“Very cloudy skies with short sunny spells, no precipitation. Temperature 1°C in the morning, felt 0°C, calm southwest wind, gust to 10 km/h. UV index 1, low…” The complete forecast from La Chaîne Météo confirms that this Sunday, November 26, sunscreen will be less useful than gloves and (light) fleeces for competing in the Cross du Figaro NordicTrack. Nothing surprising at this time of year, which rocks the legendary event with its invigorating weather since the first edition, December 17, 1961. Nothing to discourage the athletes, each year more numerous in the alleys of the national domain of Saint- Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine), now well-established lair of the Cross, which has ensured succession since 2013 after the defection of the Bois de Boulogne.

Faithful to recent tradition, the 51st edition opened this Friday evening with the 5 km long, untimed Varta Night night race, with its very popular “after run”. It will continue with the big Sunday day and its four races: 5 km and 10 km (start at 11:30 a.m.), 15 km and 20 km (start at 9 a.m.). Not forgetting a 5km walk (start at 9:15am). Enough to meet all the expectations, motivations and paces of the runners, under the caring gaze of their family and/or friends, always welcome to support them during the effort throughout the course which has hardly changed since the Last year’s 50th anniversary edition. The village has once again set up its various tents and stands at the Balustrade roundabout, with a direct (and magnificent) view of all of Paris. It will welcome the athletes in an atmosphere that is both festive, concentrated (before departures) and relaxed (after arrival and for the distribution of souvenir medals).

While the organizers are delighted to see the registration record broken – more than 8,000 on the starting line – for this 2023 edition (since the passage to Saint-Cloud), there is still time to take your bib, this Saturday, on the crossdufigaro.com website to experience this great adventure (from €15 to €39 depending on the race, bib collection taking place this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 37 rue Dumont-d’Urville in Paris, or on site this Sunday, plus €5). And for those who cannot go to the Saint-Cloud park, the organizers have created the Connected Challenge, in partnership with R’Green, which allows everyone, regardless of their location in the world, to run 5 km (registration on the Cross website, €10) for the benefit of a great cause. Because there is no need to remember that this year, as in previous editions, the Cross du Figaro NordicTrack constitutes the launch event of the 2023 Telethon week. And part of the amount of registrations and profits from the sale of t -shirts (€12) will be donated to the AFM Téléthon. Support much appreciated by patients and their families, and by researchers, some of whom will participate in the various races, warmly encouraged by the runners present.

Even if the great stars of athletics (notably Kenyan), long driven by Gérard du Peloux, the creator of the Cross du Figaro, have long since deserted the winter trails, the pace promises to be high and the battle, severe, for the victory in the rarely flat paths of the Saint-Cloud estate. Behind the gazelles, everyone will go at their own pace to complete the great adventure. And you will be able to find your race time on the lefigaro.fr website, Sunday afternoon, then in a “special results” notebook distributed with LeFigaro, Tuesday. The celebration will end with the big prize giving ceremony on Tuesday evening at the premises of the EY company, where the winners of each category will collect the prizes offered by the race partners.