Solène Leroux, edited by Gauthier Delomez 7:50 a.m., April 3, 2022

Nearly 40,000 runners meet on the Champs-Élysées this Sunday for a new edition of the Paris marathon, which returns to its usual schedule, in the spring.

And if the edition is rather marked by winter temperatures, this does not cool the runners as Europe 1 has seen, a few minutes from the first departures.

The Paris marathon returns to its usual date.

It is this Sunday that the mythical endurance race of the capital is held, only six months after the last edition.

It has been three years since the marathon was organized in the spring, due to the health crisis.

And yet, it is indeed winter conditions that the no less than 40,000 runners will face.

"I'm in great shape, we've prepared well," argues Ludovic, 53, who is running his fifth marathon and the cold doesn't really bother him.

"Even the temperature, it's more ideal for us that it's cool than hot. I'm even in shorts and a T-shirt!"

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Ten distinct departures

If it is two small degrees at dawn, and even -1 in feeling, thousands of athletes warm up and try to warm up as best they can on the avenue des Champs-Élysées.

But the cold isn't an inconvenience either for Sam, a blue sweater on his back.

The weather doesn't matter to him: for this Brussels resident, the important thing is the time.

"I'm curious. It's the second marathon, so I hope to go below three hours. Last time I did three hours and one minute. I hope this time it will be fine," explains he at the microphone of Europe 1.

Before crossing the finish line, you must already leave.

The organizers have planned ten separate departures.

This means that when the first runners have arrived, the last will not have left yet.

The first departure takes place around 8 am.