X-Alpine

Course

The course climbs 10400 m+. With 74 m/km of climbing, the course is exceptionally steep, with long hiking-grade sections. By gradient, 44% of the distance is uphill, 44% downhill and 12% flat. The longest climb runs 6.9 km at an average 19.3% grade (1325 m of vertical). The longest descent runs 11.6 km at 13.8% (1601 m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 47.0% over 0.4 km. The steepest descent drops at 46.4% over 0.3 km. Surface: 69% trail, 12% technical, 11% road, and 7% smooth. Flat-equivalent effort: 233.2 FlatKM.

Summits

The highest summit on the course is Savoleyres (2344 m), 12.6 km from the start.

Poles

Trekking poles are strongly recommended: about 20.4 km of the course is steep enough for them to pay off.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is high (index 75 of 100), with 45% of the load in the first half: 4 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 68, target pace until km 109, free after that. Short descents not listed: target pace.
• #4 · 7.7–10.9 km · 292 m D−, -9.2% · 92% of the race ahead → control
• #1 · 14.3–27.5 km · 1707 m D−, -13.0% · 80% of the race ahead → control
• #2 · 45.2–52.4 km · 1530 m D−, -21.4% · 62% of the race ahead → control
• #3 · 74.9–80.8 km · 854 m D−, -14.5% · 41% of the race ahead → target pace
• 129.8–136.1 km · 821 m D−, -13.0% · 0% of the race ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end
• Plus 2 more notable descents not listed: target pace.

Weather

Historically on race day, start temperatures range from 10°C to 19°C, around 8°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 46%. Heavy rain of 10.0 mm or more falls on about 6% of days around this date.