The Paris Olympics are still a few months away, but no matter how formidable Leyanis Pérez, Tariku Novales, Gaby Agúndez or any of the other young hopefuls for the Olympic event are, they’ll have a hard time putting the showing behind them. The race was held in Paris at the end of last month.

The reason is very simple. The athletes did not wear tights or T-shirts. They didn’t wear sneakers either. What they wore were aprons, ironed shirts and chinos. And in one hand they were holding a tray with a cup of coffee, a glass of water, and a croissant. To be clear, they were not athletes themselves, but waiters, who, even more strangely, were strange competitors in “La Course des Cafés”, a race that dates back to 1914 and has not been held for 13 years.

Fastest this side of the bar. The most popular are races involving elite athletes, but there are also races for every taste and color. There are bed races, races where men compete with their wives, races in which they participate in the weirdest costumes, and extreme races that only a handful of people can complete.

Among this wide range of competitions, “La Course des Cafés” in Paris stands out for its focus and tradition. The event tests the ability of waiters in the French capital to see who is the most talented and fastest in the guild.

So how do they do this? With a test that is not suitable for dull. Competitors will have to walk two kilometers through the streets of central Paris, holding in their hands a round tray consisting of a typical French breakfast: a cup of coffee, a glass of water and a croissant. Along their route, competitors pass part of the Marais, the historical and commercial center of the city.

All this leaves the popular Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, It’s the same marathon that the Olympic marathon started with, and it also follows a basic rule imposed by the organization: they can’t run. Waiters can increase the pace, but without overdoing it. Running is not allowed. The route must be completed at a pace that will not attract attention in any cafeteria or café. restaurant from Paris.

When the judges cross the finish line, they note both the time they traveled the route and the condition of their trays. To win, it is very important that the coffee cup and glass of water are as solid as possible, without dripping, and the croissant is in one piece.

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200 medal candidates. The 2024 event managed to attract around 200 waiters, who arrived at the starting point on March 24 with clean shirts and trays. The event attracted hospitality professionals as well as many curious onlookers, photographers and reporters from the Paris media, the rest of France and even other countries.

The competition was divided into several categories: targeting both male and female professionals; the other targeted apprentices and waiters in training. Among the firsts were Samy Lamrous and Pauline Van Wymeersch, who completed the course in 13 minutes 30 seconds and 14 minutes 12 seconds respectively. In the second category, designed for apprentices, Valentin Marques and Khadyja Sidibé both won in under 18 minutes.

request aprons. In addition to bragging rights for being the fastest waiter in Paris, the winners also took home their medals and a voucher for a free night at a luxury hotel. As 26-year-old contestant Thibault Poullot explained to France TV, there is an extra and probably more important reward: championing the profession with an activity that is also fun. “This is an opportunity to present our work,” he says.

The event was attended by waiters from some of Paris’ most well-known cafes and local officials from the French capital, such as Anne Hidalgo.

A career with tradition. If “La Course des Cafés” is so popular, it is partly because of its tradition. Similar events are held in Marseille or Limoges, but the Paris race may have a long history. Of course, there are periods of ups and downs, periods of great popularity and periods that are almost forgotten. The competition was first organized in 1914 under the name “La course de garçons de cafe”. At that time, the majority of waiters were men, and the test was presented slightly differently: professionals had to carry a tray on which they carried a bottle and three glasses, and their tours lasted at least eight kilometers.

Despite its popularity, the race has gone into decline. In fact, this was the first time it was celebrated in 13 years. To find the latest edition, you have to go back to 2011, during times of crisis, when the event was stopped from being held due to lack of sponsors. The organization managed to pick up the pace again this year, with the support of the City Council and Eau de Paris, the organization responsible for the city’s water supply, which contributed approximately 100,000 euros, which were used for trays, aprons and coffees. and croissants.

Pictures | Josephine Brueder / Ville de Paris

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