The organizers of the Beaune Wine Sale half-marathon are in luck. Two weeks before the start of the event, both races are already sold out. The half-marathon (21.1 km) is the first to have closed its registrations on October 8, it was followed a few days ago by the Foulées Beaunoises (10.4 km) which will start on Saturday November 16 a handful minute before from Avenue de la République.
“Impossible to go any further”
“It’s appreciable as an organizer and also quite inexplicable. We manage the disappointments a little, because people were used to registering in the last fortnight, relates Vincent Leguay, sports director at the City of Beaune. This attendance is also recognition of our event and the work carried out by the team on a daily basis” Could the number of 4,800 runners be revised upwards in the future? “It is currently impossible to go further, the configuration of the course does not allow it, it is the appropriate gauge,” says Vincent Leguay. The only possibility for the organizers to bring in more competitors would be to set up a third event.
Seven Olympics under the clock
The press conference held Wednesday evening in the den of The Comedy of Wine made it possible to reveal the name of the 2024 godmother of the semi-wine sale. Mélina Robert-Michon, discus throwing specialist, will be present in the capital of Burgundy wines for this event. The thrower began her career in 2013, being vice-world champion in Moscow (2013), then second in Zurich at the European Championships (2014) and at the Rio Olympic Games (2016), as well as bronze medalist at the London Worlds (2017). In July 2024, this mother of two girls, who has participated in seven Olympics in her career, was named flag bearer of the French delegation during the Paris 2024 Games, along with Florent Manaudou.
Three associations selected
His arrival was made possible thanks to the sports network of the sports department of the City of Beaune. “Olympism was our common thread throughout the year with the Olympic village at La Bouzaize, the passing of the Olympic flame and we wanted to have a godfather or godmother who had this Olympic marker to end the year. With the Olympic flag bearer, our objective has been achieved in a beautiful way,” underlines Vincent Leguay. At the same time, athletes who participated in the Paralympic Games will also be welcomed, but their names have not yet been revealed. The godmother will represent the Un jersey pour la vie association during the gala which will take place at the Abbaye de Maizières in Saint-Loup-Géanges. Simon de Cyrène and Hugo's Extraordinary Adventure are the two other associations benefiting from this charity dinner. Last year, the event raised €46,500 for three structures thanks to donations from three winegrowers, who offered their bottles.
Partners who play the game
Stéphane Guidot, volunteer manager of partnerships for this half-marathon of the Wine Sale, welcomed a budget which has increased significantly. Thirty-four major partners support the event: “The budget has increased and the contingent of private partners is up 20% this year, I find that great, it proves that the race has interest, we are super happy . It might not have the same popularity if it weren't for the Wine Sale half-marathon. My father, who was president of the organization, assistant to sports, always told me that the semi represented the fourth glorious year of the Wine Sale. »
