100 teams, 200 young people and the Citadel of Corte transformed into an adventure playground. On Wednesday morning, the 400 competitors of ARWC 2026 took part in the World Championship prologue. Designed in partnership with the Cité Scolaire de Corte, this first event brought local young people right into the heart of the action. Two secondary school students joined each of the 100 teams from around the world, becoming part of the team for the event. In total, 200 students took part in this adventure, designed as an immersion in Corsica’s history, language, culture and environment.
From 9 a.m., the students began by making their way up to the Citadel before joining the team they had been paired with. Together, they set off on an orienteering course through this iconic site, with three workshops dedicated to Corsican culture along the way. It was an original way for competitors to discover Corsica while giving the students the opportunity to experience the World Championship from the inside, alongside the athletes, on the eve of the big start.
But behind the festive atmosphere and symbolic nature of the prologue, there was also a real sporting challenge. The results determine the starting order for the main race. On Thursday 1 October, from 6 a.m., the 100 teams will set off from Cours Pascal Paoli in groups of three, at 20-second intervals.