World 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier just missed Berihu Aregawi’s world 5km record of 12:49 in the Urban Trail de Lille on Saturday (4) afternoon but the Frenchman shattered his European record in taking the victory on home soil.
Gressier prevailed in a thrilling four-way battle in the last kilometre, winning in 12:51 to break his previous European by six seconds. Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune finished second in 12:54 with European 10km champion and record-holder Yann Schrub taking third in 12:56, also eclipsing the previous European record by one second.
The prospect of the world record being revised looked unlikely as a large group was still in contact through the 2.5 kilometre checkpoint which was reached in approximately 6:30. But a fast and frantic final kilometre which played out in front of a fervent crowd in Lille brought the winning time comfortably inside the previous European record and put Aregawi’s four-year-old record on notice.
The Ethiopian duo of Yihune and Godana Gemechu were responsible for the upturn in pace in the latter stages but their teamwork and coordination couldn’t quite blunt Gressier's renowned finishing speed. The world champion moved to the front for the first time with just over 12 minutes on the clock and the 28-year-old kicked decisively and devastatingly away from his challengers.
His finishing speed was such that Gressier almost reeled in Aregawi’s world record but the Frenchman, who covered the last kilometre in roughly 2:26, was still content with his efforts in his first competitive appearance on home soil since winning the world 10,000m title in Tokyo last September.
"It was an incredible race. But to be honest, I knew Yann [Schrub] was in top form whereas I had a lot of trouble recovering from the emotions after the World Championships. I rode that title for two months, I felt untouchable, mentally strong, and then after Christmas, after eating a lot of chocolate, I hit a physical wall. The emotional comedown was very difficult to manage.
"I managed to keep my head down, cancel competitions, question myself, eat vegetables every night - it wasn't easy. That is to say I put in a lot of effort these last five weeks because I knew Yann was in top form. I take my hat off to him," said Gressier, who has been training in South Africa in recent months, as quoted by L’Equipe.
2023 world 1500m bronze medallist Narve Gilje Nordas finished seventh in a Norwegian record of 13:10 with his training partner Jose Carlos Pinto from Portugal ninth in 13:13.
Germany's Konstanze Klosterhalfen was the leading European finisher in the women's 5km. She finished seventh in 15:04 in a race won by Ethiopia's world U20 cross country champion Marta Alemayo in 14:15.
Full results here.
Updated all-time road 5km list
12:49 - Berihu Aregawi (ETH) Barcelona 2021
12:50 - Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) Lille 2023
12:51 - Jimmy Gressier (FRA) Lille 2026
12:51 - Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) Monaco 2020
12:54 - Addisu Yihune (ETH) Lille 2026
12:55 - Nicholas Kipkorir (KEN) Herzogenaurach 2022
12:56 - Yann Schrub (FRA) Lille 2026
12:57 - Santiago Catrofe (URU) Lille 2025
12:58 - Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) Al Khobar 2024
13:00 - Sammy Kipketer (KEN) Carlsbad 2000
13:00 - Harbert Kibet (UGA) Tokyo 2025
13:00 - Waberi Igueh Hussein (DJI) Al Khobar 2025