Termieres dera Libertat

Race strategy

Hold a steady pace and save energy for every section.

• Big early climb with 2.3km gain. Hold your pace, save your legs for later.
• 1302m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• Final 1348m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
• Long race. Control your HR and effort. Early mistakes cost the most.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the descents until 49.9km, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 63.0km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• 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–20.6km · Climb of 2260m. 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 · 20.6km–41.7km · Descent of 1302m averaging 14%, high point 2451m, climb of 1274m. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Fade · 41.7km–63.0km · Descent of 973m averaging 12%, climb of 1131m. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. Hike the steepest pitches. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 63.0km–72.9km · Descent of 1348m averaging 14%. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Very long descent: first half under control, then even, let go only near the end. Hike the steepest pitches.

Course

The course climbs 5100m+. With 68m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 43% of the distance is uphill, 47% downhill and 10% flat. The longest climb runs 20.6km at an average 10.9% grade (2260m of vertical). The longest descent runs 9.9km at an average 13.6% grade (1348m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 42.9% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 37.4% over 0.2km. Surface: 84% trail, 7% smooth, and 5% technical. Flat-equivalent effort: 114.6 FlatKM.