The "Route du Louvre" was created in 2006. It is a marathon that starts in Lille and goes to Loos-en-Gohelle and was intended to celebrate the arrival of an annex of the Louvre museum in the heart of the mining area in Lens. It opened its doors in December 2012. But rest assured, this event has grown so much over the years in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Region that the marathon will continue
practical information
date: the Route du Louvre will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2015. This weekend promises to be a very busy weekend in the marathon calendar. The whole weekend will be dedicated to running with the organization of a marathon and a 10 km.
registration date: registration is still possible one week before the race. In order to attract as many people as possible, the organisers offer a new school year every year with very advantageous rates for the period September-October
maximum number of participants: a maximum of 5,000 runners can take part in the marathon. Note that 1,284 runners finished the marathon in 2014.
price: to take part in the Route du Louvre you need to count between 27 € and 49 €, for the more far-sighted, it is very interesting to register as early as possible to benefit from the 27 € price which increases very quickly during the season.
registration: registration can be done by mail to the organizer or online at the event site.
other races: the Route du Louvre also organizes a 10 km and many hikes. In 2014, it brought together about 15,000 participants, including 6,000 runners and 9,000 hikers despite the very difficult weather conditions.
The course
interest: the Route du Louvre, created nine years ago, is in line with the project to create a branch of the Louvre Museum in Lens, which opened at the end of 2012. For four years, the race was held in the Lille-Lens direction. The start of work on the site of the future museum in Lens forced the organisers to find a new venue. So in 2010, they decided to reverse the direction of the course. In 2012, the marathon has regained its original meaning between Lille and Lens.
difficulty: the course at the start is flat and fairly green. It is accessible to all despite a few slight climbs along the way.
vertical drop: the course has a total of 122 metres of positive vertical drop and 84 metres of negative vertical drop.
temperature: contrary to what one might think, it is not always cold in the North! At this time of the year, it can even be very mild. Temperatures usually range between 9°C and 18°C.
refreshment: as required by the regulations, there are refreshment points every 5 km and sponge stands between two stands.
services at the finish line: competitors can find their belongings at the finish line, take part in a pasta party, or take advantage of the various activities, as well as the services of physiotherapists and masseurs.
For more information, please visit the event website
