Like all major road races in the world, the Paris marathon has suffered directly from the consequences of the health crisis with two postponements and one cancellation in 2020, then a date set in the fall rather than in the spring in 2021.
Two and a half years after the incredible French record of Clémence Calvin, never ratified because of his conviction by the anti-doping authorities, the 42.195 km of the capital are once again available to runners, with the only new constraints being the presentation of the health pass. and wearing a mask in the start area.
The organization expects between 30,000 and 35,000 amateurs at the start, figures down compared to previous editions (around 49,000 starters in 2019).
The elite athletes will start at 8:54 am (women) and 9:10 am (men), without any of the current big names in road racing to be the frontrunners, and without Ethiopian title holders Abrha Milaw and Gelete Burka.
Already little endowed with stars for several years, the Parisian race faces in 2021 a traffic jam and does not make the weight internationally against the marathons of Berlin, London, Chicago, Boston or New York, all contested. this autumn.
Kenyans Nicholas Kirwa and Joel Kimurer, quick in Milan in May (2:05.01 and 2:05.19) stand out among the contenders for victory.
On the women's side, the Ethiopian Sifan Milaku and the Kenyan Antonina Kwambai face the glorious former Priscah Jeptoo (37), Olympic vice-champion in 2012 and winner in Paris in 2011.
The French are led by Hassan Chahdi, 45th at the Olympics on August 8 in Sapporo.
“
Paris is not really a goal after the Games, I'm not ready for a big time.
I will try to have fun and above all, it feels good to find this marathon where I have good memories, to resort to Paris more than two years later,
”he told AFP.
Florian Carvalho, Yohan Durand and rookie Abderrazak Charik will aim for a time under 2h10.
