01:07France: Eiffel Tower hosts inaugural vertical race
The Eiffel Tower was closed to tourists on Friday as a number of elite athletes took part in 'La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel, a vertical race to the top of Paris' most iconic attraction.
Following in the footsteps of other famous landmarks, such as New York's Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower was transformed into a vertical race track, with competitors having to run up a total of 1665 steps before reaching the finish line 324 metres (1063 ft) above.
Positions in the race were only open to 60 experienced runners and elite athletes who were hand selected by a committee of experts. Taking gold in the men's category was Polish runner Piotr Lobodzinski, who made it to the top in just 7 minutes and 50 seconds, whilst in the women's race Australian Suzy Walsham took the winner's medal.
La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel marks the beginning of Ecotrail Paris, a weekend of racing throughout the city that involves a number of events including a grueling 80 kilometre (50 mile) race from the suburbs to a finish line under the Eiffel Tower.
01:07The Eiffel Tower was closed to tourists on Friday as a number of elite athletes took part in 'La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel, a vertical race to the top of Paris' most iconic attraction.
Following in the footsteps of other famous landmarks, such as New York's Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower was transformed into a vertical race track, with competitors having to run up a total of 1665 steps before reaching the finish line 324 metres (1063 ft) above.
Positions in the race were only open to 60 experienced runners and elite athletes who were hand selected by a committee of experts. Taking gold in the men's category was Polish runner Piotr Lobodzinski, who made it to the top in just 7 minutes and 50 seconds, whilst in the women's race Australian Suzy Walsham took the winner's medal.
La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel marks the beginning of Ecotrail Paris, a weekend of racing throughout the city that involves a number of events including a grueling 80 kilometre (50 mile) race from the suburbs to a finish line under the Eiffel Tower.