Festival des Templiers 2026: Francesco Puppi and Martyna Mlynarczyk win the Grand Trail des Templiers

Runner-up in 2023, Italy’s Francesco Puppi won the Grand Trail des Templiers on Sunday, followed minutes later by Poland’s Martyna Mlynarczyk in the women’s race.

The medieval cavalcade led by Knights Templar through a mystical atmosphere at 5 a.m. in Millau set the stage for a legendary 32nd edition of the Grand Trail des Templiers (80 km and 3,400 m of elevation gain)

Around six and a half hours later, Italy’s Francesco Puppi (Hoka) delivered on his goal: returning here and taking the win after finishing second in 2023. France’s Dimitri Morel-Jean, who had won the 70K at the UTMJ earlier this month, matched the Italian with impressive determination for three-quarters of the race. But experienced runner Puppi, runner-up at the latest Western States, made his move just as the going got tough, when the Causses served up their punishing mix of steep trails and runnable tracks. “At kilometer 55, I picked up the pace, fought hard and believed I could do it,” said the long-haired Italian.

Dimitri Morel-Jean, meanwhile, could hardly believe it. “If someone had told me this morning that I’d be here… By kilometer 24, though, I knew there was something to fight for. Four of us reached the aid station together. This is the best race of my life!”

Benjamin Roubiol (Asics) completed the men’s podium. At the elite athletes’ press conference the day before, the former trail world champion said this was “a bonus race where he wanted to enjoy himself without pressure.” He rose to the challenge in style, securing a place on the podium.

A women’s podium made up of three first-time starters on the course

In the women’s race, Poland’s Martyna Mlynarczyk (Hoka), already a 50K winner this year at the Trail Alsace by UTMB, took control from the opening kilometers and never surrendered the lead. Losing no time at the aid stations and steadily extending her advantage, the Polish runner managed both her race and her rivals. “That was my strategy: focus on my own race!” she summed up in the finish area, adding that she was “really worn out by a beautiful but difficult race.”

Martyna Mlynarczyk receives the winner’s laurel crown a few meters before the finish line

Her closest challengers stayed tightly bunched for much of the race. It was former French national-team triathlete and U23 duathlon world champion Alexandra Cassan-Ferrier, 37, who produced the surprise, finishing second on her first attempt at the course. “,” said the former university triathlon world champion.

The podium was completed by Audrey Tanguy (Hoka), her ever-present smile still in place. Despite severe stomach pain, she eventually edged Adeline Martin (Kiprun), who had been battling for a podium spot. A specialist in elevation-heavy races, Audrey Tanguy described a long ordeal while admitting she had “realized she wasn’t so bad on the runnable sections after all!” Former French track runners Charlotte Mouchet (8:04:14, Salomon) and Maëva Danois (8:10:43, Asics), who have eight French team selections apiece, also impressed by finishing fifth and sixth respectively.

Grand Trail des Templiers top five

Men

1) Francesco Puppi (Italy): 6:32:20

2) Dimitri Morel-Jean (France): 6:39:27

3) Benjamin Roubiol (France): 6:44:09

4) Pierre Galbourdin (France): 6:45:00

5) Tracen Knopp (USA): 6:46:27

Women

1) Martyna Mlynarczyk (Poland): 7:41:18

2) Alexandra Cassan-Ferrier (France): 7:46:22

3) Audrey Tanguy (France): 7:51:05

4) Anna-Stiina Erkkila (Finland): 7:55:29

5) Charlotte Mouchet (France): 8:04:14

All the 2026 results