Host nation enjoy a clean sweep of the individual medals in both the mens and womens races in Annecy on Saturday, Adrian Stott reports

Thomas Cardin and Clémentine Geoffray claimed a golden double for the host country, taking the victories in the trail races at the European Off-Road Running Championships in Annecy on Saturday (June 1).

With French Athletes also filling the silver and bronze positions in both the mens and womens races, France had an unprecedented clean sweep of the podium, taking both team titles with the minimum six-point score.

Men

The race started in Faverges, with the course taking in a challenging 58.2km trail with 3380m climbing and 3450m descent winding through the French Alps towards the finish in Annecy.

A group of around 10 men reached the timing point at Prafeu at 13km within a couple of minutes of each other. These included the French contingent and Britains Thomas Roach, silver medallist in the world short trail race in Innsbruck last June. By Le Chenay at 17km, Cardin had a slender lead over his compatriot Benjamin Rouibol, with Roach 20 seconds further back.

The positions remained the same over the high point of the route, through to the 50km mark near Mont Baron. Cardin, though, had extended his lead to over three minutes on Rouibal. Roach, meanwhile, was running neck and neck with the third Frenchman, Loic Rolland.

Cardin, the bronze medallist from the 2022 championships in La Palma, was to stay in the lead on the final descent into Annecy winning in 4:58:22.

Home town favourite Rouibol was second in 5:04:01. Rolland edged ahead of Roach on the final descent to complete the podium in 5:07:38, two minutes clear of the Briton who clocked 5:09:51.

Cardin said: I hadnt planned to be at the front of the race so early. It came naturally and it wasnt something I was trying to control. I let go on the last descent and ran more with my head than my legs. Im proud of that. Benjamin (Roubioul) came back to me near Menthon St Bernard, but I stayed focused.

There are a lot of emotions. I am lucky to be supported by my family, friends and my coach. Its a dream come true, and now we are going to have to dream bigger. I  have been aiming for a medal in a major championship for several years and today I have done it. Its a wonderful reward.

Luke Grenfall-Shaw was the next British finisher in 32nd in 5:42:37, with James Tilley 41st in 5:56:07. Tom Joly had to drop out 41km.

Behind France in the team race, Poland took the silver medals and the Czech Republic the bronze. They were the first team medals by either nation in a mens trail championships.

Women

Two former French world champions battled it out for the gold and silver medals, Clémentine Geoffray, winner of the short trail event in Innsbruck last summer, and Blondine LHirondel, the world-long trail event champion from Thailand in 2022, who was also the defending European champion.

LHirondel took the race out, holding a two-minute lead over her compatriot at the 13km point at Prafeu. She was to hold this lead over the challenging high point of the course, but after the long descent to the Menton Checkpoint at 46km the two were within seconds of each other. Adeline Martin, the third French counter, was just two minutes behind.

Geoffray forged ahead on the final long climb to Mount Baron and increased her lead on the final descent into Annecy to finish in 5:44:37, almost 10 minutes ahead of LHirondel, who clocked 5:53:49.

Martin was a further three minutes back in 5:56:44 to complete an impressive second clean sweep of the podium for France.

Its incredible, said Geoffray. It has not been an easy year. At the beginning I saw myself as the fourth athlete on the France team. I didnt think I was going to win. As the race unfolded, I felt good and towards the end, I managed to hold on.

In the team race behind France, Spain took the silver medals with Italy claiming the bronze.

Holly Page was the leading British athlete finishing in 6:41:30 for 25th place.

Katie Kaars Sijperstein finished in 35th, Georgia Tindley 39th and Meryl Cooper 43rd.

Full results here.