Trail des Maures.
The Ultra des Maures is the night shift of the Trail des Maures: a 10 pm Friday start in Collobrières and roughly 100 km with about 4,400 m of climbing along the boundary trails of the state forest in the Massif des Maures. A large part of it is run by headlamp, the rest in the warmth of a Provençal day in May. Also known as Var Trail des Maures.
Trail des Maures 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop leaves the Terres Rousses race site on the GR90, the common opening of every course. For the first 50 km it shares the line with the marathon and the Trail des Braconniers: over Notre-Dame des Anges, at about 770 m the second-highest point of the massif, and the Pic de la Sauvette, the highest. The hardest climb starts at km 37, close to 350 m in two kilometres with pitches above 35 percent.
From the Col de Boulin it gets lonelier. The Plateau du Treps and the Sentier des Moines lead to the Chartreuse de la Verne, a remote monastery deep in the forest, before the route returns over the Laquina summits and the Col de Babaou. Aid bases at Boulin, Col de Babaou and the IME at km 84 each carry their own cut-off.
The ground is typical Maures: narrow, stony paths under chestnut, holm oak, strawberry tree and rockrose, linked by forest tracks. The course runs through a protected forest reserve, which is why headlamps must have a red-light mode at night so as not to disturb wildlife. The finish is back in Collobrières, the chestnut village, where chestnut beer and chestnut cream wait at the end.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.4 | 2.4 km | 9.7 % | 29.2 % | +231 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 13.4 | 1.9 km | 12.3 % | 28.7 % | +227 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 26.3 | 1.1 km | 19.1 % | 32.5 % | +210 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 32.1 | 1.7 km | 14 % | 32.7 % | +231 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 37.1 | 1.9 km | 18.1 % | 40.7 % | +345 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 51.7 | 2.6 km | 10.4 % | 21.1 % | +266 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 63.2 | 2.6 km | 10.6 % | 24.6 % | +272 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 77.8 | 3 km | 5.8 % | 14.1 % | +172 m | Cat. 3 |
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 Maures.
Start under control
Most of the first 40 km are run at night, and that is where most of the hard work sits: five long climbs up to the Notre-Dame des Anges and Sauvette pair. Run this phase well below feel and hike the steep pitches without hesitation; poles are allowed. Trying to gain time on the stony descents in the dark costs you your quads.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided after Boulin. The cut-offs at Boulin at 10:00, Col de Babaou at 16:00 and the IME at 19:00 frame the day, and the climbs at km 52 and km 63 come in the midday warmth on tired legs. Budget more time per kilometre here than you needed at night.
Spend what is left
The classic trap is sunrise: the light brings energy back and many runners lift the pace on the way to La Verne. Keep it even and keep eating and drinking to plan, because the last 20 km over Laquina and Babaou still roll.
Training plan for Trail des Maures: 12-week build
Build the base
For most age-group runners the Ultra des Maures means 15 to 22 hours on the move, the first half of it at night. The effort is mostly aerobic but never steady: nearly half the course is steep uphill or downhill and less than a tenth is flat. It is a race of many short, hard climbs of 200 to 350 m rather than one long pass.
Train race pace
What decides it is steepness combined with ground. Train steep power-hiking with poles, uphill intervals of 10 to 20 minutes, and above all steep, stony descents on tired legs. Long days of 5 to 7 hours on technical terrain, ideally as back-to-back weekends, prepare the legs for the second half.
Rehearse the course
The night is its own discipline. Do several long runs in the dark with the headlamp you will race with, red-light mode included, and practise eating and drinking to plan when appetite fades at night. A rehearsal that starts late in the evening shows you how your body handles a night without sleep.
Arrive fresh
In May the Maures can turn warm and dry by day, and the aid bases are far apart. Get used to running in the heat with a full vest and to the switch from a cool night to a sunny morning.
Courses
Download the Trail des Maures course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail des Maures 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 Maures.
How long is Trail des Maures?
Trail des Maures is 100 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 Maures have?
Trail des Maures has around 4,413 m of elevation gain over 100 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail des Maures?
Trail des Maures is classified as Mountainous, averaging 44.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 9% of the route is flat, 24% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 23% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail des Maures have?
The hardest climb of Trail des Maures starts at kilometre 37.1, runs for 1.9 km at an average of 18.1% and gains 345 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail des Maures a loop course?
Yes, Trail des Maures is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail des Maures course?
Yes. The Trail des Maures 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 Maures?
Preparation for Trail des Maures should account for 100 km, 4,413 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 Maures?
The pacing strategy for Trail des Maures should reflect 100 km, 4,413 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 Maures take place?
Trail des Maures takes place on May 7, 2027.
Where does Trail des Maures take place?
Trail des Maures takes place in Collobrières, France.
Which distances does Trail des Maures offer?
Trail des Maures offers 13 distances — Ultra des Maures: 100 km; Ultra des Maures Relais (2 ou 4): 100 km; Grande Traversée des Maures: 166 km; Trail des Braconniers: 60 km; Marathon des Maures: 42 km; Trail des Messugues: 30 km and 7 more.
How do I register for Trail des Maures?
Registration runs through the organiser: traildesmaures.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
