ASICS FUJI TRAIL TEAM REPORT  #23

We've just had a fabulous weekend at the ASICS SAINTELYON, with a flurry of victories - no fewer than 6 out of the 10 races on offer !
This was the reward for all the hard work put in by the team, who were in Lyon all week with their coaches and physios. The program included rest, care, reconnaissance of the entire course, discussions on nutrition, pace, strategy... everything was done to reduce uncertainty, and the result is there! 
This fine weekend rounds off a very fine year for our athletes, who will have taken part in 190 events, with a total of 107 victories and 67 podium finishes.

 All of them are already looking ahead to 2025, with the aim of achieving even greater success while preserving our collective identity based on SOUND MIND SOUND BOBY.  

The career of an ultra-distance runner is a difficult one, because in a season with only 2 or 3 races, it's all a roll of the dice. 

With this podium at the end of the world, Jérome has just achieved something remarkable : After a season of failure and counter-performance, he succeeded in reaching his goal on the last race of the year .... and that's remarkable! 

Check out his finish here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCuVC10oQ0B/?hl=fr

This man is unpredictable! 

We left him at the TDS, arriving deep in the rankings, flowers in his hair, delighted with his Alpine ride, and we find him here, 2nd in this world-class event, right next to one of the world's best, former ASICS athlete Dan Jones. 

A result we're delighted with, in keeping with his incredible talent. 

Hats off to the artist!

 .https://www.instagram.com/p/DCv-yYcukxI/?hl=fr

This fine 5th place shows that Adie loves his country and has mastered the terrain and weather conditions. It's a great reward for this engaging athlete, who doesn't hesitate to step out of his comfort zone and take on the world's greatest races! 

 https://www.instagram.com/p/DCq0KbDKHlo/?hl=fr

Carried along by a crowd of 11,000 runners, Xavier showed great energy, as in his last races .... 

A new mark of 1:03, 1 minute behind his PB, but the fact that he was running alone, with the 2nd runner almost 3 minutes behind, didn't make things any easier, so this major performance shouldn't be trivialized. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC-Q19eK8E7/?hl=fr&img_index=2

Andreu hesitated for a long time between joining the team on the ASICS STL in France and trying for a 2nd title...or preparing more seriously for his next race in the heat of Thailand.... 

He was reasonable and this 3-day race in the sun of Ibiza, was the right choice. The shape  is there: 3 races, 3 victories: on the night race in 40 mn, on the media marathon in 1H51 and on the marathon in 3H47 !  

Let's go to Chiang Mai by UTMB .....

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDC1o2WM-jm/?hl=fr&img_index=1. 

16 km/h, that's Maude's pace and 8th place overall: the phenomenal Swiss hillclimber can also run on the flat! 

Well done Maude for always serving the team and showing the way to our young athletes! 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDA2_1qN9Tx/?hl=fr

Miguel knocked out the competition on this Saintétic at nearly 18km/h on the trails and at night, he was hard to keep up with.

He pushed the competition back more than 2mn and ended his excellent year of learning the high level in the most beautiful way.

 Looking forward to 2025! . 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDA1Ig0NB9h/?hl=fr

Injured at the start of the week, with infected blisters on her foot, Sara decided on Tuesday not to fly and to stay and rest ....but “Sarita” is no ordinary athlete and by Friday morning, her skin was regenerated and above all .... she was eager to join the team and do battle.

 Motivated as ever, she set the new event record and pushed back the 2nd to over 10 minutes, a fine conclusion to this exceptional year 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/DDA_ukXoxYY/?hl=fr

A sprint finish, separated by 4 seconds Diego and Romain will have failed for 8 seconds and impose a fantastic one-two!

But our two young athletes, both graduates of the Trail Elite Factory parograms in Spain and France, once again showed their talent and team spirit!  

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDDAW6xs_-Q/?hl=fr&img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDH-AOWt1w6/?hl=fr&img_index=2

This man is a nightmare .... for the others ! 

Despite a very long season, Antonio was determined to be there for the team and get the job done .... he did it with mastery .

 A first part to follow and wait, then following an initial acceleration from @marcos , he let the others work ... then took off with mastery on this beautiful victory . One more! 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDG1Lc0tk1f/?hl=fr&img_index=3

Marcos' consistency is incredible, he is always there on these 50 km formats, whatever the terrain.... a real all-risk insurance. 

Bravo for this magnificent  season!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDByQY5obPo/?hl=fr

Winner of the previous edition, Rachel had come with ambitions, but coming back from injury, she lacked a little energy in the money timer to hang on to a podium.

 She nevertheless contributed to the team's good results with this 4th place. hl=frhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DCFHUR3tebG/?hl=fr&img_index=2

You have to watch this video, it's an “order”, https://www.instagram.com/p/DDHNVBBtpwh/?hl=fr you'll understand all the power and energy of Marie and the joy that overwhelms her as she accomplishes her dream. 

A child of Lyon, this race is a monument and with this enormous athletic performance, she has achieved one of the objectives of her career. 

Her life will never be the same tomorrow, she has entered the legend .... 

Marie we are proud to be at your side! 

 The night, the cold, an ordinary environment for our smiling Finnish and a desire to move on to longer distances next year... but at the end of the year, energy was lacking and it was on one leg that 

"Tintii" managed her pace to take an excellent 4th place, but far from her performance level “ .... I absolutely did not want to end the year with  a DNF and share these good results with the team”. 

A fine example of resilience, and good recovery AnnaStiina ! https://www.instagram.com/p/DDEce_css7U/?hl=fr&img_index=1

 A few days after his very fine podium finish in Reunion, Ben felt that his body was recovering well and the idea of putting this ASTL on the program germinated .... a 10 K test with a 29.08, then a half marathon in 1H06 showed that the lights were on, let's go to Lyon. 

Motivated, far-sighted, calculating and precise as usual, our "big Ben" played in front all night long, and in the money time, he let Thomas go to victory, but took a superb second place on an event he was discovering. 

He ended a fabulous season in his first year with ASICS, and the future belongs to him ....

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDGy2JbNPRS/?hl=fr&img_index=1

 “Sorry” were Andrzej's first words to the staff, after his failure on the CCC, but this admission also meant that he was going to show his immense talent once again! 

This perfectly controlled ASTL, with a superb 3rd place, confirms that Andrzej is a top athlete: a cautious start to get his bearings (he was in 14th place for a while), then a strong start at mid-race to propel himself to 3rd place, and a solid, courageous finish to put a fitting end to this fine season, which he began in February with victory in the Transgrancaria Advanced. 

The season has come full circle! 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDB5279tgnF/?hl=fr

Tibère, a young athlete and winner of the Trail Elite Factory program in France, was making his team debut on this ASTL. 

Teaming up with his cousin, he won this tough two-man relay.

 Welcome Tibère and congratulations on this excellent start !  https://www.instagram.com/p/DDHO9rattZg/?hl=fr&img_index=2

Provisional results 2024

##107victories  + 76 podiums

Coming soon: Chiang Mai  by UTMB ...