Trail du Hautacam.
The shortest distance at the Trail du Hautacam is no gentle option: almost two thirds of it is steep, up or down, and hardly any of it is flat. From Beaucens the loop climbs into the Pyrenees to around 1,700 metres and back, and your preparation answers to the one wall that starts just before halfway.
Trail du Hautacam 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start is in front of the Renault garage in Beaucens, and that is where the loop returns. From the valley at just over 440 metres you work upward in stages: a steep kick after the first kilometre, a section that hands some of the height back, then climbs from km 4.4 and km 6.4 that lift you to almost 1,100 metres. Up there the course runs nearly level for about two kilometres, the longest breather of the race.
At km 11.2 the slope that defines this distance begins. Over 2.7 kilometres you gain more than 600 metres, and at an average above 22 percent almost everyone becomes a walker. The high point of around 1,700 metres comes near km 14, and straight after it the trail drops almost 500 metres in under two kilometres. All the height is given back by the finish, though less abruptly in the final part.
Up to the high point you share the course with the two longer distances run on the same Saturday. Then you take the direct line back to the valley while they head further into the mountains. It gives you this race's Pyrenean mountain terrain in compact form, on routes the organisers refine every year.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 | 0.8 km | 5.2 % | 10.4 % | +43 m | — |
| km 1 | 1.7 km | 14.5 % | 46 % | +243 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 4.4 | 1.5 km | 14.2 % | 37 % | +213 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 6.4 | 2.2 km | 16.6 % | 42.2 % | +365 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 8.8 | 0.5 km | 6.4 % | 17.4 % | +32 m | — |
| km 9.6 | 0.9 km | 3.1 % | 14 % | +27 m | — |
| km 11.2 | 2.7 km | 22.5 % | 46 % | +614 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 20.4 | 0.4 km | 3.9 % | 17.1 % | +15 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 du Hautacam.
Start under control
The first eleven kilometres are a run-up, not the race. The climbs and short descents tempt you to go with the group, but whatever you overspend here is missing on the big slope. Walk the ramps from the start wherever running costs more than it earns, and use the nearly level stretch at 1,100 metres to settle your breathing and eat.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 11 and km 14. At this gradient a steady, strong step beats any surge, because every stop costs more than a quick start ever gains. Find a rhythm at the bottom that you can hold to the top, even if it feels too calm at first.
Spend what is left
The real trap sits directly behind it. Nearly a third of the course is steep descent, and the hardest part lands on quads that have just pushed up 600 metres. Let the first two kilometres downhill run away from you and you pay for it with every step of the last eight. Stay in control and the long remainder to Beaucens stays runnable.
Training plan for Trail du Hautacam: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly four to six and a half hours: for age-group athletes this is closer to a long day in the mountains than a 24-kilometre run. The effort swings constantly between long, hard climbs with plenty of walking and steep descents that bring little recovery, because they load the leg muscles fully.
Train race pace
The slope from km 11 sets the first priority. Train on the steepest ground you can find and turn it into blocks of 20 to 40 minutes of brisk uphill walking, since above 20 percent walking is not an emergency measure but the fastest technique. Put those blocks at the end of a longer run so that you meet them on used legs, as you will on race day.
Rehearse the course
Downhill work matters just as much, because this course falls as steeply and as often as it rises. The eccentric strength it demands only comes from real descents and targeted strength sessions for quads and calves. Build the volume carefully, since this is the load that lingers longest.
Arrive fresh
With the race in late May, your build falls in winter and spring. Find terrain early where you can truly climb and descend steeply, and run at least one dress rehearsal with a good 1,200 metres of climbing in one go. It tells you whether food, drink and shoes work on steep ground for this long.
Courses
Download the Trail du Hautacam course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail du Hautacam 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 du Hautacam.
How long is Trail du Hautacam?
Trail du Hautacam is 24 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 du Hautacam have?
Trail du Hautacam has around 1,735 m of elevation gain over 24 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail du Hautacam?
Trail du Hautacam is classified as Mountainous, averaging 73.8 vertical metres per kilometre. 4% of the route is flat, 15% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 32% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail du Hautacam have?
The hardest climb of Trail du Hautacam starts at kilometre 11.2, runs for 2.7 km at an average of 22.5% and gains 614 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail du Hautacam a loop course?
Yes, Trail du Hautacam is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail du Hautacam course?
Yes. The Trail du Hautacam 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 du Hautacam?
Preparation for Trail du Hautacam should account for 24 km, 1,735 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 du Hautacam?
The pacing strategy for Trail du Hautacam should reflect 24 km, 1,735 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 du Hautacam take place?
Trail du Hautacam takes place on May 29, 2027.
Where does Trail du Hautacam take place?
Trail du Hautacam takes place in Beaucens, France.
Which distances does Trail du Hautacam offer?
Trail du Hautacam offers 3 distances — Trail Hautacam 24 km: 24 km; Trail du Hautacam 45 km: 45 km; Trail du Hautacam 70 km: 70 km.
How do I register for Trail du Hautacam?
Registration runs through the organiser: trails-hautacam.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
