Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles.
Over its longest distance the Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles is an all-nature loop through the Vallée de Chevreuse with no big mountain and almost no let-up. The preparation it asks for is less about sustained climbing than about still handling short, steep ramps cleanly after hours on your feet.
Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The course is a loop on the trails of the Vallée de Chevreuse, with start and finish at practically the same height. A little over 700 metres of ascent sounds mild for the length, but it never arrives in one piece: the high point sits around 180 metres, and no single climb runs longer than 800 metres. Only about a fifth of the route is flat, so a steady running rhythm is hard to come by.
Three climbs of 30 to 50 metres each come in the first hour of racing, then the course undulates for a while through its lower ground. The hardest stretch is saved for the third quarter: two short ramps follow almost back to back, the first averaging over 11 percent, and they lead to the high point of the day. The last quarter then brings the climb with the biggest gain, nearly 60 metres in three quarters of a kilometre.
The long course shares its opening and its closing kilometres with the two shorter distances, but the steepest ramps of the day are its own. Shortly before the end it rises once more to about 170 metres, then drops back to start height. Bonnelles is a small amateur race on a Sunday in May, and the 43 km is its longest way through this landscape.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2.6 | 0.7 km | 4.2 % | 8.2 % | +31 m | — |
| km 4.7 | 0.8 km | 6.8 % | 9.9 % | +51 m | — |
| km 7.5 | 0.8 km | 4.2 % | 8.2 % | +32 m | — |
| km 13.4 | 0.5 km | 5.5 % | 10 % | +29 m | — |
| km 18.4 | 0.7 km | 4.6 % | 11.1 % | +31 m | — |
| km 24.1 | 0.3 km | 11.1 % | 16.3 % | +36 m | — |
| km 25.1 | 0.4 km | 8.4 % | 15.1 % | +34 m | — |
| km 32.6 | 0.8 km | 7.8 % | 11.5 % | +59 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 de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles.
Start under control
Budget your effort by climbs here, not by kilometres. None of these rises will end your race alone, but each one you force at a run costs something, and over this distance it adds up. Take the ramps of the first hours so that your breathing stays calm, even if that means walking.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between the two steep pitches of the third quarter and the big climb after them. Gradients there peak at around 16 percent, and a strong hike is usually faster than a forced run. If you can jog again at the top, you gain time on the final section; if this is where you discover your legs are empty, you lose it.
Spend what is left
The trap is the modest altitude. Since no climb looks long, the first half tends to go slightly too fast, and the many descents load the quads more than you notice at the time. Run downhill loosely rather than on hard braking steps, and keep something for the last rise, because after it only the descent carries you home.
Training plan for Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes should expect roughly 4:15 to 6:30 hours, depending on form. That is a long aerobic effort but not an even one: the constant up and down creates many short peaks with no full rest for the legs between them.
Train race pace
The phases that count come late. The steepest metres arrive after halfway and the climb with the biggest gain later still. So train climbing on tired legs: long runs on undulating ground with the steep sections deliberately placed in the second half mirror the race better than hill intervals done fresh.
Rehearse the course
Two specific skills sit alongside that. One is a brisk power hike on steep ground, practised in short repeats until it feels like race pace rather than a break. The other is running downhill under fatigue, because this course descends exactly as much as it climbs and your quads have to hold up all the way to the line.
Arrive fresh
A mid-May date puts your longest runs in March and April. Do them on natural paths rather than tarmac where you can, in the shoes you plan to race in. At this duration, eating and drinking on the move is part of training too, so rehearse it on every long run.
Courses
Download the Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles 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 de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles.
How long is Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles?
Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles is 43 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 de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles have?
Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles has around 717 m of elevation gain over 43 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles?
Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles is classified as Hilly, averaging 18 vertical metres per kilometre. 21% of the route is flat, 34% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles have?
The hardest climb of Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles starts at kilometre 32.6, runs for 0.8 km at an average of 7.8% and gains 59 metres. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles a loop course?
Yes, Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles course?
Yes. The Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles 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 de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles?
Preparation for Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles should account for 43 km, 717 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 de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles?
The pacing strategy for Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles should reflect 43 km, 717 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 de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles take place?
Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles takes place on May 16, 2027.
Where does Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles take place?
Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles takes place in Bonnelles, France.
Which distances does Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles offer?
Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles offers 3 distances — 43 km: 43 km; 20 km: 20 km; 10 km: 10 km.
How do I register for Trail de l'Orangerie de Bonnelles?
Registration runs through the organiser: trail-orangerie.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
