Helicon Mountain Race.
The Helicon Skyrace is the long, ISF-certified course of the Helicon Mountain Race near Livadia. It climbs from the valley to almost 1,400 metres on Mount Helicon and back down again, and since more than half the distance is steep in one direction or the other, climbing strength and descending legs matter more than flat speed.
Helicon Mountain Race 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts at about 190 metres and gets serious at once: a first climb from km 0.3 lifts you just over 200 metres in under two kilometres before a short drop. From km 5.3 the real ascent begins in stages. Two long ramps take you above 900 metres by km 11, and after a brief level stretch the hardest section of the day starts at km 12.3, roughly 600 metres of climbing in three and a half kilometres up to the high point around km 16.
Then the race turns over. By km 22 you have lost almost 600 metres, and a short, very steep counter-climb from km 24.7 takes you back above 1,000 metres once more. From there the course falls for around seven kilometres to just over 330 metres, and that long descent is where the damage you did not feel on the climbs adds up.
The finish is no cool-down. Between km 34 and 36 two short rises add about 100 metres between them, and the last two kilometres drop steeply back to the start. The whole day is spent on Mount Helicon around Livadia, on a loop that starts and finishes in the same place.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.3 | 1.7 km | 12.7 % | 28.5 % | +220 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 5.3 | 3.1 km | 14.5 % | 38.9 % | +446 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 9 | 1.9 km | 10.8 % | 30.6 % | +205 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 12.3 | 3.6 km | 17.3 % | 34.7 % | +617 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 16.7 | 0.3 km | 10.4 % | 18.7 % | +31 m | — |
| km 24.7 | 1.1 km | 17.5 % | 30 % | +184 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 34.5 | 0.5 km | 10 % | 17 % | +50 m | — |
| km 35.2 | 0.7 km | 7.9 % | 22.2 % | +51 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 Helicon Mountain Race.
Start under control
Split the Skyrace into two halves: uphill to km 16, mostly downhill after that. The first eleven kilometres are a warm-up whose gradients feel like racing; hike the steep parts early and deliberately, even while people around you are still running.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided on the big climb from km 12.3. At an average of about 17 percent it is half an hour or more of pure climbing work, best done at an even effort with hands on thighs. If you top out with enough left for the counter-climb at km 25, you control the day.
Spend what is left
The main trap is the descending. Well over 1,000 metres of it lie ahead of you after the summit, the longest stretch between km 26 and 33. Let it run freely there and your quads will be gone for the two small rises just before the finish and the steep final drop.
Training plan for Helicon Mountain Race: 12-week build
Build the base
For a typical age-group runner the Skyrace is an effort of roughly six to eight hours. Most of it is steady aerobic work, interrupted by long, steep climbs where heart rate is high and speed is low, and by long descents where the muscles work eccentrically.
Train race pace
The decisive sections ask for two abilities that are trained separately. For the big climb from km 12 you need power at hiking speed: hill efforts of 20 to 40 minutes on the steepest ground you can find, at a powerful hike rather than a run. For the long descents that follow, you need quads that survive many hundreds of metres of downhill.
Rehearse the course
So build long runs with a lot of vertical in both directions, and run the descents rather than walking them. Strength work for legs and core, especially eccentric exercises, is what separates controlled downhill running from stiff, braking steps in the closing kilometres.
Arrive fresh
An early April race date means most of your preparation falls into the winter months. Schedule the longest mountain sessions for February and March, and at least once rehearse a day where a long climb comes deep into the run.
Courses
Download the Helicon Mountain Race course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Helicon Mountain Race 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 Helicon Mountain Race.
How long is Helicon Mountain Race?
Helicon Mountain Race is 38 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 Helicon Mountain Race have?
Helicon Mountain Race has around 2,037 m of elevation gain over 38 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Helicon Mountain Race?
Helicon Mountain Race is classified as Mountainous, averaging 54.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 7% of the route is flat, 21% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 25% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Helicon Mountain Race have?
The hardest climb of Helicon Mountain Race starts at kilometre 12.3, runs for 3.6 km at an average of 17.3% and gains 617 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Helicon Mountain Race a loop course?
Yes, Helicon Mountain Race is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Helicon Mountain Race course?
Yes. The Helicon Mountain Race 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 Helicon Mountain Race?
Preparation for Helicon Mountain Race should account for 38 km, 2,037 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 Helicon Mountain Race?
The pacing strategy for Helicon Mountain Race should reflect 38 km, 2,037 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 Helicon Mountain Race 2027 take place?
Helicon Mountain Race 2027 takes place on April 3, 2027.
Where does Helicon Mountain Race 2027 take place?
Helicon Mountain Race 2027 takes place in Livadia, Greece.
Which distances does Helicon Mountain Race offer?
Helicon Mountain Race offers 4 distances — HELICON SKYRACE: 38 km; HELICON TRAIL: 26 km; HELICON BASIC: 14 km; HELICON SPRINT: 5.6 km.
How do I register for Helicon Mountain Race?
Registration runs through the organiser: heliconmountainrace.gr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
