Albi takes over from the capital of Taiwan to organize this global competition in 2025

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With more than 2 million inhabitants (and even more than 7 million in the urban area), Taipei, Taiwanhas little to do with bleach (Tarn). But one thing, at least, connects them. In October 2025, the Tarn prefecture will succeed the capital of the Asian country to organize a world athletics competition…

These are the 24 hour world championships. An event which, as its name suggests, consists of running for 24 hours. From the ultra-deep.

319,614 km in 24 hours, who could say better?

A discipline dominated among men by le Lithuanian Aleksandr Sorokinwho holds the world record in this area with a distance of 319.614 km covered in the time of one complete rotation of the Earth. It was in 2022 during the European Championships in Verona (Italy). In 2023, he remained the undisputed master of the event with a 301.79 km race in Taipei. To give another idea, it’s approximately the distance between Albi and Limoges or Albi and Clermont-Ferrand…

Among the girls, it is the Japanese Miho Nakata who dominates the debates with a world record of 270.363 km.

A stronghold of discipline

There is no doubt that Aleksandr Sorokin will be in the Tarn in 2025. Especially since it will bring back good memories, he had in fact already won the world championships there in 2019.

Because Albi is a stronghold of this extreme discipline. Every year since 2013, the Albi 24h association has organized a very famous race on the circuit. The proof is therefore here that the events took place the 2019 worlds. But also the European Championships in 2016 and 2019 as well as the French championships on several occasions.

A kilometer and a half to infinity

At the end of October 2025, the candidates for the title will face each other on a circuit of 1.5 km around the stadium of the city. A flat and fast course which should favor big performances. Several national federations had sent athletes during the 24 hours of October 2024 to scout, from Great Britain to Belgium via Poland, Greece and the United States. It was also a Briton, Chris Kelly, who won last month.

On the French side, a maximum of a dozen competitors will be entered by the athletics federation. Including the 2024 French champions (Freddy Prigent and Hélène Léger) and those who would have obtained the minimums until April 27, 2025: 255 km for men and 230 km for women.

Tempted by adventure?

And for those who would like to try this endless stride between tartan and bitumen, a course open will also be organized around the Albi sports complex…

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