Marathon des Sables d'Olonne.
The Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon takes the town of the Vendée Globe from the La Chaume harbour quarter along the Remblai seafront, through forest and salt marsh and onto coastal paths. The course is flat, but Atlantic wind, changing surfaces and long exposed straights make even pacing the real task.
Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
The start is on Rue Joseph Bénatier at the Complexe des Sauniers, on the La Chaume side of the harbour. The course is a single loop with shared sections: it passes through the old fishing quarter, along the port, over the Remblai beside the beach and onto coastal paths, with sections through the Forêt domaniale d'Olonne. The organiser says the sea is in view for more than three quarters of the distance.
The other half of the course's identity is the marais, the salt marshes behind the town. Here it turns quiet and open, with long straights and no shelter from the wind. The finish is back at the Complexe des Sauniers, facing the marshes, a few hundred metres from the start.
There is little real climbing. The short ramps near km 20, 27.5 and 40 are a few hundred metres long and gain ten to twenty metres each; the organiser puts the whole loop at 160 m of ascent. The difficulty comes from the switches between asphalt, forest tracks and coastal paths, and from the sea wind in early April. 2027 is the first edition, with around 5,000 runners expected.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 20 | 0.5 km | 3.4 % | 5.3 % | +17 m | — |
| km 27.5 | 0.3 km | 3.3 % | 4.5 % | +10 m | — |
| km 39.8 | 0.3 km | 3.5 % | 5.2 % | +10 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 Sables d'Olonne Marathon.
Start under control
Plan by section rather than by a fixed per-kilometre split. On the asphalt through town and around the harbour, run your target pace; on forest tracks and coastal paths the same pace costs more, so hold the effort steady there and accept a few seconds slower on the watch.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided in the second half. The short ramps around km 27.5 and just before the finish are harmless on their own, but they arrive when the legs are already heavy; take them with short steps and without pushing the pace.
Spend what is left
The main trap is wind on the open straights through the marshes and along the sea. Holding goal pace into a headwind burns reserves you will miss at the end. Find a group there, run by feel, and recover time only with the wind behind you. Aid stations come roughly every five kilometres; use them from the start.
Training plan for Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon: 12-week build
Build the base
Most runners will need between three and a half and five and a half hours. The demand is almost entirely steady aerobic work; the spikes come not from hills but from headwind and surface changes that break your rhythm.
Train race pace
What decides the race is still running economically after 30 km, when short ramps and open marsh straights come together. Long runs of 28 to 32 km finishing with a block at marathon pace rehearse exactly that.
Rehearse the course
Run part of your long sessions on forest and gravel tracks rather than only on asphalt, so your ankles and stride are used to the changes. Train deliberately in wind and practise running by effort rather than pace when you do.
Arrive fresh
Early April on the Atlantic coast can be cool and changeable. Test clothing for wind and possible showers on long runs, and rehearse fuelling every five kilometres so you can take it on race day without losing pace.
Courses
Download the Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Marathon des Sables d'Olonne dynamically
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Everything about Marathon des Sables d'Olonne.
How long is Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon?
Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon 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 Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon have?
Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon has around 229 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 Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon?
Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon is classified as Flat, averaging 5.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 60% of the route is flat, 20% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon have?
The hardest climb of Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon starts at kilometre 20, runs for 0.5 km at an average of 3.4% and gains 17 metres. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon a loop course?
Yes, Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon course?
Yes. The Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon 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 Sables d'Olonne Marathon?
Preparation for Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon should account for 42.2 km, 229 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 Sables d'Olonne Marathon?
The pacing strategy for Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon should reflect 42.2 km, 229 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 des Sables d'Olonne take place?
Marathon des Sables d'Olonne takes place on April 3, 2027.
Where does Marathon des Sables d'Olonne take place?
Marathon des Sables d'Olonne takes place in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France.
Which distances does Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon offer?
Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon offers 2 distances — Marathon: 42.2 km; 10 km de la Chaume: 10 km.
How do I register for Les Sables d'Olonne Marathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: marathondessablesdolonne.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
