Les Hivernales du RCB.
Ten kilometres through the Sonian Forest, and the course tilts upward almost as soon as you leave the ISB athletics track: the shortest race at Les Hivernales du RCB rarely settles. For anyone wanting an honest fitness check in early February, this is a rolling tempo effort with more changes of rhythm than the distance suggests.
Les Hivernales du RCB 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
From the ISB athletics track the loop heads straight into its first climb. By kilometre 1.2 you have gathered around 35 metres, more than a quarter of everything the race asks for. The course then drops back until kilometre 2, rises gently again and turns properly upward at kilometre 3.3 for its steepest passage: 350 metres at almost six percent. The ground stays high after that, and the top of the course, a little over 145 metres, only comes at kilometre 4.8.
The second half is kinder. The loop gives back around 30 metres by kilometre 6.6, then runs nearly level for more than a kilometre. A short climb around kilometre 8 closes the work, before the final kilometre falls clearly back to where you started.
The race belongs to an event that brings nearly 2,000 runners into the forest at Watermael-Boitsfort each year. It counts towards the Run in Brussels challenge and supports the association Un Pas de Plus.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.1 | 0.5 km | 4.3 % | 9 % | +22 m | — |
| km 0.8 | 0.3 km | 4.2 % | 5.8 % | +14 m | — |
| km 3.3 | 0.4 km | 5.9 % | 7.6 % | +21 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 Les Hivernales du RCB.
Start under control
The biggest danger sits in the first kilometre. The climb starts before the field has sorted itself out, and following the crowd costs you twice: your legs are not warm yet, and your heart rate stays high on the descent that follows. Run this stretch noticeably below race pace and treat the drop after it as your way into a proper rhythm.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 3.3 and 4.8. The short, steep passage offers no recovery after it, because the ground stays high. If you can still run smoothly there, the long fall that follows is yours to use; if you emptied yourself on the ramp, you lose the most time on the easiest part of the course.
Spend what is left
The nearly level stretch from kilometre 6.6 is easy to underrate because it feels like a break. Keep the pressure on here and you will have enough left for the short climb around kilometre 8. After that the course drops away, and you can spend whatever remains.
Training plan for Les Hivernales du RCB: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners will be out for roughly 50 to 70 minutes, almost all of it just below threshold. Even so, this is not a steady run: the waves keep pushing you briefly above that line, and the falling stretches have to work as recovery on the move, not as a rest.
Train race pace
Two places shape the preparation. The climb straight after the start asks you to stay controlled uphill while everyone around you goes faster. The passage at kilometre 3.3 asks instead for short strength and the ability to keep running at the top without losing speed.
Rehearse the course
Repeats of 300 to 400 metres on a moderate slope suit this well, as long as you do not stop at the crest but carry on for another minute at race pace. Add one weekly tempo run on undulating ground, holding effort constant and letting the pace move with the terrain. Long sessions beyond race distance matter less here than this rhythm work.
Arrive fresh
The decisive weeks fall in December and January. Take your quality sessions outdoors onto unpaved ground on purpose, because a treadmill gives you neither the changes of rhythm nor the downhill running. Since the race climbs almost from the gun, your warm-up belongs in the plan too: use hard sessions to find out how much jogging and how many strides you need so the first climb does not meet cold legs. The single refreshment station is no planning factor at this duration.
Courses
Download the Les Hivernales du RCB course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Les Hivernales du RCB dynamically
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Everything about Les Hivernales du RCB.
How long is Les Hivernales du RCB?
Les Hivernales du RCB is 10 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 Les Hivernales du RCB have?
Les Hivernales du RCB has around 132 m of elevation gain over 10 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Les Hivernales du RCB?
Les Hivernales du RCB is classified as Rolling, averaging 13.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 29% of the route is flat, 37% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 1% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Les Hivernales du RCB have?
The hardest climb of Les Hivernales du RCB starts at kilometre 0.1, runs for 0.5 km at an average of 4.3% and gains 22 metres. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Les Hivernales du RCB a loop course?
Yes, Les Hivernales du RCB is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Les Hivernales du RCB course?
Yes. The Les Hivernales du RCB 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 Les Hivernales du RCB?
Preparation for Les Hivernales du RCB should account for 10 km, 132 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 Les Hivernales du RCB?
The pacing strategy for Les Hivernales du RCB should reflect 10 km, 132 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 Hivernales du RCB 2027 take place?
Les Hivernales du RCB 2027 takes place on February 7, 2027.
Where does Les Hivernales du RCB 2027 take place?
Les Hivernales du RCB 2027 takes place in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium.
Which distances does Les Hivernales du RCB offer?
Les Hivernales du RCB offers 3 distances — Les Hivernales 10 km: 10 km; Les Hivernales 20 km: 20 km; Les Hivernales Trail 39 km: 39 km.
How do I register for Les Hivernales du RCB?
Registration runs through the organiser: rcb-gal.be. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
