Mild weather, raised elite field, extended course to highlight the passages which marked the history of the event… The 70e edition of the Doyenne promises to be exceptional. Tom Evans, Thomas Cardin, Baptiste Chassagne and Julie Roux will be there among the 17,000 runners spread over the 8 races. The main event with its 82 km and 2273 m of D+ will have a very special taste this year. The start will be given on Saturday November 30 at 11:30 p.m. at the Saint-Étienne Exhibition Center and the live action will be followed here, from 9:30 p.m.
Who to follow?
In men. Thomas Cardin, winner in 2021 and 2023, is the big favorite after his great victory at the Templars in mid-October. Facing him, many contenders for the title such as Baptiste Chassagne, 2e of the UTMB 2024, the Briton Tom Evans, winner of the Western States 2023, and the American Ben Dihman. Among the favorites, we also find Antoine Charvolin, Lambert Santelli and Théo Détienne.
In women. Julie Roux will also try to keep her title won in 2023, the year in which she achieved the double with the great Trail des Templiers. Facing her, the Finnish Anna-Stiina Erkkila, the British Eleanor Davis and the Lyonnaise Marie Goncalves who created a surprise by winning the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB this year.
What about the conditions?
It would seem that the conditions expected on the Monts du Lyonnais this weekend are exceptionally “dry and mild… (which is not necessarily the case for the trails)” underlines the organization on social networks. “It can obviously change, but maybe we’ll get the shorts ready.”
Because if the snow and the cold were there in the region last week, the latest forecasts announce minimums for this weekend not falling below 3°C (to be expected at the time of departure, Saturday evening, in Saint -Etienne). And maximums of up to 10°C (in Lyon, from Sunday noon). The same goes for the main supply points (Saint-Christo-en-Jarez, Sainte-Catherine, Soucieu-en-Jarrest, Chaponost).
A longer route of 4 km
The main event will be 4 km longer this year, bringing the total to 82 km and 2,273 meters of elevation gain, to highlight the historic passages of the race: Bois d'Arfeuille, Montée du Rampeau, Bois des marches and Signal de Saint-André la Côte.
Header photo: SaintéLyon / Lilian Menetrier
- Themes :
- Live
- SaintéLyon
- Trail Running
- Ultra Trail
