Oisans Trail Tour.
The Ultra Tour is the big loop of the Oisans Trail Tour: a start one minute after midnight in Oz-en-Oisans, a night crossing the resorts below the Grandes Rousses and a day in high mountains facing the Écrins. Finishing it is mostly about rationing three long climbs after a sleepless night.
Oisans Trail Tour 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts at the Oz-en-Oisans resort and runs through the dark via Villard-Reculas to Auris-en-Oisans. The first two ramps come early, one right after the start, then from km 7.6 a little over 350 m in just over two kilometres. Then the course drops toward Besse-en-Oisans, the old mountain village it passes twice.
Between km 27 and 50 lies the excursion into high country: out of Besse the course climbs in several steps, more than 1,000 m in all, to above 2,300 m at the Chalet du Fay, then comes back through Besse. From km 51 comes the longest climb, a little over five kilometres and about 700 m to the Pierre Ronde aid station, then the traverse to the Col de l'Alpette above 2,000 m and the long descent to Vaujany Le Collet. The end is a short, brutal climb from km 79: almost 400 m in under two kilometres back up to Oz.
The running is on mountain tracks and paths around the Grandes Rousses; about a quarter of the course is steeply uphill and as much steeply downhill. In mid-July that means a night at altitude, sunrise in the high mountains and the rest of the day facing the Écrins.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.1 | 1.9 km | 12.9 % | 44.8 % | +241 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 7.6 | 2.3 km | 15.6 % | 31.4 % | +352 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 27 | 1.9 km | 14.4 % | 35 % | +278 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 29.6 | 3.8 km | 17.9 % | 30.9 % | +675 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 35.1 | 1.7 km | 9.9 % | 18.6 % | +166 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 50.9 | 5.1 km | 13.8 % | 35.9 % | +706 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 60.6 | 2.1 km | 13.7 % | 40 % | +285 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 78.9 | 1.9 km | 20.6 % | 45.6 % | +397 m | Cat. 2 |
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 Oisans Trail Tour.
Start under control
The night to Besse is where the race is lost without anyone noticing. The two early ramps feel easy on fresh legs, but every minute gained there is missing later at the Chalet du Fay. Run to km 27 deliberately below how you feel, and use the descents to eat.
Hold your rhythm
The Ultra Tour is decided between Besse and Pierre Ronde. The climb above 2,300 m and the almost 700 m climb from km 51 arrive around midday, after twelve hours without sleep. Steady, strong hiking pays off here, not running every gentler stretch.
Spend what is left
The trap is at the end: after the long descent from the Col de l'Alpette to Vaujany the finish feels close, but the last climb to Oz, with pitches above 40 percent, is the steepest of the whole loop. Keep something in reserve for it on purpose.
Training plan for Oisans Trail Tour: 12-week build
Build the base
For most runners the Ultra Tour means 14 to 22 hours on the move, much of it at night. The effort is mostly aerobic but hardly steady: more than half the course is steeply up or steeply down, and almost none of it is flat.
Train race pace
The race-deciding phases are the long high loop via Besse and the climb to Pierre Ronde in the second half. So build long mountain days weighted toward their end: several climbs of 500 to 700 m after four or five hours of effort, at a brisk power-hike with poles.
Rehearse the course
The steep descents need their own preparation. Eccentric quad strength and downhill running on technical paths while tired protect you from the collapse on the way down to Vaujany, just before the final steep climb.
Arrive fresh
The midnight start needs rehearsal: run a whole night by headlamp at least once and test how you sleep and eat beforehand. The course stays above 2,000 m for long stretches, so experience with cold at night and sun in the day, and the kit for both, belong in the preparation.
Courses
Download the Oisans Trail Tour course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Oisans Trail Tour dynamically
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Everything about Oisans Trail Tour.
How long is Oisans Trail Tour?
Oisans Trail Tour is 84 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 Oisans Trail Tour have?
Oisans Trail Tour has around 4,556 m of elevation gain over 84 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Oisans Trail Tour?
Oisans Trail Tour is classified as Mountainous, averaging 55.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 7% of the route is flat, 19% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 27% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Oisans Trail Tour have?
The hardest climb of Oisans Trail Tour starts at kilometre 50.9, runs for 5.1 km at an average of 13.8% and gains 706 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 1. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Oisans Trail Tour a loop course?
Yes, Oisans Trail Tour is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Oisans Trail Tour course?
Yes. The Oisans Trail Tour 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 Oisans Trail Tour?
Preparation for Oisans Trail Tour should account for 84 km, 4,556 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 Oisans Trail Tour?
The pacing strategy for Oisans Trail Tour should reflect 84 km, 4,556 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 Oisans Trail Tour take place?
Oisans Trail Tour takes place on July 17, 2027.
Where does Oisans Trail Tour take place?
Oisans Trail Tour takes place in Oz-en-Oisans, France.
Which distances does Oisans Trail Tour offer?
Oisans Trail Tour offers 4 distances — Ultra Tour: 84 km; Trail Tour: 38 km; Trail Court: 26 km; Trail Découverte: 9 km.
How do I register for Oisans Trail Tour?
Registration runs through the organiser: oisanstrailtour.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
