Mile & Stone Interviews Baptiste Chassagne

Really insightful comments from an elite trail runner, winner of the Diagonale des Fous and second place at UTMB in 2024, sharing his approach to the business side of the sport:

One thing is certain: I don’t appreciate over-communication. I try to use my energy for things that make sense. Our sport is currently going through a form of adolescent crisis. It had its childhood with figures who put us on the right track. A new generation will have to take up the torch, but it’s pulling apart, there are frictions linked to growth. I am not aligned with certain things I observed at UTMB 2025. It’s not related to the organization, and it remains the No. 1 race I dream of, but we get the impression that the UTMB of influence has taken over the UTMB of performance. I don’t want to contribute to a development of the sport that would move in that direction.

Here’s your answer to the entire dilemma of elite runners vs. influencers:

I decided to reinvest 20% of the bonuses I will receive via my partners by paying an independent press officer to help me capitalize in a virtuous way. In my mindset, it’s not: you win – the media become interested in you – you respond. I am part of an entrepreneurial approach. The idea is to build a lasting structure. I sometimes talk about this with young trail runners: you have to invest in yourself. It’s not easy because success is very volatile and we lack visibility. It’s a risk if things go badly. But if things go well, it’s a foundation.

We still don’t have hard numbers for what these wages for top trail runners actually amount to, but hearing what Baptiste is able to build for himself shows that there’s clearly enough to follow a strategy that goes beyond just showing up at any podcast that sends out an invite.