Verbier X-Plore

Race strategy

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

• Steep 32% wall. Control your pace and stay focused.
• High point at 2704m. Control your HR at altitude.
• Final 1336m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, and start the final descent from 15.6km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• Start · 0.0km–1.4km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.4km–15.6km · Climb of 1525m, high point 2704m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Home · 15.6km–27.2km · Descent of 1336m averaging 11%. 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. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine.

Course

The course climbs 1700m+. With 61m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 49% of the distance is uphill, 45% downhill and 6% flat. The longest climb runs 15.6km at an average 9.8% grade (1525m of vertical). The longest descent runs 11.7km at an average 11.5% grade (1336m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 39.4% over 0.2km. The steepest descent drops at 47.6% over 0.2km. Surface: 79% trail, 10% road, and 8% smooth.

Summits

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

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 3.5km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 23 of 100), with 20% of the load in the first half: 0 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, and start the final descent from 15.6km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• 15.6–27.2 km · 1336 m D−, -11.5% · 0.0 km ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end