Les Foulées de Bayeux.
The Marathon des Héros at the Foulées de Bayeux runs from Grandcamp-Maisy along the D-Day coast to Bayeux, past the Pointe du Hoc, along the Omaha Beach seawall and through the fishing port of Port-en-Bessin. It is not a flat seaside run: the course drops to sea level and climbs back to the plateau several times, and that rhythm is what the preparation has to address.
Foulées de Bayeux 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start is in the harbour village of Grandcamp-Maisy, the finish in the Stade Henry Jeanne in Bayeux. In between the course mostly follows the VéloMaritime, the coastal cycle route whose opening made this course possible. The first half takes in the Pointe du Hoc and drops back to the water, until around kilometre 15 the race runs on the seawall promenade between Vierville-sur-Mer and Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, right along Omaha Beach.
Then comes the longest climb of the day: about four kilometres of steady rise from the promenade up to the plateau by the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, the highest point of the race near halfway. Rolling kilometres across the hinterland follow before the course drops sharply into Port-en-Bessin around kilometre 33 and runs along the fishing harbour. The final eight kilometres climb gradually back up to Bayeux.
The race only dates from 2026, when it joined the Foulées programme, itself running since 1984, with about 1,900 entrants. It is held in late March on an open coastline where wind and cool air can be part of the day. The organiser runs shuttles from Bayeux to the start.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 12.8 | 0.4 km | 5.9 % | 8.9 % | +22 m | — |
| km 16.4 | 0.9 km | 3.4 % | 6.7 % | +31 m | — |
| km 24.2 | 0.8 km | 4 % | 7.1 % | +30 m | — |
| km 29.1 | 0.7 km | 4.1 % | 9.7 % | +28 m | — |
| km 31 | 0.3 km | 5.2 % | 10.8 % | +17 m | — |
| km 33.4 | 0.4 km | 3 % | 3.6 % | +11 m | — |
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 Foulées de Bayeux.
Start under control
The first half is where you can lose time without noticing. The rollers to the Pointe du Hoc and back down to Omaha Beach are short: run them by feel rather than by split, and use the flat promenade to settle back into rhythm.
Hold your rhythm
The race-deciding section is the long climb from the promenade up to Colleville. Four kilometres of steady rise cost time you do not need to win back at once; holding goal pace here is paid for in the rolling kilometres that follow. Let the pace drift and keep your breathing calm.
Spend what is left
The trap is at the end. After the steep descent into Port-en-Bessin, which loads the quads, the course rises slowly for eight kilometres to Bayeux. Save something for that closing drag, and expect that on the open coast a headwind can cost more on some stretches than any gradient.
Training plan for Foulées de Bayeux: 12-week build
Build the base
For most runners this marathon takes between three and a half and five hours; the organiser's pacers cover targets from three hours to just under five. The effort is mainly aerobic, but it is broken up again and again by the shifts between sea level and the plateau, which a purely flat marathon build does not prepare.
Train race pace
The key sections are the four-kilometre climb to Colleville in the middle of the race and the long, shallow rise to Bayeux over the final eight kilometres. Build your long runs on rolling routes and put a longer, steady climb into their second half, so you learn to run uphill smoothly when tired.
Rehearse the course
The steep descent into Port-en-Bessin comes late. Downhill running under fatigue, for example at the end of a long run, prepares the quads for that load.
Arrive fresh
The race is in late March on an open coastline. Train through the winter in wind and cold as well, test your kit for changeable conditions, and practise taking fuel on the move when it is cool and thirst is less noticeable.
Courses
Download the Foulées de Bayeux course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Les Foulées de Bayeux 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 Les Foulées de Bayeux.
How long is Foulées de Bayeux?
Foulées de Bayeux is 42.2 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 Foulées de Bayeux have?
Foulées de Bayeux has around 472 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Foulées de Bayeux?
Foulées de Bayeux is classified as Rolling, averaging 11.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 37% of the route is flat, 34% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 1% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Foulées de Bayeux have?
The hardest climb of Foulées de Bayeux starts at kilometre 16.4, runs for 0.9 km at an average of 3.4% and gains 31 metres. 6 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Foulées de Bayeux a loop course?
No, Foulées de Bayeux is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Foulées de Bayeux course?
Yes. The Foulées de Bayeux 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 Foulées de Bayeux?
Preparation for Foulées de Bayeux should account for 42.2 km, 472 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 Foulées de Bayeux?
The pacing strategy for Foulées de Bayeux should reflect 42.2 km, 472 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 Les Foulées de Bayeux take place?
Les Foulées de Bayeux takes place on March 21, 2027.
Where does Les Foulées de Bayeux take place?
Les Foulées de Bayeux takes place in Bayeux, France.
Which distances does Foulées de Bayeux offer?
Foulées de Bayeux offers 5 distances — Marathon des Héros: 42.2 km; Marathon des Héros en relais à 4: 42.2 km; Semi-marathon Alain Buchart: 21.1 km; 10 km Intersport: 10 km; 5 km Aésio Mutuelle: 5 km.
How do I register for Foulées de Bayeux?
Registration runs through the organiser: les-foulees-de-bayeux.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
