Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup.
The Ultra Draille is the flagship of the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup: 105 km across the Hérault hinterland, from Brissac over the Roc Blanc, through the Buèges valleys, across the Saint-Baudille plateau and down to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, then on to Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers below the Pic Saint-Loup. Around 4,500 m of climbing, an early start and, for most runners, a night out on the course shape the preparation. Also known as Festa Trail and Festatrail.
the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The course is a single west-to-east line, not a loop. From km 3 it climbs almost 600 m in one go to the Roc Blanc, the high point of the day at about 900 m, then drops a long way to Saint-Jean-de-Buèges. That is where the hardest section starts: the climb to Peyre Martine gains about 410 m in two and a half kilometres with pitches beyond 35 percent, and a second steep ramp follows straight away. Via Pégairolles-de-Buèges and Mas Aubert two more strong climbs lift the route onto the Mont Saint-Baudille plateau around km 40 to 45.
From there the trail falls to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and the base de vie at km 54. Climbing out of the valley costs another 300-odd metres in two ramps, after which the ground via Mas Aubert, Causse-de-la-Selle and Saint-Martin-de-Londres becomes more rolling and runs faster. The final word belongs to a last climb of a little over 260 m from km 96 beyond Cazevieille, over the flank of the Pic Saint-Loup, before a steep drop to the finish.
The organiser promises wild, technical and panoramic trails between the Hérault valley, the causses and the Pic Saint-Loup massif. Much of the route crosses private land opened only for race day, and some of it runs on roads open to traffic. The festival, with a trail fair, music and the prize-givings, is concentrated in the finish town of Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2.7 | 5.6 km | 10.7 % | 25.8 % | +597 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 18 | 2.4 km | 17.1 % | 37.9 % | +412 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 20.5 | 1.6 km | 12.3 % | 46 % | +194 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 28.2 | 2.2 km | 14.6 % | 33.3 % | +324 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 36.4 | 1.8 km | 12.7 % | 35.4 % | +229 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 55.2 | 1.9 km | 11.7 % | 27 % | +217 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 57.3 | 1.8 km | 6.7 % | 23.7 % | +120 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 95.8 | 2.4 km | 11 % | 30.4 % | +264 m | Cat. 3 |
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 the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup.
Start under control
The first half decides the second. Five big climbs stand before Saint-Guilhem, and more than 40 percent of the whole course is steeper than eight percent, up or down. Take the Roc Blanc at a pace you could still talk at, and power-hike the steep ramps consistently rather than running them.
Hold your rhythm
The key section is Peyre Martine after km 18: steeper than anything else on the course and early enough that many over-invest here. Get through that double ramp under control, eat and drink again on the Saint-Baudille plateau, and you will have legs left for the descent to Saint-Guilhem.
Spend what is left
The trap sits after the base de vie. Beyond Saint-Guilhem the ground becomes more runnable, and that is exactly where tired runners lose time because they stop running at all. Keep something for the rolling kilometres across the causses and for the final ramp over the Pic Saint-Loup, which for most falls in the night or early morning.
Training plan for the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup: 12-week build
Build the base
For most age-group runners the Ultra Draille means between 17 and 26 hours on the move, with a night in between. The effort is mostly aerobic but far from steady: long, steep hiking sections alternate with technical descents and runnable plateaus, and around 4,500 m of descent loads the legs at least as much as the climbing.
Train race pace
The race is decided on the climbs up to km 45 and by how much is left after Saint-Guilhem. Train long days of 1,500 to 2,500 m of gain in which you hike 15 to 30 percent ramps economically, with poles if you plan to race with them. Back-to-back weekends with two long days in a row prepare you for the second half.
Rehearse the course
Technical, rocky descents belong in every training week, as does strength work for quads and calves so that the last 1,000 m of descent do not turn into an ordeal. At least one session with a head torch on rough ground is essential, because the causses and the Pic Saint-Loup come in the dark for most of the field.
Arrive fresh
Late May in the Hérault can already be warm by day, and much of the route is exposed. Rehearse your fuelling over many hours, including solid food at the base de vie, and get used to running in the heat.
Courses
Download the the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup 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 Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup.
How long is the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup?
the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup is 105 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 the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup have?
the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup has around 4,511 m of elevation gain over 105 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup?
the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup is classified as Mountainous, averaging 43.5 vertical metres per kilometre. 10% of the route is flat, 25% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 20% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup have?
The hardest climb of the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup starts at kilometre 2.7, runs for 5.6 km at an average of 10.7% and gains 597 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup a loop course?
No, the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup course?
Yes. The the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup 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 the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup?
Preparation for the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup should account for 105 km, 4,511 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 the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup?
The pacing strategy for the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup should reflect 105 km, 4,511 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 Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup take place?
Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup takes place on May 22, 2027.
Where does Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup take place?
Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup takes place in Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers, France.
Which distances does the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup offer?
the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup offers 9 distances — Ultra Draille: 105 km; Ultra Draille en relais de 5: 105 km; Hérault Trail: 65 km; Marathon de l'Hortus: 45 km; Marathon de l'Hortus en relais de 2: 44.7 km; Tour du Pic Saint-Loup: 24 km and 3 more.
How do I register for the Festa Trail Pic Saint-Loup?
Registration runs through the organiser: festatrail.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
