This afternoon, the 606 participants of the weekend’s main race set off. The beginning of a long journey, paradisiacal due to its wonderful landscapes, but with a hellish aspect due to its great difficulty.
They have started! At 5:02 PM, Eric Ciotti fired the cannon marking the start of the race. The president of the Alpes-Maritimes department first addressed a few words to the runners before giving them the go-ahead: “You are heroes! You are about to accomplish an extraordinary feat. I look forward to seeing the first arrival tomorrow in Saint-Martin Vésubie, as well as the last, who will surely arrive on Sunday. The route you will take is wonderful. The most beautiful in the world, since it is that of the Alpes-Maritimes!”
Also found on-site were renowned runners. The event’s patron, Sebastien Camus, was present for the occasion and also addressed the participants. Drawing from his highly respectable experience in the field, he shared a few valuable pieces of advice just seconds before the start: “I sense a lot of excitement among the runners, but also quite a bit of stress. It’s normal to feel apprehensive, but you must keep your goal in mind, which is to finish the race! But above all, enjoy! Enjoy this magnificent event! Lastly, keep smiling, I assure you it will help you reach the finish line.”
Just moments before the start, the mood among the runners seemed relaxed. Spending the last moments with nearby loved ones appeared to be the main focus of these final minutes. Julien Gnemmi, who came from Besançon to participate in the event, is apprehensive about “the intense heat that will make the task all the more difficult.” For him, the record set last year by Christophe Anselmo and Garry Imobersteg will be “difficult to beat this year.” In any case, it will not be his personal objective. He hopes to “finish around 35 hours.” However, predicting what will happen in advance is difficult: “I am more of a runner who goes with the flow, based on feelings. I don’t have the traditional training regime that some runners do, I go by what feels right.” Accompanied, as usual, by his brother Alexandre, they both aim to lift each other up to achieve the main goal, reaching the finish line in Saint-Martin Vésubie.
The task promises to be extremely challenging for all the participants. Traversing the 18 municipalities will take a heavy toll on their bodies. However, mental fortitude will be crucial in pushing everyone’s limits. It is often said that the majority of the work “is in the head.” Extreme determination can easily be seen on the runners’ faces.
