Will French 800m record holder Gabriel Tual outrun the world's athletics stars at the Herculis meeting? The answer will be found tonight in Monaco.

The last time Gabriel Tual stopped on the Côte d'Azur, he was driven by the intention of breaking the European record for the 600 meters, during the Nikaïa meeting on May 31. Since then, the Girondin has gotten back to the heart of the matter. No more additional distances, hello to the preparation for the world championships in Tokyo next September , in his specialty, the 800 meters. "We mustn't rush things, it's still a long way off ," warns the French record holder for the distance. But I have my competitive spirit which tells me, "still, the others run fast" (laughs)."

So, to satisfy it and get up to speed with the competition before Herculis , Tual ran his first three 800 meters in one week, in mid-June. With, as a reference time, a double lap of the track in 1'42''72 in Stockholm, the 5th best performance in the world this season . "If we only look at the time, it's true that it's still very good. It's perhaps even my best comeback since the beginning of my career."

The three medalists from Paris present

This is the bare minimum required to face, today in Monaco , a field as high-level as it is impressive. Of the 12 entrants, 9 are among the world's Top 10 and the 8 runners from the Olympic final in Paris are expected on the tartan this evening. Suffice to say that the casting already sets the tone, that of a potential 800 meters being among the fastest in history, as was the case at the Olympic Games. "In my entire career, I don't think I've ever seen anything like this. I'm even happier to be taking part but we'll have to be up to it, because the slightest error will cost you dearly," anticipates the Aquitaine native.

Above all, a 5-star cast like this raises a crucial question. Could the world record held by Kenyan David Rudisha since 2012 and the London Games (1'40''91) fall today, on the Louis-II track? His compatriot, Olympic champion in Paris and favorite in Monaco, Emmanuel Wanyonyi , failed by two tenths last year in Lausanne and ran again in less than 1'42'' in Sweden a month ago. The record of Canadian Marco Arop is just three tenths above the best world time... "When I see these performances at the start of the season, I tell myself that the world record will fall. I don't know when, but it's only a matter of time."

“Be more in action than in reflection”

In this free-for-all, Gabriel Tual sees more of an opportunity to fine-tune his preparation for Tokyo than a royal road to a new French record, which he holds at 1:41:61. "Record or not, it's a dream field. We'll see where I stand two months before the World Championships and where the others are as well," adds the 6th best performer in history. "You might think that over the years, you know everyone by heart, but everyone has their own secret weapon. This race is an opportunity to study the paces, strategies, positions, and attacks of my competitors. To avoid being surprised and to be more in the action, the response, than the reflection."

Appearing relaxed in front of the media, the middle-distance runner, 3rd last year in the Principality , does not put himself under pressure and refuses to think that the key to the race will be solely physical condition . "The 800 meters is not just about the legs but also about race tactics. The advantage goes to the smartest in decision-making."

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