© KIPRUN
Urban Trail de Lille: Jimmy Gressier breaks the European 5 km record, Cassandre Beaugrand sets a new French 10 km record
Lille is firmly establishing itself as a must visit destination for road running enthusiasts. This wild 2026 edition of the Urban Trail de Lille once again delivered an unforgettable spectacle. The race, now considered one of the deepest road running events in the world, witnessed several outstanding performances, including a new European 5 km record from Jimmy Gressier and a new French 10 km record from Cassandre Beaugrand.
The capital of Flanders came alive with the performances of the thousands of runners competing in the Urban Trail de Lille. A total of 18,000 participants took to the streets for the highly anticipated event, cheered on by what may have been just as many ecstatic spectators. Bibs had sold out within hours when registration opened several months earlier.
A clear sign of the enormous success of this major celebration of running, organized by Jean-Pierre Watelle, president of the Ligue des Hauts-de-France d’athlétisme. A world record attempt, a European record, and several French records delighted athletics fans throughout the weekend.
| European 5 km record for Jimmy Gressier
They had openly targeted the world 5 km record. All eyes were on Jimmy Gressier, the 10,000 m world champion in Tokyo, and Yann Schrub from Metz, bronze medalist in the 3,000 m at the recent World Indoor Championships in Torun and European 10 km record holder. The showdown promised fireworks. In the end, it was Gressier who came out on top, narrowly missing the world best still held by Ethiopian runner Berihu Aregawi in 12:49, set in 2021. The Frenchman nevertheless secured the European record in 12:51, ahead of Ethiopian athlete Addisu Yihune in 12:54 and “Doctor Schrub” in 12:56.
Both men improved on the previous continental mark, helped into orbit by pacemakers Romain Mornet and Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier, who fulfilled their role before collapsing once their work was done at the 4 km mark. It was a striking illustration of the brutal pace required. On the seemingly endless finishing straight, Jimmy Gressier and Yann Schrub finally went head to head. Schrub tried everything, surging again around the 3 km mark. But “the kid from Chemin-Vert” ultimately took control in the closing meters to break the tape.
“It really was an incredible race. I knew Yann Schrub was in great shape. I struggled a lot to come down emotionally after the World Championships, the emotional comedown was difficult to handle. I had to question myself again. I put in a huge amount of work over the last five weeks because Yann was flying. I really take my hat off to him because, as he says himself, ‘competition is what pushes us forward.’ I’m also thinking about Etienne Daguinos. All French supporters should be proud to have athletes at this level who get along so well and constantly push each other higher,” said Jimmy Gressier.
Jimmy Gressier
“I wanted to give absolutely everything and push myself to my limits. My winter season was already a success, so I was really targeting the world record. When I saw the pace slowing down, I decided to take the lead. Congratulations to Jimmy Gressier, he brought the best out of both of us today. He attacked at exactly the right moment. This is the second time he has won a 5 km race at home, and when the battle is this tough, the victory is even more meaningful. I’m happy to take a short break now,” said Yann Schrub.
Yann Schrub
| An aerodynamic racing suit
It marked a spectacular return to competition for Jimmy Gressier, while also unveiling the latest innovation from Kiprun. The runner from Boulogne appeared wearing a white aerodynamic racing suit designed to reduce the drag generated by his stride. The equipment was co developed with the champion and precisely tailored using a 3D scan of his body.
Wind tunnel testing, technical fabrics, highly advanced scientific methods, the search for marginal gains no longer seems limited to cycling. The brand born in northern France made a strong impression with this outfit designed to push the limits of performance.
The other French athletes also delivered standout performances, lifted by the crowd, including Flavien Szot in 13:18 and Aude Clavier in 15:16. In the women’s race, Ethiopian runner Marta Alemayo dominated in 14:15, ahead of compatriots Kumsa Hawi Abera in 14:22 and Ademas Yenenesh Shimket in 14:24.
| French record for Cassandre Beaugrand, Clara Entresangle matches the national U23 best
Everything Cassandre Beaugrand touches seems to turn to gold. The Olympic triathlon champion created a huge buzz when she announced her participation in the 10 km race in Lille. The French athlete was clearly targeting the national record, following her French 5 km best of 14:53 set in Monaco in 2025. Ten years after setting the French junior and U23 record in 33:12, the queen of triathlon decided to aim high, with Alessia Zarbo’s 31:00 national mark firmly in her sights.
Mission accomplished. The five time French youth cross country champion, who chose to diversify onto the track and roads this season, crossed the line in 30:52. The triathlon world champion will be one to watch closely this summer as she looks to embrace new challenges in athletics after a demanding post Olympic year.
“I’m extremely competitive, whenever I line up for a race, I want to perform well. I came here aiming for 31 minutes and, in the end, I had really good legs. Muscularly, though, I completely hit the wall at the finish. I don’t know if it showed, but I was cramping everywhere! I just held on. A 10K really hurts, so congratulations to everyone because as tough as I think triathlon is, running can be incredibly hard too,” said Cassandre Beaugrand.
Cassandre Beaugrand
Another standout performance came from U23 athlete Clara Entresangle. The recent world university short cross country champion has made spectacular progress over the past year. After impressing on the 10 km in Aix-les-Bains just one week earlier in 31:50, the A.S Cavaillon runner equaled Sara Benfares’s French U23 record with a time of 31:45. A performance that now places her among the very best French runners.
| European and women’s world records narrowly missed
Other records were also under threat, especially the European crown, which has changed hands several times since the start of the year. The 30:07 mark held by British runner Megan Keith survived, but only just. Italian athlete Nadia Battocletti, the 2026 world indoor 3,000 m champion, missed becoming the fastest European woman in history by a single second, finishing in 30:08.
A very similar scenario unfolded for world record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich, who won the race in 28:58. The Kenyan star left Lille with the second fastest performance in history, just twelve seconds shy of her own world record of 28:46.
| French athletes in outstanding form
In a race won by Ethiopian runner Khairi Bejiga in 26:51, the fastest French athlete was Simon Bédard. The runner from Brittany clocked a strong 27:54 performance. The podium was completed by Kenyan athletes Laban Kiptoo Kosgei in 26:59 and Cornelius Konor in 27:06.
As for Etienne Daguinos and Bastien Augusto, both were forced to drop out one week after running 59:27 and 1:00:29 respectively at the Berlin Half Marathon.
All the biggest international names in athletics converged on Lille for an exceptional 2026 edition of the Urban Trail de Lille. Between national and European records, runners thrived off the deafening atmosphere and a level of depth that would make any race organizer jealous. See you again in 2027, with perhaps one or even several world records on the line.
➜ All the results of the Lille Urban Trail
Emma BERT
Journaliste