La France en Courant 2025: A Unique Relay Race and Artisan Showcase Begins
The 2025 relay race 'La France en Courant' begins, merging sports with artisan craftsmanship.
Key Points
- • The race features six mixed teams covering approximately 25 km each day for two weeks.
- • It aims to promote local craftsmanship supported by the national bakery and pastry confederation.
- • Artisan exhibitions and demonstrations will run alongside the race activities, showcasing various trades.
- • Frédéric Matan will sculpt a piece intended for Tom Cruise at the 2028 Olympics during the event.
The 36th edition of 'La France en Courant' kicked off today, July 18, 2025, starting from Cournonterral in a unique blend of sports and artisan craftsmanship. This two-week relay race features six mixed teams of eight runners each, embarking on a journey that will cover approximately 25 kilometers daily throughout France. The designated route will lead runners through various regions including Occitanie, the Pyrénées, Pays de la Loire, Brittany, and finally, Normandy, concluding in Eure.
The event emphasizes the promotion of local artisanship and is backed by the Confédération nationale de la boulangerie-pâtisserie, highlighting its motto 'Mange du pain et cours bien' (Eat bread and run well). Christian Poujol, president of the CMA Hérault, remarked on the significance of the event for showcasing artisan skills, noting that the CMA represents 280 different trades with 1.8 million businesses employing around 4 million workers across France. Each stage of the race will display over 300 stands, allowing the public to engage with various artisan trades, fostering knowledge transmission akin to a familial bond.
A highlight of the opening day includes the participation of Frédéric Matan, a renowned stone carver, who will demonstrate his skills by sculpting a giant hand to hold the Olympic rings, intending to present it to Tom Cruise for the 2028 Olympics. The day’s events will feature artisan exhibitions from 14:00, team presentations at 15:00, and the race kick-off at 16:00, culminating in an awards ceremony at 18:30. The event expects to draw positive responses from the host towns, reflecting a successful synergy of sports and cultural heritage.