Published on novembre 13th, 2025 | by Paddleworld
Marathon International des Gorges de l’Ardèche 2025
The Ardèche woke to a hard blue sky on November 8th. With an ideal flow in the river, the 41st edition of the Marathon International des Gorges de l’Ardèche kept every promise it made. More than fifteen hundred paddlers from over twenty nations pushed off for what many still call a legendary descent, a long line of boats slipping from the Pont d’Arc toward Saint Martin d’Ardèche through the heart of the national nature reserve.
Vallon Plein Air once again anchored the organization of the race with support from the Region of Auvergne Rhône Alpes, the Ardèche Department, the French Canoe Federation, EDF Hydro, and many private partners. Nearly three hundred volunteers worked across the course while crowds gathered on cliffs and beaches to cheer the athletes as they threaded the river’s bends.
Two young athletes from Ardèche shared the patronage of this year’s edition. They came from different worlds yet moved with the same energy, drawn by nature, by challenge, and by the thrill of testing themselves against a long course. Gino Benini, a kayaker from Saint Martin d’Ardèche and a member of Vallon Plein Air, arrived after a season marked by two fourth-place finishes at Worlds. Ilona Moulin, a rising cross-country mountain biker, has already stacked an early collection of medals.
The conditions allowed for fierce fights across every race. The Marathon covered 32 kilometers. In the men’s K2, Cyrille Carré and Quilian Koch won in 1:40:47, their victory decided only in the final sprint against the German crew Betzin and Paufler. The win marked Carré’s eighth triumph on this course in the men’s K2, a historic record. Pierre Vilella and Tanguy Cattelle finished third. The women’s K2 was ruled by Pauline Freslon and Lou Boisnard in 1:52:05, well ahead of Eve Vitali Guilbert and Maya Bagnato, who crossed in 1:58:03.
The Ard River Paddle brought stand up paddlers onto a 28-kilometer course. Michael Fargier won the men’s race in 2:03:10, followed by Paolo Marconi one minute and forty seconds later, then Aubin Petit in 2:07:06. In the women’s field, Katerina Trdlova of the Czech Republic set the pace and finished in 2:22:46, ahead of Emmanuelle Marcon and Hélène Noisette.
The Challenge event, a 28-kilometer-long and open to teams of three or more in any craft, drew 640 participants. It remains the most accessible race of the Marathon, a place where seasoned athletes, para athletes, and complete beginners share the same water. The variety of boats gave the start a wild charm as V6 outriggers mixed with C9s and touring craft. For many less experienced paddlers, the true test was steering a clean line, which is part of what gives this race its charm.
The real battle began at 10 a.m. when the mass of boats surged beneath the Pont d’Arc, hulls knocking and blades flashing. Once the arch was behind them, the procession stretched into a long moving ribbon. From there, 28 kilometers of spirited paddling followed, a distance where anything can happen. The mood stayed bright. Many teams arrived in costume. An alien crew drifted beside a lone Smurf. A cluster of monks shared the river with Vikings. Someone finally found Charlie.
Castelnaud Kayak Club won the V6 scratch in 1:38:52. Kanu Club Konstanz took the C9 Ontario category in 1:54:35. The German crew K4 Ronny Familie won the CX category in 1:40:34.
All information and photos from the event can be found through the official website, Instagram and Facebook.
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