MCC

Race strategy

Run hard on the first mountain, but save energy for the second.

• Big early climb with 1.9km gain. Hold your pace, save your legs for later.
• Steep 31% wall. Control your pace and stay focused.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 32.4km.
• Start · 0.0km–1.5km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.5km–16.2km · Climb of 1924m, high point 2212m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Work · 16.2km–27.1km · Descent of 1061m averaging 10%. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them.
• Fade · 27.1km–32.4km · Plus 1 more climb. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 32.4km–37.8km · Descent of 289m averaging 5%. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line.

Course

The course climbs 2300m+. With 58m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 45% of the distance is uphill, 37% downhill and 18% flat. The longest climb runs 16.2km at an average 11.9% grade (1924m of vertical). The longest descent runs 10.9km at an average 9.8% grade (1061m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 34.1% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 21.7% over 0.6km. Surface: 67% trail, 17% road, 9% smooth, and 7% technical. Flat-equivalent effort: 58.8 FlatKM.

Poles

Trekking poles are worth taking: about 6.8km of the course favours them.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 25 of 100), with 24% of the load in the first half: 1 descent deserves a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 32.4km.
• #1 · 16.2–27.1 km · 1061 m D−, -9.7% · 10.7 km ahead → your pace

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 13°C to 24°C, with around 13°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 43%.

Results

1,125 finishers completed the 2025 edition. Men's winner: Yoann Stuck (France) in 3:40:10. Women's winner: Marine Quintard (France) in 4:16:24.