ETC

Course

The course climbs 1200 m+. With 80 m/km of climbing, the course is exceptionally steep, with long hiking-grade sections. By gradient, 44% of the distance is uphill, 53% downhill and 3% flat. The longest climb runs 2.6 km at an average 21.6% grade (559 m of vertical). The longest descent runs 3.3 km at 17.0% (561 m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 31.3% over 0.5 km. The steepest descent drops at 30.3% over 0.4 km. Surface: 70% trail, 14% technical, and 13% road. Flat-equivalent effort: 26.3 FlatKM.

Poles

Trekking poles are strongly recommended: about 4.4 km of the course is steep enough for them to pay off.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is low (index 18 of 100): a few descents worth noticing, none that decides the result.

• Control on the marked descents until km 7, target pace until km 12, free after that. Short descents not listed: target pace.
• 7.8–14.5 km · 889 m D−, -13.3% · 0% of the race ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end

Weather

Historically on race day, start temperatures range from 16°C to 26°C, around 17°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 46%. Heavy rain of 10.0 mm or more falls on about 10% of days around this date.