Les Foulées de Vertou.
The Trail Louis l'Infatigable is the long course of the Foulées de Vertou, a loop of about 24 kilometres reaching from the town out into the vineyards. No single climb here is big, but the ground rarely settles, and that constant up and down is what your preparation should be built around.
Foulées de Vertou 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The course links the paths, streets and parks of Vertou with the commune's vineyards and passes the Château du Coing beside the Maine. That change of scene shapes the day more than any one gradient. In 2026, 454 runners finished the long course, just under a third of everyone who finished across the event.
The first three kilometres or so stay flat and low, until a short ramp at km 3.5 sets the tone. Small waves follow up to km 10, where the route drops back almost to start level. Then comes the core of the race: from km 10.5 the longest climb runs for nearly a kilometre, touching eight percent, up to the high point of the loop, less than 40 metres above the start. All of that height is gone again by km 13, and at km 13.3 and 14.3 you have to win more than half of it back.
From km 16 to 19 the route lies quiet and low once more. What remains is no cool-down: two more short climbs arrive at km 19.3 and 22, and in the final kilometre one last wave gains about as much height again before the loop closes.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 3.5 | 0.3 km | 4.7 % | 6.8 % | +15 m | — |
| km 10.5 | 0.9 km | 3.9 % | 8 % | +34 m | — |
| km 13.3 | 0.7 km | 3.4 % | 6.3 % | +22 m | — |
| km 14.3 | 0.4 km | 5.5 % | 7.4 % | +19 m | — |
| km 19.3 | 0.4 km | 4.4 % | 5.8 % | +15 m | — |
| km 22.1 | 0.4 km | 3.3 % | 4.1 % | +13 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 Vertou.
Start under control
At a little over 11 metres of climbing per kilometre this loop is no climbers' race, yet a rigid split will not work either. Run by effort: let the watch slip a few seconds uphill and take them back without force on the descents and flats. Keep the flat first three kilometres below the pace you feel capable of.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 10 and 15. Force the long climb from km 10.5 and you pay two ramps later at km 14.3, the steepest stretch on average. Crest it able to keep jogging straight away, and use the drop to km 13 to recover rather than attack.
Spend what is left
The trap sits just after that. The flat section from km 16 to 19 invites you to win back lost time, and that is exactly the reserve you will miss at km 22 and on the last wave near the finish, which bites far harder after 20 kilometres than its height suggests.
Training plan for Foulées de Vertou: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect to be out for roughly 2:15 to 3:15 hours as an age-group runner. The effort stays mostly aerobic but is broken up by many short climbs, so you spend a long time in one zone without ever settling into an even rhythm.
Train race pace
That makes the long run on rolling ground your key session. Build it to about two to two and a half hours and put the hills deliberately in the second half, because at Vertou the longest climbs only start after km 10 and the last ones come close to the finish. Your legs need to learn to run uphill cleanly after an hour and a half. A rehearsal of about 15 kilometres with hills in the last third also shows you what pace you can really hold on the flat afterwards.
Rehearse the course
You do not need mountains for this. Ramps of 300 to 900 metres will do, quick on the way up and easy back down, in blocks of six to eight repeats. Take the downhill stretches seriously: the constant descending loads the quads more than the climbs do, and that fatigue settles the final five kilometres.
Arrive fresh
Streets, paths, parks and vineyards keep changing during the race, so train on mixed surfaces and pick a shoe that works on both firm and soft ground. The early October date puts your longest runs in late summer. Use them to practise eating and drinking on the move, since after two hours fuelling has a real say in your pace.
Courses
Download the Foulées de Vertou course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Les Foulées de Vertou 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 Vertou.
How long is Foulées de Vertou?
Foulées de Vertou is 24 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 Vertou have?
Foulées de Vertou has around 275 m of elevation gain over 24 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Foulées de Vertou?
Foulées de Vertou is classified as Rolling, averaging 11.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 28% of the route is flat, 35% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Foulées de Vertou have?
The hardest climb of Foulées de Vertou starts at kilometre 10.5, runs for 0.9 km at an average of 3.9% and gains 34 metres. 6 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Foulées de Vertou a loop course?
Yes, Foulées de Vertou is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Foulées de Vertou course?
Yes. The Foulées de Vertou 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 Vertou?
Preparation for Foulées de Vertou should account for 24 km, 275 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 Vertou?
The pacing strategy for Foulées de Vertou should reflect 24 km, 275 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 Vertou 2027 take place?
Les Foulées de Vertou 2027 takes place on October 3, 2027.
Where does Les Foulées de Vertou 2027 take place?
Les Foulées de Vertou 2027 takes place in Vertou, France.
Which distances does Foulées de Vertou offer?
Foulées de Vertou offers 3 distances — Trail Louis l'Infatigable: 24 km; Trail Michel l'Express: 10 km; Trail La Vaillante: 5 km.
How do I register for Foulées de Vertou?
Registration runs through the organiser: lesfouleesdevertou.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
