Paris crowns champion waiters in 'cafe race'

Hundreds of waiters raced through the streets of Paris on Sunday, bidding to become champion garcon in the Course des Cafes (cafe race).

To prove their prowess as industry professionals, competitors had to race while carrying a tray with a croissant, espresso and glass of water. If a crumb or drop were spilt, they would be disqualified.

Men's winner Samy Lamrous and speedy waitress Pauline van Wymeersch won their respective events, both held across two kilometers (1.24 miles) in the French capital. Lamrous reached the end line in 13 minutes 30 seconds while Van Wymeersch came first in 14 minutes and 12 seconds.

What ingredients do you need to be a Course des Cafe winner?

"We do this for 12 hours every day, including weekends and holidays," Van Wymeersch, who works at cafe Le Petit Pont a few hundred metres (yards) from city hall, explained to the news agency AFP.

And what's the secret to her success? "Twenty years on the job and good legs", she said.

In addition to medals and bragging rights, the two competitors also won a night's stay in a stylish hotel.

"Congratulations to everyone who took part," the city water authority Eau de Paris, which sponsored the event, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A jury was waiting for the contestants at the finish line to check the conditions of the food and beverages to make sure it was all still intact.

jsi/dj (AFP, AP)