Paris-Versailles 2025: route and info, everything you need to know

This Sunday, September 28, 25,000 runners will set off from the Eiffel Tower towards the Château de Versailles. The 46th edition of this legendary race crosses the Hauts-de-Seine and Yvelines departments, covering 16.2 km of ascent and descent. We take stock.

This Sunday, September 28, sees the return of the Paris-Versailles race from Paris to the Yvelines. This 46th edition of the Grande Classique brings together 25,000 runners on a legendary 16.2-kilometer course, linking the Eiffel Tower to the Château de Versailles. It's a not-to-be-missed event for running enthusiasts, and one that has thrilled the west of Paris for almost five decades.

Created in 1976, this event has retained its authentic charm and unchanging route, crossing Paris, Issy-les-Moulineaux, Meudon and its famous state forest, Vélizy and Viroflay before arriving in the main courtyard of the Château de Versailles. Sylvain Fresnel, President of the Paris Versailles Association and organizer of the event, explains the enthusiasm: "There's already the setting, with a start at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and a finish at the Château de Versailles". This atypical distance of 16.2 kilometers attracts both occasional runners and half-marathon regulars, creating a unique atmosphere where performance and pleasure come together.

The organizer stresses that this race offers much more than just a time trial: "We offer an atmosphere and emotions". This philosophy is reflected in the family spirit of the event, which welcomes all levels of riders without distinction. Since 2019, the organizers have also done away with prizes for the international elite, in favor of this accessible, convivial dimension.

How does the Paris-Versailles race unfold?

The Paris-Versailles route has remained unchanged since its inception, offering participants a journey through the history and varied landscapes of the western Paris region. After setting off from the Quai Jacques Chirac at the foot of the Eiffel Tower at 10 a.m., runners first follow the Seine over several kilometers of flat terrain. The race briefly crosses Issy-les-Moulineaux before tackling the dreaded Côte des Gardes in Meudon.

This climb is the major challenge of the event, with its two kilometers of 7% average gradient and passages at 12%, leading up to theMeudon observatory. Once over this 173-meter difference in altitude, the course plunges into the magnificent Meudon national forest, offering an exceptional natural setting for the 25,000 participants. Runners then continue on to Vélizy, Viroflay and its côte du cimetière, before reaching Versailles via theAvenue de Paris for a majestic finish in front of the château.

Departure is staggered in sixty waves of 300 runners per minute until 11 a.m., allowing smooth organization despite the scale of the event. Water, fruit and cereal bars made from local produce are available at refreshment points along the route, while musical entertainment punctuates the progress, with particular attention paid to wooded areas to preserve local wildlife.

What do you need to know about what's going on this Sunday?

Enthusiasm for the Paris-Versailles 2025 race reached new heights this year, with a record speed of registration. The 25,000 race numbers were snapped up within 50 days, setting a new record for the Grande Classique, whereas organizers usually sell out by the end of June. This rush can be explained by the effect of the Paris Olympic Games and the renewed enthusiasm for running.

This Sunday, the start will be staggered in sixty waves of 300 runners per minute, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. from the Quai Jacques Chirac, enabling smooth organization despite the scale of the event. Participants must pick up their race numbers today at the Palais des Sports Robert Charpentier in Issy-les-Moulineaux, as there will be no distribution on race day. A medical certificate less than one year old or a valid FFA license is still required to take part.

Checkrooms are available on the Quai Jacques Chirac, where you can drop off your belongings before 9:30 am. Water, fruit and cereal bars made from regional produce are available at refreshment points along the route, while musical entertainment punctuates the progress, with particular attention paid to wooded areas to preserve the local fauna.

Who are the favourites for this 2025 edition?

This 46th edition of the Paris-Versailles is shaping up to be a particularly tough one, with quality favourites in both categories. In the men's category, Florian Carvalho, 2022 French half-marathon champion, is among the contenders for victory on this demanding course. His specialization in intermediate distances makes him a natural candidate to succeed previous winners of the Grande Classique.

Women accounted for 36% of the 25,000 registered runners, confirming the growing appeal of this discipline to female runners. Mélody Julien, who took part in the Paris Olympic Games marathon, is the favourite ahead of Anaïs Quemener, the 2022 French marathon champion. These pure endurance profiles should adapt well to the technical specificities of the course.

The event records are still held by Moroccans Mohamed El Hachimi in 46'04'' set in 2009 in the men's race, and Rkia El Moukim in 52'25'' set in 2014 in the women's race. These remarkable times on the hilly course testify to the exceptional level achieved by the best distance specialists. Given the weather conditions at the end of September and the technical configuration of the course, it is unlikely that the 2025 edition will improve on these benchmarks.

The event will be timed using B-Tag chips integrated into race numbers, with detection terminals at the start, at three points along the course and at the finish opposite the Château de Versailles. This technology enables precise tracking of performance and facilitates rapid publication of results for all participants.

Traffic and parking restrictions are scheduled for tomorrow on the Avenue de Paris in Versailles, with local authorities urging residents to plan ahead. This legendary race temporarily transforms the streets of western Paris into a huge open-air stadium, offering spectators plenty of vantage points from which to cheer the runners on their journey from the Iron Lady to the Sun King.

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