Sébastien Spehler

About

Sébastien Spehler is a French trail runner born April 14, 1988 in Colmar in the Alsace region of eastern France, whose remarkable career began not on the trail but in canicross — competitive cross-country running with sled dogs. Entering athletics at age six, he later served as a military dog handler in the French Army and in 2006 discovered canicross competition. Between 2009 and 2011 he won multiple French, European, and World Championship titles in canicross before transitioning to mountain running and trail in 2012. His 2013 season was extraordinary: he won the Lavaredo Ultra Trail in the Dolomites (85.3km, 7:39), the Gapen'cimes — the French Championship for long trail — and the Trail des Crêtes Vosgiennes, immediately establishing himself as one of the best in Europe. Victories accumulated rapidly: the Ventoux trail and 6000D in 2014, the 6000D again in 2015 and 2016, the Maxi Race of Lake Annecy in 2014 and 2017, the Grand Trail des Templiers in 2017 and 2018, and the French Mountain Running Championship. He returned to the top in 2024, winning the 100M race at Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB in 17:24:21, confirming he remains one of France's most versatile and durable mountain runners. A Salomon Running Trail athlete, sports coach, and nutrition consultant, he trains in the mountains near Mulhouse, Alsace.

Notable Wins

• — Lavaredo Ultra Trail 2013 (85.3km
• — 7:39)
• — Gapen'cimes (French Trail Championship) 2013
• — Trail des Crêtes Vosgiennes 2013
• — 6000D 2014/2015/2016
• — Ventoux trail 2014
• — Maxi Race Lake Annecy 2014/2017
• — Grand Trail des Templiers 2017/2018
• — French Mountain Running Champion
• — Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB 100M 2024

Race History