Under a threatening sky and in ideal cool weather for running, Lucas Liard and Isabelle Barat, both registered at the last minute, won the Foulées de la Cathédrale on Saturday June 29.
The air was much more breathable than last year, to the delight of the 2,200 courageous people lined up for the Strides of the Cathedral, a new record, Saturday evening, in Chartres, for the event co-organized by The Republican Echo and ASPTT Chartres. A freshness which notably allowed them to approach the terrible streets Saint-Éman and Saint-Pierre, among others, much more calmly than last year.
Lucas Liard for the second consecutive year
So if the weather was different, the name of the big winner did not. The Aclam resident, Lucas Liard, 28 years old, imposed himself like a boss, largely dominating the race by crossing the line in 30’38”. Far ahead of Lucien Lefèvre (31’34”): “I made the decision this morning (Saturday morning) to participate in the race. I had done a 3,000 meters on Wednesday and I wanted to see what it would be like on the road”, explained the winner, who wore bib number 2200… the last one available.
Relive the 2024 editions of the Foulées roses and the Foulées de la cathédrale in pictures
“I was keen to do these Foulées because I have been participating in them for years and I wanted to see if I could regain this title. » Lucas Liard, who is preparing for the Valencia marathon next December, went it alone for a good part of the course.
A first for Isabelle Barat
On the women’s side, Anaïs De Cock was unable to defend her title. The ES Jouy-Saint-Prest member, struggling with a knee, dropped the reins of the race in the second lap due to a stitch in her side. A new face on the Foulées, Isabelle Barat (Mauves Attitudes), took advantage of this slump to move ahead and cross the line in 37” 16′.Photo: Quentin Reix
The athlete from Meung-sur-Loire also registered on the same day on a whim: “I came to Chartres to do the 10 km last March and I have a friend who was doing his thousandth race here, so I came at the last minute.” A decision that paid off.
Nathan Sportiello
