X-Plore

Course

The course climbs 1400 m+. With 52 m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 50% of the distance is uphill, 44% downhill and 6% flat. The longest climb runs 5.1 km at an average 9.0% grade (465 m of vertical). The longest descent runs 2.6 km at 9.2% (241 m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 40.8% over 0.2 km. The steepest descent drops at 47.6% over 0.2 km. Surface: 79% trail, 10% road, and 8% smooth. Flat-equivalent effort: 44.0 FlatKM.

Summits

The highest summit on the course is Attelas (2727 m), 15.7 km from the start. The course also passes close to Tête des Vaux (2725 m) and Savoleyres (2372 m).

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here — only about 4.6 km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 23 of 100), with 21% of the load in the first half: 0 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Control on the marked descents until km 14, target pace until km 22, free after that. Short descents not listed: target pace.
• 8.0–11.5 km · 266 m D−, -7.5% · 58% of the race ahead → control
• 15.6–23.9 km · 1074 m D−, -12.9% · 12% of the race ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end

Weather

Historically on race day, start temperatures range from 10°C to 19°C, around 10°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.