When the last pigeons of the European long-distance racing season cross the threshold of the loft, the calendar leaves no room for doubt: the Perpignan International serves as the natural culmination of the continental marathon cycle. After Pau and Barcelona, Perpignan closes the pigeon racing summer with a long-distance race from the south of France to the most remote lofts in northern Europe. In the 2026 edition, the Belgian team Depasse-Lardenoye de Wagnelee brought the season to a close with an international victory that should not be overlooked.
Race data
For the 2026 Perpignan International, 10,658 pigeons were entered, 2,953 of which came from Belgian lofts. The international winner in the Old Pigeons category belongs to the Depasse-Lardenoye loft (Wagnelee, Belgium): it was verified on Saturday at 7:17 PM CEST after covering 795.7 km at an average speed of 1,079.56 m/min .
The differences in distance between countries give this race its own unique dimension. The French national champion, Serge Martin (Missy-Les-Pierrepont), was checked on Saturday at 5:40 PM CEST from 688 km away, at 1,074 m/min. The Dutch national champion, Jay Lissenberg (Utrecht), had to wait until 2:11 AM on Sunday to check his pigeon from almost 978 km away, at 1,053 m/min. Three clocks in three different countries, three arrival times separated by hours: this is how the true reach of Perpignan is measured.
Who are Depasse-Lardenoye
Stéphane Depasse and Jo Lardenoye have been a leading force in long-distance and marathon racing for decades, based in Wagnelee, in the Walloon region of Belgium. Their two flagship races are Barcelona and Perpignan, and the numbers back up this specialization: since 2005, this loft has accumulated 17 top 100 finishes in Barcelona , with 8 top 50 placements and 4 top 10 finishes. In Perpignan, their track record is equally impressive: 12 top 100 finishes in 13 races.
Among their most renowned pigeons is 'Francine' , winner of the 1st Barcelona Provincial and 7th National against 7,301 birds. Also noteworthy is the male 'Di Stefano' , named 1st National Ace Pigeon for Long Distance in 2006 with four top 100 national rankings in Barcelona and Perpignan. The bloodline they manage in Wagnelee, known as the Frazette dynasty, has demonstrated uncommon consistency over the longest distances on the continent.
The victory in Perpignan in 2026 is not an isolated event. It is the continuation of a trajectory built over more than two decades of selection focused on the most demanding races on the European calendar.
The 2026 marathon season in perspective
The 2026 pigeon racing summer once again brought together the best of Europe's top long-distance racers at three major events. Pau opened the season in June with over 10,600 entries; Barcelona, with 16,278 birds in Viejas, confirmed its status as the queen of the races in July; and Perpignan closed out the trio in August with 10,658 participants and results ranging from the French national champion's 688 km to the Dutchman's nearly 978 km, including a night flight. Three distinct races in terms of terrain, distance, and conditions; all three form the core of modern European marathon racing.
For breeders who closely follow long-distance racing, the consistency of a loft like Depasse-Lardenoye in both international marathon races serves as a benchmark when evaluating bloodlines, choosing breeding stock, or planning for the next season. That kind of long-term track record is only built with a well-defined selection system and the patience to maintain it year after year.
If you want to document the results and pedigrees of your long-distance pigeons in one place, FirePedigree allows you to record every race and cross-reference that information with your entire family tree.