Les Foulées du Pont

Les Foulées du Pont is a road race held in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, on the Loire-Atlantique coast of western France. Its main feature is the Saint-Nazaire Bridge, offering runners a rare opportunity to cross a major road bridge that typically handles around 30,000 vehicles daily over the Loire estuary. The event features 10 km and 5 km races, alongside children's races named Galopades enfants. The 10 km is for participants aged 16 and older, and the 5 km is for those aged 14 and older. The course begins and ends in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, incorporating town roads, a seaside environment, and the bridge or viaduct section. The Saint-Nazaire Bridge connects Saint-Brevin-les-Pins on the south bank to Saint-Nazaire on the north bank, spanning the Route bleue for 3,356 metres of concrete and steel. It includes 56 piers, 72 cable-stayed supports, a central span of 404 metres, and reaches a height of 68 metres above the estuary. Prior to the bridge's construction, ferries managed the crossing. For almost fifty years after its opening, it was the longest bridge in France. On race day, traffic is halted on the bridge, with additional limitations for pedestrians and cyclists before the road is closed.