La Duchesse 2026

La Duchesse is a nighttime road race held in Nantes, located in the Loire-Atlantique department of western France. It takes place in early May and offers both 5 km and 10 km distances. The race begins at the Château des Ducs de Bretagne. The primary field is exclusively for women, though a duo format is available for either two women or a mixed pair. The course winds through central Nantes streets, including Cours des 50 Otages and Cours Cambronne. It passes several monuments and historic sites, avoiding anonymous roads. La Fabrique Sportive is the organizer, and the event benefits a charitable cause. The name references Marie Angélique de Scorailles, Duchess of Fontanges, a young noblewoman from Auvergne who was a favorite of Louis XIV and joined the French court as a teenager.