L'Eynavay'Trail.
Le Magnum Trail is the long format of L'Eynavay'Trail in Rochefort-du-Gard, and its difficulty has nothing to do with altitude: hardly any of the course lies above 230 metres, yet the climbing adds up to 970 metres. It comes in many short pieces, and that constant up and down is what your preparation targets.
L'Eynavay'Trail 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
You share the first ten kilometres with the 22 km course: a rolling opening, then the day's first steep ramp at km 8.6. Soon after, the long format turns away, and a climb of almost 900 metres to just over 210 metres opens the 15 kilometres that belong to it alone.
This middle section is what separates it from the shorter race. After a descent to km 14, the course plunges by around 100 metres in little more than a kilometre before km 18, down to just under 60 metres, the lowest point of the day. Right behind that it climbs out over 850 metres at almost 8 percent, the steepest sustained piece anywhere on the course. It then rolls between 130 and 160 metres until km 25.
There it rejoins the intermediate course, straight into the longest climb: 1.3 kilometres up to the high section between km 27 and 30. A dip at km 34 costs another 45 metres, then the course falls for more than five kilometres to 85 metres. Because the finish lies 50 metres higher, two short, steep rises follow. The race is in its tenth edition and counts towards the Challenge Gardois des Trails.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 8.6 | 0.6 km | 6.8 % | 14.8 % | +38 m | — |
| km 10.3 | 0.9 km | 7.3 % | 12.8 % | +64 m | — |
| km 17.8 | 0.9 km | 7.9 % | 12.4 % | +67 m | — |
| km 25.7 | 1.3 km | 4.9 % | 8.5 % | +62 m | — |
| km 31.7 | 0.5 km | 6.3 % | 10.3 % | +33 m | — |
| km 34.4 | 0.8 km | 5.9 % | 9.5 % | +46 m | — |
| km 40.6 | 0.4 km | 8.2 % | 16.7 % | +35 m | — |
| km 42.3 | 0.5 km | 6.3 % | 9.6 % | +30 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 L'Eynavay'Trail.
Start under control
Your budget here is the number of efforts, not the altitude. No climb lasts more than a few minutes, but they never stop coming, and each one you force at a run instead of a brisk hike is missing after km 30. Decide at the ramps around km 9 and 10 how steep it must get before you walk, then stick to it.
Hold your rhythm
The first test is the plunge before km 18. Brake hard and you carry loaded quads into the steepest sustained piece of the day, so let it run loosely and hike the climb out. The race is decided later, though, between km 25 and 37, where the longest climb, the high section and the dip come one after another. Get through there still moving well and the hardest part is behind you.
Spend what is left
The trap is the long descent that follows. It tempts you to win back lost minutes, and the bill arrives in the finale: the ramp at km 40.5 is steep enough to nearly stop you on tired quads.
Training plan for L'Eynavay'Trail: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 4:30 to 6:30 hours. That is a long aerobic effort pushed upward every few kilometres by a short climb. There is no long mountain to settle into a rhythm on, and just as little stretch where you simply cruise along.
Train race pace
The key is long runs over rolling ground, with hills packed as closely as on race day and the harder ones falling in the final third. Three to four hours is enough at the peak of your build, provided you are still running climbs properly in the second half rather than just getting it done.
Rehearse the course
Two targeted elements come on top. Hill intervals of three to six minutes match the length of the climbs in the race, and the same sessions are where you rehearse the brisk hike until it stops feeling like giving in. For the plunge before km 18 and the descent ahead of the finale, practise downhill running on tired legs: end some long runs with a descent, then add a short, steep climb.
Arrive fresh
The 21 February date puts the whole build in winter, with your longest runs in January. Find hilly ground early and block out those weekends. Since yours is the first of the three formats away, it pays to begin some long runs early in the morning and rehearse eating on the move.
Courses
Download the L'Eynavay'Trail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for L'Eynavay'Trail 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 L'Eynavay'Trail.
How long is L'Eynavay'Trail?
L'Eynavay'Trail is 42 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 L'Eynavay'Trail have?
L'Eynavay'Trail has around 793 m of elevation gain over 42 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of L'Eynavay'Trail?
L'Eynavay'Trail is classified as Hilly, averaging 18.5 vertical metres per kilometre. 20% of the route is flat, 36% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does L'Eynavay'Trail have?
The hardest climb of L'Eynavay'Trail starts at kilometre 17.8, runs for 0.9 km at an average of 7.9% and gains 67 metres. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is L'Eynavay'Trail a loop course?
Yes, L'Eynavay'Trail is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the L'Eynavay'Trail course?
Yes. The L'Eynavay'Trail 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 L'Eynavay'Trail?
Preparation for L'Eynavay'Trail should account for 42 km, 793 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 L'Eynavay'Trail?
The pacing strategy for L'Eynavay'Trail should reflect 42 km, 793 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 L'Eynavay'Trail 2027 take place?
L'Eynavay'Trail 2027 takes place on February 21, 2027.
Where does L'Eynavay'Trail 2027 take place?
L'Eynavay'Trail 2027 takes place in Rochefort-du-Gard, France.
Which distances does L'Eynavay'Trail offer?
L'Eynavay'Trail offers 3 distances — Le Magnum Trail — 42 km: 42 km (Marathon); L'Eynavay Trail — 22 km: 22 km; Le Ti Trail — 9 km: 9 km.
How do I register for L'Eynavay'Trail?
Registration runs through the organiser: eynavaytrail.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
