The three unmissable Trail events in France

It must be said: we are truly spoiled in France by the diversity of our landscapes and we are also lucky to be able to indulge in the practice of trail running in superb places. With the current craze for Trail Running, Trail events are multiplying in France. It is therefore not easy to select three unmissable Trail events in Metropolitan France. The choice was not easy, but we have still retained three that seem essential to us for different reasons.

The UTMB: the main event in the Mont Blanc massif

In the world of trail running, it is a bit like the Tour de France in terms of fame even if it is only one stage and one day of racing, at least for the fastest. The UTMB is a legendary race, beautiful and very difficult at the same time. The landscapes are magnificent, the race crosses three countries and goes around the highest mountain in Europe, Mont Blanc. It starts and ends in Chamonix, one of the legendary places in the world for mountaineering, hiking and also trail running. The UTMB or Ultra Trail Mont Blanc is the best known event with its 176K and 9900m of positive elevation gain, but there are other race formats ranging from 15K and 1200m of positive elevation gain with the YCC to the PTL and its 300K and 25000m of positive elevation gain. Other formats include a 40K, a 57K, a 101K and a 148K. In short, a real fireworks display of trail running with many races taking place in a grandiose setting with the UTMB race as the highlight, which remains the premier event and attracts the best ultra-trailers in the world as well as a crowd of ultra-trail enthusiasts who have patiently accumulated points or stones in the hope of participating in this premier event. Fortunately, there are other events and other distances that will allow a greater number of people to enjoy this prestigious event and for some to discover the Mont Blanc massif in which all the events take place during the last week of August. A life-size celebration of trail running over several days in a grandiose setting.

The Saintélyon: the beautiful and unpredictable night race at the end of autumn

The Saintélyon ​​takes place every year at the end of autumn and is run at night. The fact that it takes place at the end of November and that the start is given in the middle of the night has made it a monument, a myth in the landscape of trail races in France. The weather at the end of November is capricious: it can give rise to years with relatively mild conditions or on the contrary to heavy rain, or even snowfall and formation of black ice if the temperatures drop. Those who are chilly, abstain! The autumn weather therefore makes the race conditions very unpredictable on the paths and small country roads between Saint-Etienne and Lyon. This capricious and unpredictable weather also gives this unique race its reputation. Running at night is an experience to be had, with a slightly magical side. The serpentine of headlamps in the hills separating Saint-Étienne from the Lyon metropolitan area is an incredible spectacle, like a gigantic luminous snake undulating as the runners pass by and the elevation gain. In years when there is snow, it is an even more magical setting, even if the cold and the ice are a bit of a downside to the magical setting of a landscape that is sometimes completely white at the start of the race. A race to be favored to close the season with multiple distance options ranging from 13K and 230 m of positive elevation gain to 164K and 4800m of cumulative positive elevation gain for the bravest who do the Lyon-SaintéLyon round trip. Not forgetting the major race of the night: the SaintéLyon with its 82K and 2300m of positive elevation gain. Please note: the Saintélyon ​​can also be run as a relay in teams of 2, 3 or 4. A great way to share a challenge and a unique, unforgettable night with friends or family.

The Templar Festival: discovering the monumental landscapes of the Grandes Causses

The surroundings of Millau offer sublime landscapes with the Grandes Causses, a group of high limestone plateaus, valleys and gorges to the south of the Massif Central. It is in these magnificent and grandiose landscapes that the Festival des Templiers takes place. The word festival is particularly appropriate given the range of distances is varied for this major event in the world of trail running in France. An event that takes place in mid-October with the city of Millau as its central point. The best-known event is the Grand Trail des Templiers and its 80K and 3400m of positive elevation gain, but there is something for everyone, from short trail to long trail and even Ultra-Trail. The distances range from 8K to 100K and almost 4300m of positive elevation gain with a total of more than 10 races to choose from. What a great place to come and discover this superb region and its Grandes Causses and, along the way, admire the impressive Millau Viaduct, overlooking the town.

Three dates: end of August for the UTMB, mid-October for the Festival des Templiers and end of November for the Saintélyon ​​for three unique events celebrating the trail spirit in unique landscapes and atmospheres and the promise of unforgettable experiences, often with breathtaking views and exceptional moments.

I had to choose three, but I can't resist mentioning some runner-up events of these three major trail events with the Grand Raid des Pyrénées, the famous Diagonale des Fous in Reunion, the Maxi Race in Annecy around the lake or the Ultra Marin this time around the Gulf of Morbihan. All these events show the incredible richness and diversity of landscapes, playgrounds and challenges that Trail Running offers in France.