tours on Sunday, February 8. The weather was ideal for the launch of this event, which attracted 3,000 participants, a significant number for the two races on offer. Between flat segments, climbs, descents, stairs, and passages through unusual and emblematic places in the ancient Gallo-Roman city, the runners had plenty to enjoy, challenging themselves while (re)discovering the city’s key monuments. Many locals, from Ballan-Miré, a town just southwest of Tours, to Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, west of the city, did not want to miss this first edition, which also attracted runners from further afield, such as Poitiers.
| Tours on the move: a morning set to the pace of the Urban Trail
When registering for this first edition, participants had to choose between the 19 km Long Run, scheduled for 8:30 a.m., and the 9 km Short Run, which started at 10:00 a.m. Both offered privileged access to several of the city’s iconic sites: Place Jean Jaurès, the starting point for runners; the grand staircase of City Hall and its monumental reception hall; the municipal library and its terrace; the former Marmoutier Abbey; the nursing home, where refreshments were distributed to the cheers of a few early-rising residents; and finally, the Grenon Hall in the Palais des Sports. In short, there was something for everyone.
| Results of the first edition
Trail runner Steven Guittonneau claimed the first victory in the event’s history, with a time of 1:11:42 and a big smile on his face. From the moment he left the grounds of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Long Run winner never relinquished the lead. By the halfway point, the race was already over, while behind him, the places were being decided: Aurélien Cerclet finished second in 1:13:38 and Baptiste Rivry completed the podium in 1:14:31. In the women’s race, the performances were just as remarkable. Marie Bodet dominated the race, taking 96th place overall with a time of 1:33:06, ahead of Caroline Demey (1:35:24) and Gwenn Droisier (1:35:38).
In the Short Run, the top runners were not to be outdone. David Ramard, former French international and marathon record holder with a time of 2:10:52, led the medal haul in the 9 km race, finishing almost a minute ahead in 34:59. Quentin Delabarre finished in 35’56, followed by Pierre-Emmanuel Voyer in 36’28. In the women’s race, Elise Berthy, a local resident and doctor of pharmacy, won in 43’37, ahead of Chloé Lecointre (45’38) and Audrey Okala (45’55).
This Sunday, the heritage of the city of Tours was showcased through two routes punctuated by concerts and numerous spectators of all ages, gathered along the circuit.
➜ All results from the Urban Trail Tours
Sabine LOEB
Journaliste
