Registered at the last minute, Lucas Liard from Chartres dominated the Foulées de la cathédrale on Saturday, adding his name to the prize list for the second time. The race, organized by Republican Echo and ASPTT Chartres, recorded a new participation record, with 2,200 participants.
The last will be first. Lucas Liard made the expression his own on Saturday, June 29, by winning the Foulées de la Cathédrale for the second year in a row, which he decided to run at the very last moment. It was flanked by bib 2,200, the last available, that the Aclam athlete crossed like a rocket the streets of Chartres, crowded as ever for this 29th edition of all records.
It was madness, people were gathered in the hills. I had enormous pleasure, incredible sensations.
“What an atmosphere! I didn’t expect that, I’m amazed,” confided the winner as he caught his breath, a few moments after his arrival. “It was crazy, people were packed into the hills. I had a huge time, incredible sensations. I even got chills at times. With a crowd like that, you want to please them and run fast!”
Cathedral Races: immersed in the heart of the race, carried by an incredible crowd
Lucas Liard knows how to run fast. Even though he was coming off a rather copious family meal, it seems, the former student in the United States quickly blew up the race. While Gabriel Bridet hung on to his coattails until the first difficulty, his superiority then became apparent. He completed the two laps with almost a minute’s lead over his first pursuers, Lucien Lefevre and Flavien Jankowski.
Isabelle Barat’s good accounts
“I wanted to see if my legs were there,” continued the winner in the finish area, Place des Épars. “I had taken a break from running last year, and I started again in January. I have a new job that allows me to train and I’m really into it at the moment. I’ve just broken all my records on the track.” The 28-year-old, who now works in a publishing house, has set himself a great goal for the end of the year: the Valencia marathon in Spain, his first foray into the 42.195 km. “I feel good on the road, I have great sensations. I hope to achieve a time between 2h15 and 2h20.”
“I started off a bit fast and I paid for it on the second loop. I had a stitch in my side and had to stop. I hung on, I finished and I’m very happy to be on the podium.”
Anaïs De Cock (empty)
In the women’s race, no hat-trick for Anaïs De Cock. La Jovienne, insufficiently prepared due to a knee problem, had to settle for second place. “But it’s already unexpected to be on the podium,” smiled the podiatrist. On Monday, I wasn’t even sure I was at the start. I came to get back into the swing of competition, but I left a little quickly and paid for it on the second loop. I had a stitch in my side, I had to stop. I held on, I finished and I’m very happy to be on the podium. »
Relive the 2024 editions of the Foulées roses and the Foulées de la cathédrale in pictures
From Cock diminished, victory went to an athlete we had never seen before in the Foulées, Isabelle Barat. This maths teacher, licensed at Mauves Attitudes, in Loiret, started more cautiously, but she finally won with a minute to spare. Like Lucas Liard, she had registered at the last minute.
“I have a friend who aims to do 1,000 races and who asked me to come. I said yes at the last minute. I knew Anaïs was there, we often competed in cross-country, and I thought she would be in front. I didn’t set off too quickly, I think I managed well,” analyzed this mother of three children, who had planned to get her sneakers out again yesterday to accompany her daughter in a triathlon.
Romain Léger
