Prague witnessed a night of record-breaking performances at the Birell Grand Prix 2025. Czech star Damián Vích set a new national benchmark in the men’s race, while Alessia Zarbo of France and Tereza Hrochová of the Czech Republic shattered women’s national records. The streets of the city buzzed with elite talent and over 10,000 runners from around the world.
The unique road race through the heart of Prague, carrying the prestigious World Athletics Road Race Label, was dominated by Czech record-holder Damián Vích. His winning time of 28:46 minutes is the fastest performance by a Czech runner in the 28-year history of the Birell 10K Night Race. In the women’s race, Czech and French athletes made history by breaking national records. France’s Alessia Zarbo won with 31:00, setting a new French record by just one second. Just behind her, two-time Olympian Tereza Hrochová finished second in 31:38, smashing her own Czech national record by 28 seconds.
This year’s elite start lists featured exclusively Czech long-distance talents on the men’s side, though Austrian 10,000m track champion Timo Hinterndorfer briefly challenged the field in the opening kilometres, but ultimately, the race belonged to the RunCzech Racing Team.
Vích, 27, surged ahead before the halfway mark and maintained a long solo run to the finish, becoming the first Czech athlete to run under 29 minutes in the history of the Birell 10K Night Race Prague.
“It was tough — the pacer only went through 4.5 km, and after that I missed someone to help push me through the harder section,” said Vích at the finish. “Up to halfway, I was even on pace to challenge my own national record (28:21) and maybe dip under 28 minutes, but I needed someone to share the work.”
The victory added another prestigious title to Vích’s season after his surprise triumph at the Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary in May.
Czech runners dominated the men’s podium. Martin Zajíc claimed second in 29:25, the second-fastest Czech performance in event history, while Tomáš Křivda took third in 29:38, moving into the top ten all-time Czech results at the race.
In the women’s field, French Olympian Alessia Zarbo led from the gun, providing the Czech stars with top-level competition. Her consistent pacing kept the crowd at Republic Square on edge, as she attacked her own national record — which she bettered by a single second.
“It was my very first time racing in Prague, and I’m extremely happy with the performance,” said Zarbo. “I actually visited Prague about ten years ago with my father, who was playing poker at the Hilton. It’s very special to come back and set a record here.”
The loudest cheers of the night, however, were reserved for Tereza Hrochová. Running a superb race, she crossed the line in 31:38, lowering her national 10K road record for the second time this year.
Bára Stýblová completed the women’s podium in 33:14, the fourth-fastest Czech time in the race’s history.
The evening’s main event was preceded by the adidas Women’s 5K Run, which was won by Laura Matulová in 16:54. A bronze medallist at this year’s Czech Half Marathon Championships, she continues to confirm her exceptional form.
More than 10,000 runners from 94 nations took to the streets of Prague on 6 September, creating an unforgettable festival of running.
The RunCzech series continues in just two weeks with the Mattoni Half Marathon Ústí nad Labem on 20 September, the grand finale of the EuroHeroes series.
Birell Evening Run 10K 2025 – Results
Men
- Damián Vích (CZE) – 28:46 = Czech race record
- Martin Zajíc (CZE) – 29:25
- Tomáš Křivda (CZE) – 29:38
- Patrik Vebr (CZE) – 30:26
- Jakub Glonek (CZE) – 30:31
Women
- Alessia Zarbo (FRA) – 31:00 = French national record
- Tereza Hrochová (CZE) – 31:38 = Czech national record
- Bára Stýblová (CZE) – 33:14
- Julia Kümpersová (GER) – 33:42
- Michaela Čepová (CZE) – 34:00
