Trail des Blisiers.
The Trail des Blisiers is a trail blanc, a white trail held at the start of January above Le Levron in the Val de Bagnes, and its shortest course is short only on paper. Nine kilometres carry almost 800 metres of climbing, most of it in two ascents where even strong runners end up walking.
Trail des Blisiers 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts and finishes in Le Levron and gives you almost no time to warm up. After little more than 200 metres the first climb begins and pulls upward for about two and a half kilometres at close to 17 percent. The route heads for Les Reffes and Les Blisiers. From around kilometre 3 things ease for a little over a kilometre, with one short rise and undulating ground.
Then comes the stretch that defines this course: from kilometre 4.1 the trail climbs for 1.4 kilometres at almost 24 percent, 326 metres of gain in one piece. At the top the climbing is done, because the last three and a half kilometres return to Le Levron with no further ascent. They are steep, though, so the legs pay once more in braking.
The setting is the winter landscape above the village, with views across the Rhône valley and into the valleys of Bagnes, Entremont and Ferret. As a trail blanc this is no summer run moved to January: winter ground helps decide how much of these gradients stays runnable and how securely you get back down.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.2 | 2.6 km | 16.9 % | 43.3 % | +430 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 3.2 | 0.6 km | 5.7 % | 16.7 % | +34 m | — |
| km 4.1 | 1.4 km | 23.7 % | 65.6 % | +326 m | Cat. 2 |
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 Blisiers.
Start under control
Nine kilometres invite you to start like a short race, and that is exactly the trap here. The first climb begins almost on the start line and lasts long enough to turn a hot opening into heavy legs that stay with you until the next rise. Take it at an effort that still lets you break into a jog at the top.
Hold your rhythm
The undulating stretch from kilometre 3 is the only place in the first half where running really buys time. Use it, but recover on it as well, because the ramp from kilometre 4.1 decides the race. Anyone who can power-hike it steadily will pass more people than those who run at it and stall after 300 metres.
Spend what is left
Down below you win time back only if your thighs still have some tension in them. Three and a half kilometres of descent on winter ground reward short steps and eyes on the next footfall, not raw courage.
Training plan for Trail des Blisiers: 12-week build
Build the base
Depending on fitness and ground, expect roughly 1:30 to 2:30 hours. Despite the distance this is nothing like a fast flat effort: you work long and steadily near threshold on the way up, then switch abruptly to a descent that is mainly a muscular demand. Endurance is rarely the limit here; strength on the hill is.
Train race pace
Two phases decide the day: the ramp after kilometre 4, which you start with some 450 metres of gain already in your legs, and the way down that follows immediately. Both can be prepared on purpose, ideally in one session.
Rehearse the course
Your key workout is hill intervals of six to twelve minutes on the steepest slope you can find, done deliberately as a strong hike and not only as running. Add a controlled descent straight after, so that thighs and calves learn the braking work that follows the climb. Support this with strength work for legs and hips, mainly lunges and step-ups, and with runs that put their ascent in the back half.
Arrive fresh
Because the race falls at the start of January, your main block lands in December. Make use of that: train outside on whatever ground winter is offering, and find out which outsole or spikes give you grip going downhill. Test your clothing too, since you reach the top wet from the climb, and the change of pace there chills you fast.
Courses
Download the Trail des Blisiers course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail des Blisiers 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 des Blisiers.
How long is Trail des Blisiers?
Trail des Blisiers 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 des Blisiers have?
Trail des Blisiers has around 791 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 des Blisiers?
Trail des Blisiers is classified as Mountainous, averaging 89.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 2% of the route is flat, 9% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 42% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail des Blisiers have?
The hardest climb of Trail des Blisiers starts at kilometre 0.2, runs for 2.6 km at an average of 16.9% and gains 430 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail des Blisiers a loop course?
Yes, Trail des Blisiers is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail des Blisiers course?
Yes. The Trail des Blisiers 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 Blisiers?
Preparation for Trail des Blisiers should account for 9 km, 791 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 Blisiers?
The pacing strategy for Trail des Blisiers should reflect 9 km, 791 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 Blisiers take place?
Trail des Blisiers takes place on January 9, 2027.
Where does Trail des Blisiers take place?
Trail des Blisiers takes place in Val de Bagnes, Switzerland.
Which distances does Trail des Blisiers offer?
Trail des Blisiers offers 3 distances — Trail 9 km: 9 km; Trail 16 km: 16 km; Trail 25 km: 25 km.
How do I register for Trail des Blisiers?
Registration runs through the organiser: tropheedesblisiers.ch. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
