Paris Marathon

The start of the Paris Marathon takes place on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, with 50,000 participants gathered, ready to start the legendary 42.195 kilometre race through the streets of Paris.

Along Rue de Rivoli, past the Louvre, the Place de la Bastille, along the banks of the Seine and through the Bois de Vincennes and the Bois de Boulogne, the runners will be cheered on by thousands of spectators willing them forward. The runners will pass by some of the French capital's most emblematic monuments during this marathon which is renowned as being one of the most beautiful urban courses in the world.

For almost 10 years, the elite athletes have been pushing the limits of this challenge. Although it may seem improbable that the world record held by Kenyan Dennis Kimetto, set at the Berlin Marathon in 2014, could be broken, the Paris Marathon record, 2h 05 min 02s, set last year by Ethiopian runner Kenenisa Bekele, could well be challenged this year. As for the women's record, the athletes will be hoping to break through the symbolic barrier of 2h21.