Under the floodlights at Lens, a trail-running champion briefly took centre stage before Ligue 1’s sixth round began on Friday night.
Blandine L’Hirondel, the 35-year-old winner of the UTMB in August, was invited to kick off Lens’ home match against Lyon alongside her partner, Mathieu Masbernard.
L’Hirondel had already caught the attention of Lens supporters at the finish of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, where Masbernard was waiting for her wearing an RC Lens shirt. The image linked one of the summer’s major endurance-racing victories with the club from northern France.
Lens brought the couple to the stadium for the Friday evening fixture, which opened the sixth matchday of the Ligue 1 season. L’Hirondel then walked onto the pitch to perform the ceremonial kick-off before Lens and Lyon began their league meeting.
