Trail des Chamois.
On the Trail des Chamois at Saulxures-sur-Moselotte, the 23 km course is the one that saves its hardest work for the second half. After the steep ramp at kilometre 4 comes the longest climb to the high point, then three short counter-climbs before the drop to the finish. Those late kilometres are what you prepare for.
Trail des Chamois 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts and ends at a little over 460 metres, and the first three kilometres even lose a few metres. Then the ground tips up: it rises from kilometre 3.1, and from kilometre 4 comes the steepest stretch of the day, just over 1.2 km averaging almost 14 percent, which takes you to about 650 metres. You hand back roughly 100 metres straight away before the next ascent begins at kilometre 6.8.
This is where the course parts from the 11 km, which shares only its first five and last six and a half kilometres with you. In the block between them the route first rolls around 640 metres, until from kilometre 11 almost two kilometres and some 160 metres of gain lead up to nearly 800 metres. That high point falls just after kilometre 13, ahead of the final third.
The trail then falls to about kilometre 16 before three short climbs reach almost 740 metres at kilometre 19. The remaining four kilometres shed around 270 metres in one go. Only about 13 percent of the loop is flat, and the organiser warns that displayed ascent figures come out too low: count on 840.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 3.1 | 0.7 km | 9.3 % | 13.8 % | +63 m | — |
| km 4.1 | 1.2 km | 13.6 % | 35 % | +167 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 6.8 | 1.3 km | 9.2 % | 20.3 % | +115 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 9.7 | 0.8 km | 6.7 % | 13.3 % | +52 m | — |
| km 11.2 | 1.9 km | 8.4 % | 22.7 % | +159 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 15.9 | 0.4 km | 9.3 % | 20.6 % | +33 m | — |
| km 17.2 | 0.7 km | 8.4 % | 23.8 % | +61 m | — |
| km 18.2 | 0.8 km | 8.5 % | 20.6 % | +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 Trail des Chamois.
Start under control
The flat opening kilometres are the most dangerous of the day, because they feel quick and feed straight into the ramp at kilometre 4. Arrive there with your heart rate high and the bill comes not at once but from kilometre 16. Power hike the ramp wherever running costs more than it returns, and use the drop after it to recover, not to catch up.
Hold your rhythm
Run the long climb from kilometre 11 evenly and do not treat it as the finale. At the top you have covered only a little over 13 km, and with so few flat stretches your legs get no true break before the finish.
Spend what is left
The race is decided between kilometres 16 and 19. The three counter-climbs are harmless taken alone, but after so much up and down they cost more than their length suggests. Whoever can still run them gains minutes there, and keeps enough tension in the legs to stay tidy and quick on the last four kilometres downhill.
Training plan for Trail des Chamois: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 2:45 to 4:00 hours. That is a long, mostly aerobic effort broken constantly by steep ground: two fifths of the loop climb, nearly half descend, and almost a fifth in either direction is steep. There is hardly any steady pace here, and the rhythm changes every few minutes.
Train race pace
The core of the preparation is the long hilly run with its climbing placed deliberately late. Put repeats of a 15 to 20 minute climb, or a series of short hills, into the second half of a session of two and a half to three hours, the way this course asks again from kilometre 16. Build the vertical step by step until you can finish runs with 800 metres of ascent without fading.
Rehearse the course
Practise fast hiking as a skill of its own. For most starters the ramp at kilometre 4 is not a running section, and a slow jog there loses to clean walking with active arms. Short intervals of four to six minutes on steep slopes train exactly this stretch.
Arrive fresh
The quads need work too: the last four kilometres fall without a break, and after more than 19 km. Add longer downhill sections to the end of your long runs so that the eccentric load does not meet you for the first time on race day. With the date in mid June these sessions fall in spring, and the last long hilly run should be done two to three weeks out.
Courses
Download the Trail des Chamois course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail des Chamois 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 Chamois.
How long is Trail des Chamois?
Trail des Chamois is 23 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 Chamois have?
Trail des Chamois has around 814 m of elevation gain over 23 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail des Chamois?
Trail des Chamois is classified as Mountainous, averaging 35.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 13% of the route is flat, 22% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 19% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail des Chamois have?
The hardest climb of Trail des Chamois starts at kilometre 4.1, runs for 1.2 km at an average of 13.6% and gains 167 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail des Chamois a loop course?
Yes, Trail des Chamois is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail des Chamois course?
Yes. The Trail des Chamois 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 Chamois?
Preparation for Trail des Chamois should account for 23 km, 814 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 Chamois?
The pacing strategy for Trail des Chamois should reflect 23 km, 814 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 Chamois take place?
Trail des Chamois takes place on June 13, 2027.
Where does Trail des Chamois take place?
Trail des Chamois takes place in Saulxures-sur-Moselotte, France.
Which distances does Trail des Chamois offer?
Trail des Chamois offers 2 distances — Trail des Chamois 23 km: 23 km; Trail des Chamois 11 km: 11 km.
How do I register for Trail des Chamois?
Registration runs through the organiser: couriraveclecohm.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
