Trail de la Ligne Rouge.
Le Plémont is the shortest loop of the Trail de la Ligne Rouge at Thiescourt: a wooded hill that was an artillery battlefield in the First World War, and ground that still keeps its shell craters, trench lines and mud. One real climb, and a lot of uneven footing around it.
Trail de la Ligne Rouge 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are on the village square in Thiescourt. The loop first follows the stream over heavy, wet ground, then crosses the plain to the Plémont. Just before half-way, at about km 3.5, comes the climb that defines the race: a little over 70 m in under a kilometre, averaging more than 8 percent with pitches around 15. Across the top runs the Bois du Plémont, then the course drops back to Thiescourt over the damp ground by the reservoir and crosses the plain to the finish.
The character is in the ground. The Plémont was the scene of an artillery battle between 1914 and 1918, and the woods still carry that micro-relief: shell craters and remnants of trenches that keep breaking your stride, and sections the organisers themselves describe as muddy. The race is part of a trail weekend along the historic front line, the ligne rouge, and runs on Sunday morning, while the ultra runners have been out since midnight.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1 | 0.5 km | 3.9 % | 6.5 % | +18 m | — |
| km 3.5 | 0.9 km | 8.5 % | 15.3 % | +72 m | — |
| km 7.8 | 0.4 km | 4.4 % | 5.6 % | +15 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 Trail de la Ligne Rouge.
Start under control
The first three kilometres are flat but not fast: along the stream the ground sets the pace, not your watch. Run them deliberately easy, because the Plémont comes next, and anyone who overcooks the plain arrives at the steep part with a high heart rate.
Hold your rhythm
The climb is short enough to run it under control or to power-hike the steepest metres; either costs less than blowing up just below the top. The real trap is beyond it. Through the Bois du Plémont and past the reservoir the path is level or falling again, but craters and wet ground make an even rhythm impossible.
Spend what is left
Keep something for this second half, where sure footing gains more time than running economy, and only open up on the plain before the finish.
Training plan for Trail de la Ligne Rouge: 12-week build
Build the base
Most runners will be out for between 50 minutes and an hour and a half. The effort is mostly aerobic but constantly broken up by the terrain: one solid climb of a few minutes, plus many small changes of pace that the ground forces on you.
Train race pace
What decides the race is the climb to the Plémont and the ability to get running again afterwards on uneven, slippery woodland ground. Short hill repeats of three to five minutes on 8 to 12 percent grades prepare exactly that section, ideally followed by an easy kilometre run straight off the top.
Rehearse the course
Work on footing matters just as much. Run regularly on soft, broken forest trails instead of only on tarmac, practise the descents of short hills too, and train ankles and core with stability work so that craters and roots do not become a hazard.
Arrive fresh
Test shoes with proper grip on wet ground beforehand: the organisers explicitly promise mud.
Courses
Download the Trail de la Ligne Rouge course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail de la Ligne Rouge 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 Trail de la Ligne Rouge.
How long is Trail de la Ligne Rouge?
Trail de la Ligne Rouge is 10 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 Trail de la Ligne Rouge have?
Trail de la Ligne Rouge has around 150 m of elevation gain over 10 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail de la Ligne Rouge?
Trail de la Ligne Rouge is classified as Rolling, averaging 15.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 28% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail de la Ligne Rouge have?
The hardest climb of Trail de la Ligne Rouge starts at kilometre 3.5, runs for 0.9 km at an average of 8.5% and gains 72 metres. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail de la Ligne Rouge a loop course?
Yes, Trail de la Ligne Rouge is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail de la Ligne Rouge course?
Yes. The Trail de la Ligne Rouge 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 Trail de la Ligne Rouge?
Preparation for Trail de la Ligne Rouge should account for 10 km, 150 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 Trail de la Ligne Rouge?
The pacing strategy for Trail de la Ligne Rouge should reflect 10 km, 150 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 Trail de la Ligne Rouge take place?
Trail de la Ligne Rouge takes place on April 11, 2027.
Where does Trail de la Ligne Rouge take place?
Trail de la Ligne Rouge takes place in Thiescourt, France.
Which distances does Trail de la Ligne Rouge offer?
Trail de la Ligne Rouge offers 5 distances — Le Plémont 10 km: 10 km; La Botte 21 km: 21 km (Half marathon); Les Carrières 43 km: 43 km; Ultratrail de la Ligne Rouge 101 km: 101 km; Ultratrail de la Ligne Rouge en relais: 101 km.
How do I register for Trail de la Ligne Rouge?
Registration runs through the organiser: la-1418.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
