Trail Nivolet-Revard.
On its long course, the Trail Nivolet-Revard climbs from the plain at Voglans to the Savoie Grand Revard plateau and back: 53 km, around 3,000 m of ascent and a wall from km 16 that shapes everything after it. Preparing for it means hiking very steep ground well and keeping enough leg strength for a long final descent.
Trail Nivolet-Revard 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at the salle polyvalente in Voglans, just above 230 metres. The loop opens on road, and the first climb begins after only a few hundred metres. It then crosses the fields around Méry and enters the forest on singletrack. Two climbs, each at around twelve percent, take you to almost 900 metres.
At km 15.7 comes the section that defines this race. More than 750 metres of ascent are packed into just 2.3 km, and hardly a step of it can be run. The ground eases at the top: on the Savoie Grand Revard plateau you stay around 1,400 metres for several kilometres. The high point, just over 1,500 metres, only arrives at km 28.
The way back is not one long descent. First you drop below 1,000 metres, then from km 32.5 you climb almost all the way back up. Only the final descent from Malpassant commits to the plain, and between km 44 and 48 alone it sheds more than 650 metres. One short rise still stands between you and the finish in Voglans.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.2 | 1.5 km | 8.9 % | 14.5 % | +131 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 4.9 | 2.4 km | 12 % | 34.5 % | +282 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 11.6 | 2 km | 12.3 % | 26.2 % | +249 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 15.7 | 2.3 km | 32.5 % | 57.3 % | +755 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 25.8 | 1.4 km | 16.4 % | 30.3 % | +225 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 32.5 | 2.5 km | 16.5 % | 31.9 % | +404 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 36.1 | 1.1 km | 12 % | 23.3 % | +135 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 42.7 | 1.4 km | 11.7 % | 25.8 % | +160 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 Nivolet-Revard.
Start under control
More than half of this course is steeply up or steeply down, and only a small remainder is flat. A kilometre split is therefore no use as a plan: pace by effort and think in hours. The three climbs before the big wall already add up to more than 650 metres, so they are not a warm-up, however easy they feel on fresh legs.
Hold your rhythm
The biggest trap is the wall from km 15.7. It looks short enough to force in one go, yet at over 30 percent pushing harder gains almost no time. Climb at a rhythm you could hold for another hour, and use the plateau to eat, drink and get running again.
Spend what is left
The race is decided between km 32 and 38. If you can still move evenly up that 400-metre return climb, you will have quads left for the descent from Malpassant. That is where braking stiffly and wrecked legs cost the most, because the longest steep descent sits right at the end.
Training plan for Trail Nivolet-Revard: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly seven to eleven hours as an age-group runner. This is no steady long run but an extended alternation of hiking on steep slopes and controlled downhill running. The base is aerobic, the spikes come on the steep climbs, and across the whole day what counts is how well you recover between them.
Train race pace
Two places set the key sessions. The wall after km 15.7 calls for strength and technique in uphill hiking: stairs, steep forest slopes or a treadmill at full incline, with 500 to 800 metres in one go. For the return climb after km 32.5, build a second big climb into your long sessions, straight after a sustained descent.
Rehearse the course
The descending is what many underestimate: around 3,000 metres go back down, most of it steep. Squats and lunges prepare the quads, but they do not replace downhill running itself. Run longer descents on forest paths regularly, some of them late in a long session on tired legs, because that is the state you will reach the final descent in on race day.
Arrive fresh
The May date puts your build in winter and spring, so schedule the big climbing sessions early. Nearly 1,300 metres separate the start from the high point, which means your clothing has to work at both altitudes. Test kit and food in sessions of several hours, so that nothing new happens after km 30 on the day.
Courses
Download the Trail Nivolet-Revard course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail Nivolet-Revard 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 Nivolet-Revard.
How long is Trail Nivolet-Revard?
Trail Nivolet-Revard is 53 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 Nivolet-Revard have?
Trail Nivolet-Revard has around 3,009 m of elevation gain over 53 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail Nivolet-Revard?
Trail Nivolet-Revard is classified as Mountainous, averaging 57.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 8% of the route is flat, 18% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 27% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail Nivolet-Revard have?
The hardest climb of Trail Nivolet-Revard starts at kilometre 15.7, runs for 2.3 km at an average of 32.5% and gains 755 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 1. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail Nivolet-Revard a loop course?
Yes, Trail Nivolet-Revard is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail Nivolet-Revard course?
Yes. The Trail Nivolet-Revard 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 Nivolet-Revard?
Preparation for Trail Nivolet-Revard should account for 53 km, 3,009 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 Nivolet-Revard?
The pacing strategy for Trail Nivolet-Revard should reflect 53 km, 3,009 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 Nivolet-Revard 2027 take place?
Trail Nivolet-Revard 2027 takes place on May 9, 2027.
Where does Trail Nivolet-Revard 2027 take place?
Trail Nivolet-Revard 2027 takes place in Voglans, France.
Which distances does Trail Nivolet-Revard offer?
Trail Nivolet-Revard offers 4 distances — Nivolet-Revard 53 km: 53 km; Malpassant 28 km: 28 km; La Voglanaise 14 km: 14 km; L’Éclair Voglanais 6.5 km: 6.5 km.
How do I register for Trail Nivolet-Revard?
Registration runs through the organiser: nivoletrevard.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
