
The Half du Lac d'Annecy is a half-distance triathlon at the southern end of the Lac d'Annecy: a swim in clear lake water off the Plage de Doussard, two crossings of the Col du Marais on the bike and two run loops through the villages above the lake. A race decided on the climbs and settled on the run.
The swim is a 1.9 km triangle, with start and exit on the beach at Doussard. The bike is an out-and-back over the Col du Marais to the edge of Annecy, with the pass in both directions and around 1,000 m of climbing. The run is two loops through Doussard, Arnand, Chevaline, Marceau Dessus and Marceau Dessous, with views over the lake and three aid stations.
The race has been organised since 2007 by Team Mermillod Triathlon, a local club, and 2027 is its 18th edition. It is on the official FFTRI calendar, refereed under federation rules, and counts towards the 2027 Challenge National Triathlon Longues Distances. The start is at eight on Sunday morning, and a large buffet awaits every finisher.
+949 m
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 10 | 4 km | 5.3 % | 9.9 % | +208 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 14.1 | 0.9 km | 4.8 % | 9.2 % | +41 m | — |
| km 17.4 | 3.1 km | 3.3 % | 5.9 % | +100 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 38.8 | 1.1 km | 3.4 % | 5.9 % | +36 m | — |
| km 40.7 | 0.5 km | 4.4 % | 6.9 % | +21 m | — |
| km 42.9 | 0.6 km | 3.4 % | 5.3 % | +20 m | — |
| km 59.2 | 5.3 km | 3.7 % | 8.3 % | +195 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 68.7 | 1 km | 4.6 % | 7.1 % | +46 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.
The swim in the calm lake is short compared with the rest of the day; swim under control and use the run up to transition to settle. The bike takes up most of the day, and that is where the run is won or lost.
Spread your effort so that the second climb to the Col du Marais, after about 60 km, is no slower than the first. Manage that and you reach the run with reserves, and the run with its rises around Chevaline is not a flat course.
The trap of the day is the first pass on fresh legs. Whatever you overspend there is missing on the second run loop, when the midday sun is on the villages above the lake.

Expect about 4:30 to 7:00 hours in total. The effort is a long, mostly aerobic day, broken on the bike by two pass climbs and on the run by rolling sections over two loops.
In the water, open-water sessions with buoy sighting help; the lake is usually calm in June, but the water temperature decides whether wetsuits are allowed under FFTRI rules. On the bike, long rides with a sustained climb in the second half count most.
The core is brick training: long rides followed by a 30 to 60 minute run, so the first kilometres after the descent to Doussard do not come as a shock.
In late June the valley can get warm by midday, and that is exactly when you run. Do some brick sessions in the heat and practise eating and drinking enough on the bike.

Download the Half du Lac d'Annecy course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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.
Half du Lac d'Annecy is 108 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
The bike course at Half du Lac d'Annecy is classified as Rolling, averaging 11.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 35% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 1% is steeper than 6%.
The hardest climb on the bike course at Half du Lac d'Annecy starts at kilometre 10, runs for 4 km at an average of 5.3% and gains 208 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Yes. The Half du Lac d'Annecy 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.
Preparation for Half du Lac d'Annecy should account for 108 km, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
The pacing strategy for Half du Lac d'Annecy should reflect 108 km and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
Half du Lac d'Annecy takes place on June 20, 2027.
Half du Lac d'Annecy takes place in Doussard, France.
Half du Lac d'Annecy offers 2 distances — Half du Lac d'Annecy: 108 km; Half du Lac d'Annecy Relais: 108 km.
Registration runs through the organiser: tmt-triathlon.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.