Thomas Cardin

“Balancing desire and reason.”

Thomas Cardin

Biography

Thomas Cardin is a French trail runner, born on February 9, 1995, in Paris and raised in Grenoble. After a youth shaped by competitive swimming, he discovered running and then trail running during his college years, joining the Taillefer Trail Team. He rose to the top of the French scene with multiple national titles, before delivering a landmark 2024 season: European Trail Champion in Annecy, winner of the Grand Trail des Templiers, and claiming his third SaintéLyon victory. He joined the KIPRUN Team Trail in 2024. Now a full-time professional athlete, he has pivoted to ultra-endurance, highlighted by a blockbuster win at the Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB (120k / 75 miles) and an incredible 4th-place finish at the legendary Western States 100.

Discipline

Trail / Mountain running

Race distances

20–40K / 45K / 50–60K / 80K / Ultra (100K+)

Nationality

🇫🇷 France

Date of birth

February 9, 1995

Hometown

Grenoble, France

With KIPRUN since

2024

Follow Thomas

Strava

Key highlights

European Champion – Trail (Annecy 2024)

He won the European Trail title in Annecy and capped off a landmark season, also claiming victory at the Grand Trail des Templiers.

Three-time SaintéLyon winner (2021, 2023 & 2024)

A specialist in fast and demanding profiles, he has won this iconic winter classic three times.

Historic Western States 100 Finish (2026)

Following a masterful victory at the Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB (120k / 75 miles), he achieved an extraordinary 4th-place finish at the legendary Western States 100.

Thomas Cardin 2025

Latest results

Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB (120k / 75 miles) — 1st (9:58:38); Ultra-Trail des Coursières (104k / 65 miles) — 1st (9:03:10); Western States 100 (100 miles) — 4th.

Trail du Ventoux (46k / 28.5 miles) — 1st (3:55:18); Grand Raid Ventoux (50k / 31 miles) — 1st (3:38:42); Zegama-Aizkorri — 6th (3:55:34); Marathon du Mont-Blanc (42k / 26.2 miles) — 3rd (3:46:29); La Frison Roche (42k / 26.2 miles) — 1st (4:02:16); WMTRC (Short Trail) — DNF; SaintExpress (SaintéLyon) — 1st (2:56:01).

European Off-Road Championships (Annecy) — European Champion, men’s trail (1st, 4:58:22); Grand Trail des Templiers (Millau) — winner (6:38:14); SaintéLyon (82k / 51 miles) — winner (5:52:21).

SaintéLyon winner: 1st (5:41:56); World Championships (WMTRC Innsbruck) Short Trail — 16th (4:37:50).

ERGYSPORT Trail du Ventoux (46k / 28.5 miles) — 1st (3:44:43); World Championships (WMTRC Chiang Mai) Short Trail — 6th (3:19:31) + team silver.

Away from racing, Thomas lives a very grounded, family-first life. Although he spent years balancing elite sports with a part-time job as an elementary school teacher in Chambéry, he recently made the leap to become a full-time pro athlete. This major pivot allows him to tackle the grueling training blocks required for ultra-endurance and maximize his recovery, all without sacrificing quality time with his family. What stands out most is his simple yet rigorous approach, rooted in consistency, smart decision-making, and a powerful team mindset.

Thomas Cardin Equipements

Thomas's gears

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