Marathon de la Loire

Marathon de la Loire is an annual road marathon in Saumur, in the Loire Valley of Pays de la Loire, France, first run in 2017 and reaching its 9th edition in 2027. The race starts and finishes at Place du Chardonnet in central Saumur, tracing an old levee path along the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Loire Valley: runners cross the Loire near Ile de Gennes around the 20 km mark, continue along the far bank through the historic riverside communes of Saint-Clement-des-Levees and Saint-Martin-de-la-Place -- an area known for troglodyte cave dwellings -- then loop back via Millocheau Island near km 37 to finish in Saumur. The course is essentially flat, with about 53 meters of total elevation gain, and carries FFA certification (a Label Argent for 2027), doubling as a qualifier for the French national marathon championships. Alongside the marathon, the event offers a half marathon starting from Ile de Gennes, a two-person combined event pairing a 12 km canoe leg with a 17 km run, and 5K/10K options added for 2026. The marathon has a 6-hour time limit, aid stations roughly every 5 km, and sponging points from km 7.5; entrants must be at least 20 years old. Registration opens in late August or early September through the Finishers platform linked from the official site, with roughly 8,000 runners expected across all distances at the 2027 edition.