Trail des 5 Calanques.
The Défi de la Côte Bleue is the long course at the Trail des 5 Calanques in Ensuès-la-Redonne: 25 kilometres and eight climbs, with the hardest arriving after halfway and the last three waiting beyond the second aid point. The preparation that counts is whatever keeps you running uphill after kilometre 19.
Trail des 5 Calanques 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at the Gymnase Adrien Ricaud in Ensuès-la-Redonne, the course is a loop, and walkers share the programme with the trail runners. Your warm-up happens on the move: the first climb begins inside the opening kilometre. Two more of the same build follow before kilometre 7, each a little over a kilometre long at an average of six to seven percent. The third, from kilometre 5.9, stands out for a brief spike to 20 percent.
Then the pattern changes. For several kilometres no major climb stands in your way, and the first aid point arrives at kilometre 12. Just beyond it, from kilometre 13.6, comes the core of the Défi: 126 metres of gain in little more than a kilometre. At nearly ten percent on average, it is the longest climb of the loop and the one with the most gain.
The final third holds no big hill but offers no peace either. From kilometre 16.75 four shorter climbs line up, the last of them starting at kilometre 21.3. The second aid point at kilometre 19 sits right before the second of these, so the moment you leave it you are back at work.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.1 | 1.2 km | 5.8 % | 13.1 % | +71 m | — |
| km 3.3 | 1.1 km | 6.7 % | 12.7 % | +74 m | — |
| km 5.9 | 1.1 km | 6 % | 20.1 % | +67 m | — |
| km 13.6 | 1.3 km | 9.9 % | 17.8 % | +126 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 16.8 | 0.7 km | 3.5 % | 14.5 % | +24 m | — |
| km 19.2 | 0.6 km | 11.1 % | 22 % | +66 m | — |
| km 20.2 | 0.4 km | 6.8 % | 8.8 % | +27 m | — |
| km 21.3 | 1.2 km | 6.6 % | 14.1 % | +78 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 des 5 Calanques.
Start under control
Split the loop into three blocks: the three climbs before kilometre 7, the quieter phase up to the first aid point, and everything from kilometre 13.6 on. The first block should feel easy, because five of the eight climbs are still ahead. Since more of the course descends than climbs, the ramps are steeper on average than the downhills. So make your speed downhill and on the quieter stretches, and uphill just hold the effort level.
Hold your rhythm
The Défi is decided between the long climb from kilometre 13.6 and the last one from kilometre 21.3. Take the ten percent with short steps or a brisk hike, in a way that lets you run again the moment it tops out.
Spend what is left
The trap is the span from kilometre 7 to 12. With no major climb in it the running comes easily, and anyone who banks that speed pays for it on the biggest climb of the day. Hold those kilometres back on purpose, take what you need calmly at the first aid point, and save your last real push for the sequence after kilometre 19.
Training plan for Trail des 5 Calanques: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 2:45 to 4:00 hours depending on your form. This is no steady long run: eight climbs keep breaking the rhythm, each one a short trip into hard effort that you then have to run off.
Train race pace
Two places define what you need. The long climb from kilometre 13.6 asks for strength and a clean switch between running and hiking at around ten percent. The sequence from kilometre 16.75 asks for something else, namely the ability to start pushing again and again on tired legs.
Rehearse the course
That sets your priorities. Put the climbing of your long runs deliberately in the final third, so your legs learn what hills feel like when they are already fatigued. Add a weekly hill session of six to ten minute repeats on a steep slope, practising the brisk hike as well as the run. Short, very steep ramps belong in the mix too, since the climb from kilometre 5.9 briefly reaches 20 percent.
Arrive fresh
The 9 May date puts your key long runs in March and April, so build the plan around that. Use those runs to rehearse fuelling as well: up to the first aid point at kilometre 12 you depend on what you carry, and at the second you want to be practised at eating quickly and going straight back uphill.
Courses
Download the Trail des 5 Calanques course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail des 5 Calanques dynamically
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Everything about Trail des 5 Calanques.
How long is Trail des 5 Calanques?
Trail des 5 Calanques is 25 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 des 5 Calanques have?
Trail des 5 Calanques has around 749 m of elevation gain over 25 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail des 5 Calanques?
Trail des 5 Calanques is classified as Mountainous, averaging 30.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 10% of the route is flat, 27% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 15% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail des 5 Calanques have?
The hardest climb of Trail des 5 Calanques starts at kilometre 13.6, runs for 1.3 km at an average of 9.9% and gains 126 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail des 5 Calanques a loop course?
Yes, Trail des 5 Calanques is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail des 5 Calanques course?
Yes. The Trail des 5 Calanques 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 des 5 Calanques?
Preparation for Trail des 5 Calanques should account for 25 km, 749 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 des 5 Calanques?
The pacing strategy for Trail des 5 Calanques should reflect 25 km, 749 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 des 5 Calanques take place?
Trail des 5 Calanques takes place on May 9, 2027.
Where does Trail des 5 Calanques take place?
Trail des 5 Calanques takes place in Ensuès-la-Redonne, France.
Which distances does Trail des 5 Calanques offer?
Trail des 5 Calanques offers 2 distances — Défi de la Côte Bleue: 25 km; Trail de l’Èrevine: 15 km.
How do I register for Trail des 5 Calanques?
Registration runs through the organiser: traildes5calanques.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
