HYROX Paris Grand Palais 2026 - Pro Men preview
From April 23rd to 27th, the Grand Palais hosts one of the most anticipated HYROX events of the season. And in the Pro Men's category, the field is seriously strong. Here are a few athletes to watch:
The HYROX Paris Grand Palais 2026 is THE season-ending event for the top French athletes, and the Pro Men's field is truly exceptional on home soil.
THE FAVORITES
Julien Coquillaud-Salomon - The Record Holder
PB : 54:13 | AG 35-39 | 🇫🇷
He's on fire. Julien set the absolute French record in Pro Men in Mechelen a few weeks ago (54:13), smashing his own previous best. Before that: a podium finish in Katowice (55:30), a podium in Amsterdam (56:20). Three races, three top 3 finishes. If you're looking for the number one favorite this weekend, he's your man.
Xavier Dufour - The Rising Star
PB : 55:51 | AG 25-29 | 🇫🇷
Xavier is consistently delivering benchmark performances. Winner in Nice at the start of the season (55:51), then a French record in Pro Doubles with Martin Lecorgne (49:56 in Bilbao). A record they shattered last weekend at the Warsaw Major (5th place in 49:00). In Solo, he remains one of the most formidable French athletes on the circuit. A formidable runner, but with stations still needing refinement. A true podium contender.
Quentin Garel - The Metronome
PB : 56:15 | AG 25-29 | 🇫🇷
Quentin is the French revelation of the last two seasons. Winner in Toulouse a month ago (56:15), 2nd in Nice (56:56), 2nd in Turin – he never gives up. He will also compete in Pro Doubles. The guy runs a lot, runs well, and gains momentum with each race. At 28, with such consistency, he's clearly a potential podium finisher. And we're also hoping for a big performance, even if the Parisian floor isn't ideal for it.
Tommy Valentin - The Progression
PB : 56:51 | AG 30-34 | 🇫🇷
Tommy is progressing fast, very fast. From 1:07 in Nice 2024 to 56:51 in Toulouse last month (2nd behind Garel) – the improvement is huge. He will also be in Doubles with Quentin Garel. A formidable duo if they coordinate well.
Olivier Jouve - The All-Rounder
PB solo : 57:27 | AG 30-34 | 🇫🇷
Olivier is everywhere and always finishes strong. 3rd in Toulouse in Solo (57:27), but notably 2nd at the EMEA Championships in Doubles with Dimitry Martins (48:08) – a serious performance. In Solo, he still has room for improvement, but he knows how to handle the pressure of big events.
Oli Fricker - The English Threat
PB : 55:53 | AG 30-34 | 🏴
The only non-French athlete in the lineup, and certainly not the least dangerous. Oli competed in the EMEA Elite 15 Doubles in London (49:19 with Sean Noble), and is coming off a 55:53 in Bologna. At a major event, he's capable of doing serious damage. A serious dark horse and a contender for victory on a good day.
Guillaume Levoy - The Legend
PB open : 54:22 | AG 40-44 | 🇫🇷
Guillaume holds the absolute French record in Open Men (54:22 in Paris 2024 – 9th fastest worldwide all-time). Classified ELITE, Pro Doubles 40-49 World Champion in Chicago 2025 with Joffrey Voisin. This season, he seems more focused on Doubles and Mixed – but when he's on the starting line, he's always capable of surprising.
Joffrey Voisin - The Icon
PB 40-44 : 56:22 | AG 40-44 | 🇫🇷
49 HYROX races. Absolute national record for participations. 10 times in Elite 15. Joffrey is a legend of French HYROX. In Solo this season, he's a bit off his best form, but at an event like Paris Grand Palais – his home turf – he'll be all in. He's prepared specifically for this event and could deliver a big race.
Axel Montreuil - The Podcaster
PB solo : 59:48 | AG 25-29 |🇫🇷
In his first Pro season, he broke the one-hour barrier. Axel also delivered an immense performance in Doubles: 49:35 at the EMEA Double Open, 4th overall and a 25-29 world record. In Pro Men Solo, it will be tough to compete with the frontrunners, but he's a serious competitor who is progressing strongly and racing on home turf. He's also known for co-hosting the podcast "la roxzone," where you can regularly find summaries of various Hyrox events around the world.
Willy Georges - The Successful Transition
PB: 57:41| AG 30-34|🇫🇷
Many know Willy primarily as one of the best French CrossFit athletes of his generation – three appearances at the CrossFit Games (9th in 2018), founder of WYS Training, an affiliate box in Alsace. But this season, he's transitioned to HYROX, and his progress is clear: from 1:01:00 in Ghent in 2025 to 57:41 in Toulouse a month ago. In just a few races, he's already posting solid times for an athlete still learning the format. His background in functional endurance and training discipline suggest he still has a lot of room for improvement.
Lucas Parker - The Young English Wolf
PB : 57:18 | AG 16-24 | 🏴
Running coach, founder of the Running Academy, Myprotein ambassador. At just 20 years old, Lucas Parker already has 34 HYROX races under his belt. His profile is clearly run-oriented: 5k in 15:05, half marathon in 1:10:36, marathon in 2:35:56 – a foundation that places him among the best runners on the circuit. 9th in London Pro this season (57:18), he's gaining experience at lightning speed. Not yet in contention for the podium against the top French athletes, but the kind of profile that progresses quickly and could pull off an upset.
The Pro Men's field at this Paris Grand Palais 2026 is probably one of the strongest we've seen on French soil. Between recognized, experienced athletes and rising stars, the showdown (often from a distance as athletes are spread across multiple waves) will be incredibly interesting to follow.
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