Live | Follow the Beaujolais Marathon: towards a mano a mano between Pasero and Dadi – Le Progrès

11:10 a.m. | Villefranche comes alive before the marathoners arrive

About twenty minutes from the scheduled arrival, the atmosphere rises a notch in Villefranche-sur-Saône.

It sings, it dances near the Town Hall.

10:50 a.m. | A duo emerges at the head of the race

They were four, then three, and are now only two men at the head of this Beaujolais Marathon. They are the French Mikael Pasero and the Ethiopian Legese Dadi.

The duo swallowed the first thirty kilometers in 1h52. Julien Magnin, in the game until the halfway point, gave up slightly and was just over a minute away at kilometer 30.

Kenyan Prisca Kiprono, defending champion, leads the race for women.

10:30 | Always overcast in the vineyards

New weather point. There is still a lot of fog in the Beaujolais vines. On the other hand, it is less marked in Villefranche-sur-Saône, the final destination for marathoners.

Even though we have gained a few degrees, it is still chilly.

10 hours | The peloton storming the Château de Pizay

Once the extraterrestrials have passed, make way for the peloton. The “lambda” runners, disguised (or not), cross the gardens of the castle of Pizay. We must admit that the decor is bucolic, despite the cold …

9:50 a.m. | Musical interlude in the cellar

At the 10th km, runners have the right to a musical interlude in the cellar of Château de Pizay. This is also what makes the charm of this Beaujolais Marathon.

9:40 a.m. | Legese in the lead

A group of four riders comes out at kilometer 10. Among them, the Ethiopian Dadi Legese, announced as the favorite.

The leading men have already swallowed nearly a quarter of the course. They cross the gardens of the Château de Pizay.

9 hours | Let’s go for the 42.195 km

That’s it, the start has been given. The 1,600 runners set off for the 42.195 km towards Villefranche-sur-Saône.

8:59 am | Lagese is positioned as a favorite

Let’s forget the disguises and talk more seriously. Who will play for the win in this Beaujolais Marathon? Without the Caladois Renaud Jaillardon, forfeit, the Ethiopian Dadi Legese is the declared favorite. The African runner could become the 3rd runner in history (after Pasteur Nyabenda and Pierre Barbet) to do the double Lyon marathon (victory in 2019) – Beaujolais marathon. Third two years ago after a huge failure in the final, he has a revenge to take.

8:58 am | An international marathon

Once again this year, the Beaujolais Marathon attracts runners from all over the world. Morocco, Poland, Switzerland, Belgium … no less than 70 nationalities will be represented today in the three races. At the start, we even have the right to a farandole of flags.

8:55 | The mayor of Fleurie encourages the runners

While the 80 volunteers present in Fleurie (1,200 over the entire race) are busy, the mayor of Fleurie, Frederic Miguet wishes the runners good luck just minutes from the starting signal.

8:45 am | The atmosphere warms up a quarter of an hour before departure

Despite the cold, the runners have the motivation. It twists on a background of “I’m so excited” to warm up before the big departure.

8:40 | Spartacus, Mario and Luigi, Elvis Presley … the costumes are out

As is the tradition of this Beaujolais Marathon, many runners are in disguise.

Spartacus, Mario and Luigi, Jack Sparrow or Elvis Presley, there are lots of people on the starting line.

8:35 | Fog at the start

It is in the fog that the 1,600 marathon runners will leave Fleurie at 9 a.m. for the 42.195 km winding through the vineyards to Villefranche.

We hope that the Val de Saône will relieve itself of the fog because for the time being, marathoners will not really appreciate the superb Beaujolais panoramas.

Note that it is not hot either. The thermometer reads 5 ° C this morning in Fleurie.

The valiant runners warm up… while others are still under the covers.

8:30 am | M-30 before the start of the marathon

Hello and welcome to this direct to follow the 17th edition of the Beaujolais Marathon.

After the cancellation in 2020 during the pandemic, the festive ordeal records a small drop in participation with 15,000 runners at the start (compared to 18,000 in 2019).

The atmosphere should however be there for this return to the calendar, as detailed this week Gilbert Dantzer (alias Jesus) in Le Progrès. A key figure in the festive event, this Ile-de-France is competing in the event for the 16th time this Saturday!