Colombettes Trail.
The Armailli is the long course of the Colombettes Trail, a loop from Vuadens with nearly 1,600 metres of climbing and hardly a flat kilometre in it. That climbing never comes in one piece: eight ascents follow one another into the final quarter, and the descents between them ask as much of your quads as the hills do.
Colombettes Trail 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The first four kilometres rise only gently from just over 800 metres. They are all the warm-up this race offers, because after that the ramps come one after another. The weight of the first half sits in two blocks: from km 7.4 you climb at around 12 percent. After a short interlude the second begins at km 12, barely any gentler, and two kilometres later it tops out at the highest point of the loop, just over 1,500 metres.
Nothing is settled up there. Only after a counter-climb at km 17 does the course drop about 470 metres in one go, down to km 22. Straight after that come two more ascents that lead back above 1,200 metres, then a second long descent to around 860 metres. The last climb, from km 31, is short, but at nearly 14 percent on average it is the steepest of the day, before the run down to Vuadens.
The Colombettes Trail runs for the third time in 2027, in mid-April, with three courses from Vuadens. The Armailli is the one for anyone who wants a full day on the mountain: some 700 metres separate its lowest and highest points, and almost half the distance is steep, uphill and downhill alike.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 4.1 | 1.9 km | 9.1 % | 20.9 % | +169 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 7.4 | 2.5 km | 12.5 % | 27.1 % | +313 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 10.6 | 1.2 km | 8.2 % | 16.1 % | +94 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 12 | 2 km | 11.4 % | 22.3 % | +228 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 17.2 | 0.8 km | 9.8 % | 17.5 % | +78 m | — |
| km 22.4 | 2.1 km | 8.2 % | 20.4 % | +175 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 24.7 | 1.3 km | 10.3 % | 31.8 % | +137 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 31.2 | 0.8 km | 13.8 % | 19.7 % | +110 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Colombettes Trail.
Start under control
This race is won on the second half, not the first. At the high point after 14 km you have done more than half the climbing but less than half the distance, and that imbalance tempts you to force the two long blocks. Take them at a brisk hike where the ramps call for it: at around 12 percent on average, running costs a lot and buys little.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 18 and 30. The long descent loads your quads, and straight afterwards you have to climb out of the low point at km 22. Anyone who can still ascend evenly here moves up the field. Anyone whose legs are already spent loses far more time on those two climbs and the second descent than there was to gain before.
Spend what is left
The biggest trap is the descent from km 18, precisely because after so much climbing it feels like recovery. Let it flow, without braking hard and without pushing. And save something for the short steep ramp from km 31: with more than 30 km in your legs it feels much bigger than its 110 metres of gain suggest.
Training plan for Colombettes Trail: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes are out on the Armailli for roughly 4:30 to 6:30 hours. That is a long aerobic effort but not a steady run: almost half the course is steep, and there are hardly any flat stretches on which your heart rate can settle. Strength and endurance are called on in constant alternation.
Train race pace
The decisive phases are the two long descents in the second half and the climbs that follow straight after the first of them. So train exactly that order: downhill running under fatigue, then a climb on which you have to find your rhythm again. Long runs that place most of their climbing in the second half mirror the race better than sessions that head straight up a hill.
Rehearse the course
The steep blocks need brisk hiking as a discipline of its own. Longer hill intervals on steep slopes at a fast walk make the ramps around km 8 and 13 predictable. Strength work for quads and calves, with the emphasis on the lowering phase, makes the descents bearable.
Arrive fresh
A race date of 17 April puts your build-up in the winter. Plan early how you will fit in climbing and downhill kilometres if your local paths are hard to run, and place your longest descent-heavy runs in the final weeks before the race. At the high point you are around 700 metres above the start, so pack one layer more than the start in Vuadens suggests.
Courses
Download the Colombettes Trail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Colombettes Trail dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Colombettes Trail.
How long is Colombettes Trail?
Colombettes Trail is 36 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Colombettes Trail have?
Colombettes Trail has around 1,581 m of elevation gain over 36 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Colombettes Trail?
Colombettes Trail is classified as Mountainous, averaging 43.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 8% of the route is flat, 23% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 25% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Colombettes Trail have?
The hardest climb of Colombettes Trail starts at kilometre 7.4, runs for 2.5 km at an average of 12.5% and gains 313 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Colombettes Trail a loop course?
Yes, Colombettes Trail is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Colombettes Trail course?
Yes. The Colombettes Trail course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Colombettes Trail?
Preparation for Colombettes Trail should account for 36 km, 1,581 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Colombettes Trail?
The pacing strategy for Colombettes Trail should reflect 36 km, 1,581 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Colombettes Trail take place?
Colombettes Trail takes place on April 17, 2027.
Where does Colombettes Trail take place?
Colombettes Trail takes place in Vuadens, Switzerland.
Which distances does Colombettes Trail offer?
Colombettes Trail offers 3 distances — Armailli 36 km: 36 km; Dzodzet 15 km: 15 km; Brebis 7 km: 7 km.
How do I register for Colombettes Trail?
Registration runs through the organiser: trail-colombettes.ch. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
