Sylvain Court and Maëlle Deruaz (both France) have won the Ultra Trail du Saint-Jacques 2024, a UTMB World Series race, in the South of France. Sylvain Court stood on top of an all French podium, Deruaz had to share it with her compatriot Manon Graz and the Dutch ultra runner Hannah Derksen.
Before the men’s race it was clear that it was going to be a French battle, as all the top athletes came from France. Massimo Paladin (Italy) and Fabrice Fauser (Switzerland) were seen as outsiders, but both of them – Paladin 11, Fauser 14 – didn’t finish in the top 10.
That top 10 was hundred percent French, with Court as fastest of them all. He ran the 130 kilometres, and climbed the 5.500 metres, in 14 hours, 22 minutes and 42 seconds. Alexandre Beraud finished 11 minutes and 50 seconds later as third. Geoffroy Bonnet finished 26 and 44 minutes behind Court as third, after a night full of rain and a day full of sun.
Deruaz victorious
Maëlle Deruaz won in 17 hours, 25 minutes and 17 seconds. At the finish line she had a half hour lead over Manon Gras; 17:55:11. Hannah Derksen prevented another all French podium by finishing third in 18:29:51.
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Grand Trail du Saint-Jacques
Thomas Cardin, the newly crowned European Champion trail running, was on the start list for the Grand Trail du Saint-Jacques, the classic distance of 80 kilometres (3.200m+). However the French Kiprun athlete did not start, freeing the way for Guillaume Tiphene to run to victory in 7 hours, 13 minutes and 56 seconds.
Behind Tiphene, Yoan Stuck finished second and Morgan Pouliquen third. Making it another French podium.
Anais Dachet won the women’s race in 8:26:34. Aurore Canino Hemon finished third in 9:03:41. Louise Astad Sorlie prevented another all French podium by finishing in between the two Francaises as second in 8:41:20.
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All results Trail du Saint-Jacques 2024
