Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins des Hospices de Beaune.
The Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune is run on the weekend of the Hospices wine auction, over the slopes of the Cote de Beaune through Pommard, Volnay and Meursault - villages whose names normally appear on labels. The course is hillier than its reputation suggests: every decisive ramp comes after kilometre ten.
Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune 2026: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The race starts at 14:00 on the Avenue de la Republique beside the Hotel-Dieu and heads straight out of town into the vines. The first ten kilometres are the quiet part: one short ramp at kilometre 5.4 at a little over three per cent, otherwise rolling and runnable.
From kilometre ten the course turns into a staircase. Five climbs follow inside seven kilometres - at 10.1, at 11.1 running nearly a kilometre for 36 metres of gain, at 13.3, at 15.3 with pitches around nine per cent, and at 16.3 with a short 12.5 per cent. None of them is long, but they arrive where a half marathon runs out of strength anyway. Around 250 metres of climbing are spread over these short pieces, and barely a third of the route is genuinely flat. After that the course drops to the Forum des Sports at the foot of the Montagne de Beaune, where the finish is.
Underfoot are the narrow roads between the parcels; the weekend is that of the Vente des Vins, held since 1859; and with more than 3,000 starters in the half and over 5,000 across the weekend this is Burgundy's biggest race. Bands and stands with local produce line the route. Mid-November on the Cote de Beaune means cold, often damp, fog over the slopes, and an afternoon start with the light already flattening at the end.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 5.4 | 0.3 km | 3.2 % | 3.9 % | +10 m | — |
| km 10.1 | 0.3 km | 4.6 % | 6.3 % | +15 m | — |
| km 11.1 | 0.9 km | 3.9 % | 7.2 % | +36 m | — |
| km 13.3 | 0.4 km | 5.1 % | 6.3 % | +22 m | — |
| km 15.3 | 0.5 km | 6 % | 9.2 % | +29 m | — |
| km 16.3 | 0.4 km | 6.3 % | 12.5 % | +25 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 Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune.
Start under control
The first half invites you to run too fast. It rolls, it drifts slightly downhill on balance, and the field is big - budgeting for your target time here means you have misread the course. Take the first ten kilometres as a controlled approach and expect your splits to slow later without you running any easier.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometre ten and seventeen. Five short climbs in succession, the longest just under a kilometre, the steepest touching twelve per cent, with too little ground between them to recover. Run them on feel rather than on the watch: even force, short steps, no immediate surge over the top. Overcook this section twice and the rest of the race is gone.
Spend what is left
The closing kilometres fall to the Forum des Sports, where time can come back if the quads still work. The second trap is the afternoon start: at 14:00 a whole day sits behind you, and a lunch eaten too late or too large decides more here than your pace choice in the first third.
Training plan for Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune: 12-week build
Build the base
For an age-group runner this is an hour and a half to just under three hours of work. The character is not the even tempo of a city half marathon but a series of short, strength-heavy climbs in the second half - aerobic with repeated spikes that arrive exactly when the legs are already tired.
Train race pace
That sets the main training content: short hill repetitions of 300 metres to a kilometre at three to seven per cent, repeated with brief recoveries, so the body learns to meet the next ramp anything but fresh. Train only on the flat and from kilometre eleven you are in a different race.
Rehearse the course
Downhill running matters just as much. The closing section falls to the finish after the quads have absorbed six kilometres of climbing; without eccentric preparation - longer descents under fatigue - you lose exactly the time the course wants to give back. Put long runs on rolling terrain and deliberately place the climbs at the end.
Arrive fresh
Conditions belong in the plan. Mid-November in Burgundy is cold and damp, the narrow roads between the vines can be wet and slick, and the 14:00 start calls for a fuelling strategy you have actually tested: one or two long sessions in the early afternoon instead of the morning will tell you what your stomach still tolerates on a race afternoon.
Courses
Download the Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins des Hospices de Beaune dynamically
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Everything about Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins des Hospices de Beaune.
How long is Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune?
Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune is 21.1 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 Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune have?
Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune has around 257 m of elevation gain over 21.1 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune?
Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune is classified as Rolling, averaging 12.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 31% of the route is flat, 36% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 1% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune have?
The hardest climb of Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune starts at kilometre 11.1, runs for 0.9 km at an average of 3.9% and gains 36 metres. 6 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune a loop course?
No, Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune course?
Yes. The Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune 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 Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune?
Preparation for Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune should account for 21.1 km, 257 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 Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune?
The pacing strategy for Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune should reflect 21.1 km, 257 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 Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins des Hospices de Beaune take place?
Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins des Hospices de Beaune takes place on November 14, 2026.
Where does Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins des Hospices de Beaune take place?
Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins des Hospices de Beaune takes place in Beaune, France.
Which distances does Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune offer?
Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune offers 2 distances — Semi-Marathon: 21.1 km; Foulées Beaunoises: 10.4 km.
How do I register for Semi-Marathon de la Vente des Vins de Beaune?
Registration runs through the organiser: semibeaune.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
