On Sunday, November 30, 2025, Barcelona once again turned into a giant running track for the Allianz Jean Bouin, the city’s most iconic road race. Thousands of recreational runners shared the streets with national elite athletes around Montjuïc and the main avenues. Whether you ran it, are thinking about toeing the line next year or simply enjoy following big races, this report is for you.
Why Jean Bouin is still “the race” in Barcelona
Jean Bouin is not just another 10K on the calendar. It is a historic race that has brought together generations of runners for more than a century, from school kids pinning on their first bib to elite athletes travelling to Montjuïc to chase a prestigious win. Every year, the area around Reina Maria Cristina, Plaça d’Espanya and the slopes of Montjuïc becomes an open-air stadium.
The 2025 edition kept the usual recipe:
- Two certified Open 5K and 10K courses, designed so that anyone can go for a PB or simply enjoy the atmosphere.
- School and federated races that turn Jean Bouin into a true festival for grassroots athletics.
- Men’s and women’s international races as the main event to close the morning with top-level competition.
The event stands out not only for its history, but also for its organisation: an efficient race expo, reinforced public transport, entertainment along the course and a strong volunteer team that makes everything work even with very different paces and goals on the same streets.
Key results from Jean Bouin 2025: elite athletes deliver
Montjuïc once again hosted a great show. In the men’s international race, Adam Maijo claimed victory over the 9.9 km course in 29:53, breaking away from the lead pack with a decisive late surge. Adrià Ceballos finished second in 30:26, with Xavi Badia rounding out the podium in 30:39.
In the women’s international race, Beatriz Álvarez took the win in 22:45. Esther Guerrero followed closely in 22:54, with Carla Masip third in 23:16. A podium packed with Spanish talent that confirms the depth of the national middle-distance scene.
Beyond the times, Jean Bouin 2025 reinforced its role as a key benchmark for Spanish elites right before the busy Christmas race block and the traditional San Silvestre events.
Open 10K and 5K: when the city belongs to everyday runners
The real magic of Jean Bouin lies in the mass participation field. From early in the morning, the 10K and 5K starts filled Reina Maria Cristina with colour: first-timers, groups of friends, local clubs, company teams and runners chasing a very specific time goal.
In the Open 10K, the front of the race was blazing fast. Pol Espinosa Valero broke the tape in 29:32, ahead of Filip Helmroth (29:37) and Bernat Kun Masvidal (29:43). Elite-level performances in a mass-participation race, once again showing how fast this Barcelona course can be.
Further back, thousands of runners were writing their own stories: some fighting to break 40 or 50 minutes, others simply focused on crossing the finish line with no pressure, surrounded by friends and family. That mix of levels and motivations is one of the race’s trademarks.
The course: where Jean Bouin is won (and lost)
The Jean Bouin course combines very fast sections with stretches that demand strength and pacing. While minor changes can occur from one year to another, its general structure is well known and worth understanding if you plan to run it in the future.
- Start on Reina Maria Cristina: a wide start that helps you find your place if you are chasing a time. Choosing the right starting corral is crucial.
- Flat and slightly rolling sections: long straights that invite you to settle into your target pace, but where small gradients can bite if you start too hard.
- Montjuïc segment: this is where the course gets tougher, with climbs that may not be extreme, but are enough to punish tired legs.
- Final kilometres towards the finish line: once you head back towards Plaça d’Espanya and the final straight, the race becomes a mental battle: keeping your stride when the legs are heavy is what really counts.
Veterans of the race agree on one point: you can’t let the excitement of the first kilometres dictate your pace. Jean Bouin invites you to run fast, but you need to save energy for the middle section and the final push.
Three lessons from Jean Bouin 2025 for your next 10K
Beyond the headline results, this year’s edition offers several practical takeaways you can apply to any 5K or 10K, in Barcelona or elsewhere.
1. Start corral choice can make or break your race
In big events, where you start shapes your entire experience. If you are aiming for a sub-45-minute 10K, lining up in the right corral will help you avoid constant weaving. If you are a first-timer, starting further back is often the best way to relax, enjoy the atmosphere and let the race unfold.
Practical tip: be honest with your goal time when you register and respect it on race day. It will make your run smoother and more enjoyable.
2. How to handle a fast course with rolling terrain
Jean Bouin is fast, but not completely flat. That forces you to run smart:
- Use the flat sections to settle into your target pace and breathe.
- On the climbs, focus on losing as little as possible rather than forcing the pace.
- On descents and favourable stretches, keep good form and let gravity help, without overstriding.
If you train in Barcelona or any hilly city, include workouts with gradients and pace changes that mimic this profile.
3. Running in a pack is a powerful tool
In the elite races, tight groups allowed athletes to maintain 3:00–3:05 min/km for long stretches. At your own level, you can apply the same idea: find a group that matches your pace, let others set the rhythm and focus on breathing, posture and cadence.
Running in a pack helps both physically —reducing mental fatigue and pace fluctuations— and mentally, by giving you small, immediate goals: “stay with this group until the next kilometre marker”.
Looking ahead: should you target Jean Bouin as a goal race?
If you live in or near Barcelona, the short answer is: yes. Jean Bouin is an ideal goal to close your autumn season, test yourself before a New Year’s Eve race or simply give structure to your training with a clear date and course.
- Date and weather: late November usually means cool temperatures, great for fast times.
- Certified course: perfect if you want an official PB in 5K or 10K.
- Atmosphere: thousands of runners, music, cheering crowds and the backdrop of Montjuïc provide a huge motivational boost.
If you want to fine-tune your preparation for future editions or other urban races, combine this race report with more specific training guides and planning tips. And if you enjoy exploring new routes in Barcelona or abroad, remember you can use apps like SnapRace to discover safe, curated courses that mimic the profile of Jean Bouin and help you rehearse your race strategy.
Jean Bouin 2025 is already in the books, but the mix of tradition, mass participation and elite performances explains why it remains Barcelona’s signature race. If you watched from the sidelines this year, maybe 2026 is the time to pin on a bib and experience the finish line from the inside.