Half

Race strategy

Run the climb at race pace, build your speed on the downhill, and go all out at the finish.

• Final 985m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
• Steep 31% wall. Control your pace and stay focused.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, and start the final descent from 12.7km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• Start · 0.0km–1.9km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.9km–12.7km · Climb of 1126m, high point 1721m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace.
• Home · 12.7km–22.6km · Descent of 985m averaging 10%. Build to the finish: leave whatever you have left out on the course. Very long descent: first half under control, then even, let go only near the end. Hike the steepest pitches.

Course

By gradient, 57% of the distance is uphill, 33% downhill and 10% flat. The longest climb runs 12.7km at an average 8.9% grade (1126m of vertical). The longest descent runs 9.9km at an average 9.9% grade (985m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 21.7% over 0.4km. The steepest descent drops at 30.8% over 0.5km. Surface: 75% trail and 22% road.

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 4.3km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is low (index 16 of 100): a few descents worth noting, none of them decisive.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, and start the final descent from 12.7km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• 12.6–22.6 km · 985 m D−, -9.9% · 0.0 km ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end