Les Sentiers des Valdotains

Course

The course climbs 8200 m+. With 68 m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 44% of the distance is uphill, 43% downhill and 13% flat. The longest climb runs 9.3 km at an average 14.3% grade (1323 m of vertical). The longest descent runs 8.2 km at 15.1% (1247 m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 47.1% over 0.6 km. The steepest descent drops at 40.1% over 0.6 km. Surface: 71% trail, 13% technical, 10% road, and 6% smooth. Flat-equivalent effort: 196.4 FlatKM.

Summits

The course also passes close to Monte Chatelard (1844 m).

Poles

Trekking poles are strongly recommended: about 20.9 km of the course is steep enough for them to pay off.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is high (index 66 of 100), with 44% of the load in the first half: 5 critical descents, the last of them run on already damaged legs. Downhill-specific preparation and a controlled early pace pay off here.

• Control on the marked descents until km 58, target pace until km 93, free after that. Short descents not listed: target pace.
• #3 · 15.6–18.2 km · 279 m D−, -10.7% · 84% of the race ahead → control
• #1 · 23.8–30.2 km · 933 m D−, -14.6% · 74% of the race ahead → control
• #5 · 33.7–36.2 km · 279 m D−, -11.4% · 69% of the race ahead → control
• #2 · 37.9–45.3 km · 1173 m D−, -15.9% · 61% of the race ahead → control
• #4 · 84.2–95.7 km · 1409 m D−, -12.2% · 18% of the race ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end
• 112.0–116.8 km · 560 m D−, -11.6% · 0% of the race ahead → even, let go at the end
• Plus 2 more notable descents not listed: target pace.

Weather

Historically on race day, start temperatures range from 18°C to 26°C, around 5°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 35%. Heavy rain of 10.0 mm or more falls on about 5% of days around this date.

Results

422 finishers completed the 2026 edition. Men's winner: Jérôme Vanderschaeghe (Belgium) in 15:33:44. Women's winner: Lisa Borzani (Italy) in 19:19:39.