“It was great with a great atmosphere!”, with 231 registered participants, the Christmas bullfight broke its record in Bagnols-sur-Cèze

The bullfight starts at 6 p.m. on Place Mallet with a first slope to climb. C.B.

Runners wore Christmas hats, as is the tradition for Christmas bullfights. C.B.

Léo Fantini, winner, Younes Aazam, second, and Antoine Holuigue, third. C.L.

Le trio de tête chez les féminines, Flora Colledge, Anaïs Gachon, Manon Taillez. C.L.

Lundi 30 décembre, en début de soirée, la traditionnelle corrida de Noël de Bagnols-sur-Cèze a battu son record de participation.

On Monday, December 30, the freezing temperature of the early evening did not scare the runners of the Christmas corrida of Bagnols-sur-Cèze, organized by the BMA (Bagnols Marcoule Athlétisme). Leaving from Place Mallet at 6 p.m., the participants in this traditional race which allows to pass the milestone of the new year with a festive and sporting moment, whose origins date back to 1925 in Brazil, covered 6.9 km in two loops, through the streets and alleys of the city. Some runners did not deviate from the custom by wearing Christmas hats.

With 231 registered for 218 finishers, the 14th edition of this Christmas bullfight broke its record in terms of registration. Last year, there were 170 people at the starting line. “We are very happy with this great success” declared Claire Avril, the president of the BMA, on Monday evening. “After Covid, the cancellation in 2022, it's starting again with a vengeance! It's a great Christmas event” rejoices Maxime Couston, the city's first deputy in charge of sports and events.

“I loved the relaunches and the public”

While some participated to share a festive moment, the first to arrive gave their all. Like the winner Léo Fantini, from CS Luxembourg but originally from Bagnols, who achieved a time of 20'19″. “It was great, I loved the relaunches and the public. There is a great atmosphere. I tried to manage to avoid exploding at the end” he commented after the race. Coming second, in 21' 14″, Younes Aazam from the Tarascon athletics club, was also won over by the Bagnolaise corrida. “It's a great organization and a very good preparation for the cross” he confided. The third step of the podium went to Antoine Holuigue from Alès Cévennes Athlétisme, who completed the race in 21'19″.

The first woman is Flora Colledge, from Empower triathlon, who covered the 6.9 km in 24' 22″, followed by Anaïs Gachon (25' 46″) and Manon Taillez (27’ 11”).