Serre Chevalier Snow Trail.
The Serre Chevalier Snow Trail opens on Saturday evening: the eight-kilometre Nocturne sets off at night from La Salle-les-Alpes on wintry, snow-covered trails. The last of its four climbs comes late and is the steepest on average, so preparing for this short race mostly means saving legs for the second half and learning to move surely by lamplight.
Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The Nocturne is a loop with two unequal halves. It drops briefly from the start and runs almost level to kilometre 0.9, then two gentle swells up to kilometre 2.6 collect the first metres of climbing. The main climb begins at kilometre 2.9: 1.6 kilometres up to the highest point of the lap at just over 1,500 metres. It is steepest around kilometre four, with ramps touching almost 14 percent, before easing out at the top.
From the high point the course loses about 100 metres, nearly back to the level of the start. With no transition, the second serious climb arrives at kilometre 6.4: only 750 metres long, but at just over eight percent it is steeper on average than the first. After that the trail falls back to its starting height in under a kilometre, and the final stretch to the line is flat.
The Snow Trail is reaching its tenth edition and sees itself as a pure nature race on wintry, snow-covered trails. The Nocturne is its night race, with the two longer courses following on Sunday. Staying between just under 1,400 and just over 1,500 metres, it asks little of you in altitude; what makes it hard is the footing, which you see only as far as your headlamp reaches.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.9 | 0.3 km | 5.1 % | 6.8 % | +15 m | — |
| km 1.6 | 1 km | 3.4 % | 7.1 % | +34 m | — |
| km 2.9 | 1.6 km | 5.8 % | 13.8 % | +91 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 6.4 | 0.8 km | 8.4 % | 10.2 % | +63 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 Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027.
Start under control
The first three kilometres or so are the easiest part of the Nocturne and also the most dangerous: the ground invites fast running, yet every key section lies beyond them. Run this stretch deliberately below race effort and find a stride that does not slip on the snow. The same logic holds on the main climb, where forcing a run up the steep passage around kilometre four costs more than it earns. A strong hike there is no defeat.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided from kilometre 6.4. Empty yourself at the high point and you reach the second climb on tired quads from the descent, and whatever you gained disappears quickly. Use the downhill before it to bring your heart rate down, not to chase places.
Spend what is left
The real trap of the night is on the descents. In the beam you read the track and its surface late, and on snow there is little grip left for corrections. Run both downhills as fast as your view ahead allows, not as fast as the slope allows. Also expect closer to eight and a half kilometres than the advertised eight, and keep something back for the flat finish.
Training plan for Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027: 12-week build
Build the base
Depending on your level and the snow, expect roughly 55 minutes to 1:20 hours. Over that time you run hard, close to threshold, with two clear anaerobic spikes on the steep passages. What matters is therefore less the length of your long run than your ability to settle back into a calm rhythm after such a spike.
Train race pace
The key session mirrors the second half of the race: hilly runs where you take a longer climb briskly, jog the descent easily and go straight into a short, steep climb of about five minutes. Build this over the weeks until the second climb no longer comes out weaker than the first. Add hill intervals of two to three minutes, using them to practise the switch between running and strong hiking.
Rehearse the course
Downhill you need eccentric strength and sure footing. Work controlled descents on trails into your runs and add lunges and squats, so your quads still have something left for the climb after the descent that ends at kilometre 6.4.
Arrive fresh
Winter and darkness are not side issues here. Do several sessions in the dark with a headlamp, ideally on snow or uneven paths, so you know your stride length and where to look inside the beam. Use them to test which shoe grips on snow and which layers keep you warm on a January evening without overheating on the climbs. Since the race starts in the evening, it is worth putting one or two hard sessions at the same time of day and rehearsing what you eat beforehand on race day.
Courses
Download the Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Serre Chevalier Snow 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 Serre Chevalier Snow Trail.
How long is Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027?
Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 is 8 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 Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 have?
Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 has around 222 m of elevation gain over 8 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027?
Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 is classified as Hilly, averaging 26.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 12% of the route is flat, 36% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 12% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 have?
The hardest climb of Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 starts at kilometre 2.9, runs for 1.6 km at an average of 5.8% and gains 91 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 4 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 a loop course?
Yes, Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 course?
Yes. The Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 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 Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027?
Preparation for Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 should account for 8 km, 222 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 Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027?
The pacing strategy for Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 should reflect 8 km, 222 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 Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 take place?
Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 takes place on January 16, 2027.
Where does Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 take place?
Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 takes place in La Salle-les-Alpes, France.
Which distances does Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 offer?
Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027 offers 3 distances — Nocturne 8 km: 8 km; Petit parcours 10 km: 10 km; Grand parcours 20 km: 20 km.
How do I register for Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 2027?
Registration runs through the organiser: trail-serre-chevalier.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
