Marathon de la Loire.
The Marathon de la Loire is one big loop through the Loire Valley around Saumur: out along the south bank to Gennes, across the river and back into town on the old levée. The course is flat and federation-measured, so what decides the day is even pacing and patience on the long riverside kilometres.
Marathon de la Loire 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
The start is on Place du Chardonnet in Saumur. The first half follows the south bank downstream past Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault to Gennes, reached around kilometre 20. This is where the course's only noticeable undulation lives: between kilometres 11 and 20 the road rises and falls a few metres along the foot of the valley slopes.
The bridge from Gennes to Les Rosiers takes the race to the north bank. From there the levée, the old Loire embankment, runs dead straight through Saint-Clément-des-Levées, Saint-Martin-de-la-Place and Saint-Lambert-des-Levées back to Saumur. This second half is effectively level, with few landmarks beyond the river and the embankment villages.
The landscape is part of the Loire Valley UNESCO World Heritage site: old boatmen's villages, cave dwellings cut into the tuffeau stone and the river almost always in view. The course is on roads only. The race carries the French athletics federation's national label and is a qualifier for the French championships; several thousand runners are expected, with aid every five kilometres and music at every kilometre.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|
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 Marathon de la Loire.
Start under control
The first half on the south bank needs the most discipline. The small rises between kilometres 11 and 20 are barely worth mentioning, but they tempt you to push after each crest. Run them by effort rather than by the watch and reach Gennes feeling you have not yet started working.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided on the levée after the bridge. Some twenty kilometres of straight embankment with no climbing and little variety make every pace fluctuation expensive. Find a group and break the distance into the villages and aid stations.
Spend what is left
The trap is the flat profile itself. Treat it as an invitation to a fast start and you pay in the last kilometres before Saumur, where the embankment is open and a headwind off the river can slow you further.
Training plan for Marathon de la Loire: 12-week build
Build the base
For most runners this marathon takes between three and five and a half hours. The demand is almost purely aerobic and very uniform: no climbs that call for strength, just the same pace on hard asphalt for hours.
Train race pace
The decisive part is the second half on the embankment. Build long runs whose final third is at planned marathon pace on flat, monotonous ground, such as a riverside cycle path. That rehearses holding pace without outside stimulus.
Rehearse the course
May in the Loire Valley can be cool or already warm, and the levée offers little shelter from sun or wind. Train in varied weather and practise drinking at aid stations that come every five kilometres.
Arrive fresh
Prioritise aerobic endurance, durability at marathon pace and steady running economy. Hill work matters little here; what matters is that legs and head carry a uniform effort over the full distance.
Courses
Download the Marathon de la Loire course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Marathon de la Loire 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 Marathon de la Loire.
How long is Marathon de la Loire?
Marathon de la Loire is 42.2 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 Marathon de la Loire have?
Marathon de la Loire has around 82 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Marathon de la Loire?
Marathon de la Loire is classified as Flat, averaging 1.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 92% of the route is flat, 4% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
Is Marathon de la Loire a loop course?
Yes, Marathon de la Loire is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Marathon de la Loire course?
Yes. The Marathon de la Loire 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 Marathon de la Loire?
Preparation for Marathon de la Loire should account for 42.2 km, 82 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 Marathon de la Loire?
The pacing strategy for Marathon de la Loire should reflect 42.2 km, 82 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 Marathon de la Loire take place?
Marathon de la Loire takes place on May 16, 2027.
Where does Marathon de la Loire take place?
Marathon de la Loire takes place in Saumur, France.
Which distances does Marathon de la Loire offer?
Marathon de la Loire offers 5 distances — Marathon: 42.2 km; Semi-Marathon: 21.1 km; Épreuve Combinée: 28.8 km; 10 km: 10 km; 5 km Matmut #NésPourBouger: 5 km.
How do I register for Marathon de la Loire?
Registration runs through the organiser: marathon-loire.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
