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Some races are unforgiving. The Kookabarra Mont-Ventoux Half Marathon is one of them. 21.6 kilometers of pure ascent, 1,610 meters of elevation gain, and a gradient that can reach 12% without ever offering a single descent to catch your breath. This Sunday, July 5, starting from Bédoin, a new chapter in the event's history was written.
Weather conditions were relatively mild: an early 8:00 AM start, a good half of the race still in the shade, and a light breeze at the summit to temper the effort. However, the heatwave from the previous days was clearly felt in the legs and minds of the runners.
From the first five kilometers, which could be described as a false flat in this particular context, the calves were already being put to the test. This is where the race reveals its true nature: mental strength quickly becomes the primary asset, in an almost total silence broken only by the sound of footsteps. The aid stations, numerous and managed by impeccable volunteers, kept the entire pack hydrated and helped prevent the heatstroke so feared in this part of Provence. In the second half of the race, the fatigue accumulated over previous weeks took its toll, forcing many runners to adopt a run/walk rhythm to manage the effort until the summit. The final three kilometers broke the quadriceps, with cramps making any acceleration impossible despite the finish line being in sight. In those moments, you have to lift your head and look around: the panorama offered at over 1,900 meters of altitude reminds you why you came.
In the women's standings, Jeanne Garreau achieved something remarkable. With a time of 1:44:53, the Roanne runner shattered the event record held since 2023 by Anaïs Quéméner by nearly 3 minutes and 12 seconds. Even more impressively, the top three women all finished under the previous record: Manon Coste finished second in 1:46:51 and Manon Trapp third in 1:47:59. A triple rewriting of the benchmarks for this legendary climb, following the path of the Tour de France, between the Cabane Jamet, the Chalet Reynard, and the Simpson memorial.
In the men's race, Julien Navarro took the win in 1:33:19 ahead of Clément Lhotellerie (1:33:53) and Adrian Piticco (1:34:56). The men's event record, set by Hassan Chahdi in 1:29:10 in 2024, remains intact.
The Kookabarra Mont-Ventoux Half Marathon continues to establish itself as one of the most anticipated running events in the South of France. For those who experienced it this year, the day's suffering will soon be forgotten. Mont-Ventoux, however, remains.
Some races are unforgiving. The Kookabarra Mont-Ventoux Half Marathon is one of them. 21.6 kilometers of pure ascent, 1,610 meters of elevation gain, and a gradient that can reach 12% without ever offering a single descent to catch your breath. This Sunday, July 5, starting from Bédoin, a new chapter in the event's history was written.
Weather conditions were relatively mild: an early 8:00 AM start, a good half of the race still in the shade, and a light breeze at the summit to temper the effort. However, the heatwave from the previous days was clearly felt in the legs and minds of the runners.
From the first five kilometers, which could be described as a false flat in this particular context, the calves were already being put to the test. This is where the race reveals its true nature: mental strength quickly becomes the primary asset, in an almost total silence broken only by the sound of footsteps. The aid stations, numerous and managed by impeccable volunteers, kept the entire pack hydrated and helped prevent the heatstroke so feared in this part of Provence. In the second half of the race, the fatigue accumulated over previous weeks took its toll, forcing many runners to adopt a run/walk rhythm to manage the effort until the summit. The final three kilometers broke the quadriceps, with cramps making any acceleration impossible despite the finish line being in sight. In those moments, you have to lift your head and look around: the panorama offered at over 1,900 meters of altitude reminds you why you came.
In the women's standings, Jeanne Garreau achieved something remarkable. With a time of 1:44:53, the Roanne runner shattered the event record held since 2023 by Anaïs Quéméner by nearly 3 minutes and 12 seconds. Even more impressively, the top three women all finished under the previous record: Manon Coste finished second in 1:46:51 and Manon Trapp third in 1:47:59. A triple rewriting of the benchmarks for this legendary climb, following the path of the Tour de France, between the Cabane Jamet, the Chalet Reynard, and the Simpson memorial.
In the men's race, Julien Navarro took the win in 1:33:19 ahead of Clément Lhotellerie (1:33:53) and Adrian Piticco (1:34:56). The men's event record, set by Hassan Chahdi in 1:29:10 in 2024, remains intact.
The Kookabarra Mont-Ventoux Half Marathon continues to establish itself as one of the most anticipated running events in the South of France. For those who experienced it this year, the day's suffering will soon be forgotten. Mont-Ventoux, however, remains.
Some races are unforgiving. The Kookabarra Mont-Ventoux Half Marathon is one of them. 21.6 kilometers of pure ascent, 1,610 meters of elevation gain, and a gradient that can reach 12% without ever offering a single descent to catch your breath. This Sunday, July 5, starting from Bédoin, a new chapter in the event's history was written.
Weather conditions were relatively mild: an early 8:00 AM start, a good half of the race still in the shade, and a light breeze at the summit to temper the effort. However, the heatwave from the previous days was clearly felt in the legs and minds of the runners.
From the first five kilometers, which could be described as a false flat in this particular context, the calves were already being put to the test. This is where the race reveals its true nature: mental strength quickly becomes the primary asset, in an almost total silence broken only by the sound of footsteps. The aid stations, numerous and managed by impeccable volunteers, kept the entire pack hydrated and helped prevent the heatstroke so feared in this part of Provence. In the second half of the race, the fatigue accumulated over previous weeks took its toll, forcing many runners to adopt a run/walk rhythm to manage the effort until the summit. The final three kilometers broke the quadriceps, with cramps making any acceleration impossible despite the finish line being in sight. In those moments, you have to lift your head and look around: the panorama offered at over 1,900 meters of altitude reminds you why you came.
In the women's standings, Jeanne Garreau achieved something remarkable. With a time of 1:44:53, the Roanne runner shattered the event record held since 2023 by Anaïs Quéméner by nearly 3 minutes and 12 seconds. Even more impressively, the top three women all finished under the previous record: Manon Coste finished second in 1:46:51 and Manon Trapp third in 1:47:59. A triple rewriting of the benchmarks for this legendary climb, following the path of the Tour de France, between the Cabane Jamet, the Chalet Reynard, and the Simpson memorial.
In the men's race, Julien Navarro took the win in 1:33:19 ahead of Clément Lhotellerie (1:33:53) and Adrian Piticco (1:34:56). The men's event record, set by Hassan Chahdi in 1:29:10 in 2024, remains intact.
The Kookabarra Mont-Ventoux Half Marathon continues to establish itself as one of the most anticipated running events in the South of France. For those who experienced it this year, the day's suffering will soon be forgotten. Mont-Ventoux, however, remains.