Trail du Jura Bernois.
La Grandiose is the longest course at the Trail du Jura Bernois and a test of patience. Chasseral, reached after 24 km, is the high point of the day, yet four more big climbs follow it. The steepest starts only at km 60 in Cortébert, and that is the moment both your race and your preparation have to be built around.
Trail du Jura Bernois 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start is behind the Salle de la Marelle in Tramelan, and in 2027 the course is back in its original direction. Three short, steep ramps lift you to almost 1,200 metres within five kilometres. Ridges, pasture and forest paths then lead on via Mont-Crosin and down to Villeret, where the first of five aid stations stands at km 15. Right behind it begins the longest climb of the day: through the Combe-Grède to Chasseral, about 800 metres of ascent in just under seven kilometres.
At the top, close to 1,600 metres, a little over a third of the distance is done, but a good half of the climbing is still ahead. A descent of around 650 metres comes next, then three further climbs each return to just under 1,300 metres. The first ends at km 36, the second starts in Lamboing, the third leads up to Place Centrale. Flat ground stays rare over the full distance.
From Place Centrale the course falls to around 700 metres at Cortébert, the lowest point of the race. There, at the last aid station, stands the final wall: just under three kilometres with 430 metres of gain. Its steepest pitches reach 28 percent. All that remains is the descent of about 200 metres to the finish in Tramelan.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.1 | 0.8 km | 10.1 % | 24.1 % | +76 m | — |
| km 1.2 | 1.4 km | 8.1 % | 21.1 % | +113 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 3.5 | 1.1 km | 14.2 % | 21.7 % | +160 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 16.1 | 6.7 km | 12.1 % | 45.5 % | +810 m | HC |
| km 32.1 | 3.7 km | 8.3 % | 21.6 % | +305 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 41 | 4 km | 10.5 % | 22.2 % | +422 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 49.2 | 3.1 km | 8.4 % | 21.9 % | +257 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 59.9 | 3 km | 14.6 % | 28.2 % | +430 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 du Jura Bernois.
Start under control
Divide the day by climbs, not kilometres. The 15 km to Villeret are a run-up: take the early ramps so quietly that you could still hold a conversation at the bottom. In the Combe-Grède find an even hiking rhythm and keep it all the way to Chasseral instead of forcing the steepest stretches.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between Lamboing and the final wall. Those almost 20 kilometres string together two long climbs and a descent of about 600 metres, and if you overspent on Chasseral this is where you lose more time than anywhere else.
Spend what is left
The biggest trap is the way down from Chasseral. It runs easily, yet every hard braking step is paid for in your quads at km 60. The longest gap begins there as well: 17 km separate that aid station from Lamboing, so leave the summit with full bottles and eat while the ground still falls.
Training plan for Trail du Jura Bernois: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 9 to 14 hours as an age-group athlete. The effort is mostly aerobic but never steady: almost half the course is steep, up or down, and hiking keeps alternating with running. What counts is less your pace than how long your legs can take that alternation.
Train race pace
The core of the preparation is long sessions on terrain, on some weekends as back-to-back days. Put the hardest part at the end: a run that still demands a steep 400-metre climb after four hours rehearses exactly what waits behind Cortébert. If you have no such hill, repeat a shorter ramp until the metres add up.
Rehearse the course
Downhill running matters just as much. Between its climbs the course repeatedly gives away several hundred metres, and those descents decide the second half of the race. Steep stretches on forest paths and pasture therefore belong in the plan early and regularly, backed by short strength sessions for quads and core.
Arrive fresh
Practise eating over many hours as well, since 15 to 17 km can lie between two aid stations. Train with the kit you intend to race in. With the race in late September your longest sessions fall in August, and the last big one sits about three weeks before the start.
Courses
Download the Trail du Jura Bernois course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail du Jura Bernois 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 Jura Bernois.
How long is Trail du Jura Bernois?
Trail du Jura Bernois is 66.5 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 Jura Bernois have?
Trail du Jura Bernois has around 2,970 m of elevation gain over 66.5 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail du Jura Bernois?
Trail du Jura Bernois is classified as Mountainous, averaging 45.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 7% of the route is flat, 24% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 23% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail du Jura Bernois have?
The hardest climb of Trail du Jura Bernois starts at kilometre 16.1, runs for 6.7 km at an average of 12.1% and gains 810 metres. Cycling-convention rating: HC. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail du Jura Bernois a loop course?
Yes, Trail du Jura Bernois is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail du Jura Bernois course?
Yes. The Trail du Jura Bernois 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 Jura Bernois?
Preparation for Trail du Jura Bernois should account for 66.5 km, 2,970 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 Jura Bernois?
The pacing strategy for Trail du Jura Bernois should reflect 66.5 km, 2,970 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 Jura Bernois 2027 take place?
Trail du Jura Bernois 2027 takes place on September 25, 2027.
Where does Trail du Jura Bernois 2027 take place?
Trail du Jura Bernois 2027 takes place in Tramelan, Switzerland.
Which distances does Trail du Jura Bernois offer?
Trail du Jura Bernois offers 4 distances — La Grandiose: 66.5 km; L'Essentielle: 45 km; La Traversée: 31 km; La Découverte: 13.5 km.
How do I register for Trail du Jura Bernois?
Registration runs through the organiser: utjb.ch. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
