Trail de Montaigu.
The Découverte is the shortest distance at the Trail de Montaigu, but it is no gentle beginners' lap: the forests around Souligny and Bouilly hide a wall just past halfway that asks for about 60 metres of climbing in 400 metres. Prepare for it with strength on steep ground and legs that stay loose for the long way down to the finish.
Trail de Montaigu 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The lap starts gently. The first kilometre barely rises, then the longest climb begins at km 1.5: just under a kilometre and a half gains a little over 90 metres, steadily and without nasty surprises, and delivers you to the high ground at km 3. Until km 5 the course only undulates up there, reaching its highest point about 130 metres above the start.
Then it tips over. A fast stretch gives away almost 70 metres by km 5.5. Straight after it comes the key passage: 400 metres averaging 15 percent, which take you nearly back to where you were. From the crest at km 6 the course falls almost without interruption to the finish, three kilometres on which your legs are allowed to run.
The ground here is the forest around Souligny and Bouilly, the Oppidum and the site of Montaigu, with sections of single track. TOS Athlétisme organises the race, and the same nine kilometres also carry the team trail and the randonnée. That makes the Découverte the most compact way to get to know this terrain.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.6 | 0.5 km | 3.9 % | 5.6 % | +19 m | — |
| km 1.6 | 1.4 km | 6.3 % | 12.7 % | +90 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 5.6 | 0.4 km | 15.2 % | 28.7 % | +61 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 Montaigu.
Start under control
More than a third of the course climbs, close to 30 percent descends, and very little is truly flat. Nine kilometres still tempt you into a road 10K mindset. So run the long climb from km 1.5 at an effort that leaves you breathing calmly at the top: it is shallow enough to run throughout, which is exactly why it is easy to overdo.
Hold your rhythm
The trap is the descent from km 5. Let it run fully and you arrive at the bottom with burning quads and a high heart rate, right in front of the steepest passage of the race. Ease off slightly up top, take the ramp with short quick steps or a strong walk, and leave the watch alone.
Spend what is left
This is where the race is decided, though not quite the way the ramp suggests: you gain little on it, and a lot after it. With some air left at the crest, the three kilometres to the finish are where you move past runners still looking for their rhythm.
Training plan for Trail de Montaigu: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners take around 50 minutes to an hour and a half for the Découverte. Across that span the effort is hard and restless: no steady pace, but a mix of brisk climbing, quick descending and one short spike into anaerobic territory when the ramp arrives.
Train race pace
The centrepiece of your preparation is exactly that sequence. Find a hill of 50 to 60 metres, run down it at pace and go straight back up. Six to eight rounds with easy recovery reproduce the moment before and on the ramp better than any interval on the flat. What matters is that the hill comes straight out of the descent, because that switch from braking to driving is what hurts on race day.
Rehearse the course
Two additions round this out. Steady climbs of eight to twelve minutes build the just-below-the-limit running the long first climb demands. Relaxed, quick downhill running on forest tracks prepares the final three kilometres, where tired legs tend to land heavily and give time away.
Arrive fresh
A date at the end of April puts the build in February and March. If your winter was mostly tarmac, move into the forest once or twice a week by then at the latest, so your ankles and footing do not meet single track for the first time on race day.
Courses
Download the Trail de Montaigu course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail de Montaigu 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 Montaigu.
How long is Trail de Montaigu?
Trail de Montaigu is 9 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 Montaigu have?
Trail de Montaigu has around 220 m of elevation gain over 9 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail de Montaigu?
Trail de Montaigu is classified as Hilly, averaging 23.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 14% of the route is flat, 35% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 9% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail de Montaigu have?
The hardest climb of Trail de Montaigu starts at kilometre 1.6, runs for 1.4 km at an average of 6.3% and gains 90 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail de Montaigu a loop course?
Yes, Trail de Montaigu is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail de Montaigu course?
Yes. The Trail de Montaigu 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 Montaigu?
Preparation for Trail de Montaigu should account for 9 km, 220 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 Montaigu?
The pacing strategy for Trail de Montaigu should reflect 9 km, 220 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 Montaigu 2027 take place?
Trail de Montaigu 2027 takes place on April 25, 2027.
Where does Trail de Montaigu 2027 take place?
Trail de Montaigu 2027 takes place in Bouilly, France.
Which distances does Trail de Montaigu offer?
Trail de Montaigu offers 3 distances — Trail Découverte: 9 km; Trail Classique: 19 km; Trail Expert: 33 km.
How do I register for Trail de Montaigu?
Registration runs through the organiser: trail-de-montaigu.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
