Triathlon de l'Alpe d'Huez.
The Alpe d'Huez Triathlon L is the centrepiece of a festival week that has filled the Oisans mountains every July for two decades: a swim in a reservoir closed to swimmers the rest of the year, 118 km over four climbs ending on the 21 hairpins to L'Alpe d'Huez, then three run laps at 1,800 m. Finishing it means surviving a full day in the mountains.
Alpe d'Huez Triathlon 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The day begins at the Lac du Verney, a reservoir of EDF's Grand'Maison power station, which halts production for the race; the rest of the year swimming there is banned. After one 2.2 km loop in water that has averaged about 17 degrees, the bike leg runs quickly out along the Romanche valley to the first big climb, the Alpe du Grand Serre, topping out around km 40.
Then it gets restless: the short, steep Col du Malissol in the Valbonnais, later the long Col d'Ornon, which steepens towards the top, and a fast descent to Bourg d'Oisans. Only there, after some 105 km, do the 21 hairpins to L'Alpe d'Huez begin, almost 14 km at around eight percent, with the first three bends the hardest. The roads stay open to traffic and drafting is forbidden.
At L'Alpe d'Huez a 6.4 km run lap waits, to be covered three times: on track and tarmac towards the Col de Sarenne, overlooking the Oisans, with about 100 m of climbing a lap. The 1,800 m altitude makes every stride cost more. Ryf and Wellington are on the winners' list, but the cut-offs reach late into the evening and leave room for age-groupers too.
+3,877 m
+466 m
Bike course
118 km · +3,877 m| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 25 | 3.2 km | 7.1 % | 19.8 % | +226 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 28.4 | 3.6 km | 8.2 % | 24.2 % | +294 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 32.2 | 5.2 km | 8.2 % | 38.5 % | +426 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 37.6 | 1.2 km | 7.9 % | 18.9 % | +93 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 52.1 | 1.5 km | 6.3 % | 16.9 % | +92 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 71.2 | 2 km | 4.7 % | 15.4 % | +95 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 86.2 | 5.6 km | 6.3 % | 11.2 % | +354 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 106.7 | 13 km | 8.4 % | 33.8 % | +1,094 m | HC |
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.
Run course
19.2 km · +466 m| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.2 | 0.7 km | 6.6 % | 11.9 % | +48 m | — |
| km 3.6 | 0.9 km | 4.5 % | 9.7 % | +39 m | — |
| km 7.5 | 0.7 km | 6.6 % | 12 % | +48 m | — |
| km 10 | 0.8 km | 4.6 % | 9.7 % | +38 m | — |
| km 13.8 | 0.7 km | 6.6 % | 12 % | +48 m | — |
| km 16.3 | 0.9 km | 4.5 % | 9.7 % | +39 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 Alpe d'Huez Triathlon.
Settle into the race
The race is not decided in the water or on the first three climbs but on how much you have left at the foot of L'Alpe d'Huez. The organiser says it plainly: arrive there with strength and you can climb properly and still run. Ride the Alpe du Grand Serre and the Col d'Ornon clearly below threshold, with even power rather than speed on the steep sections.
Spread the effort
The biggest trap is the fast spin along the valley and following wheels on the Grand Serre while your legs are fresh; there is no drafting anyway. On the 21 hairpins patience matters most in the first three bends, and overcooking them costs you the rest of the climb.
Finish strong
The three run laps at altitude need a pace well below what feels right at sea level. Treat lap one as the benchmark: walking the ramps towards Sarenne is not a defeat but the tool that lets you still run lap three.
Training plan for Alpe d'Huez Triathlon: 12-week build
Build all three disciplines
For age-groupers this is a day of roughly nine to twelve hours, most of it in the saddle and uphill. The effort is long and aerobic, broken by spells where you hold controlled high power on a climb for an hour or more.
Brick sessions
What decides the race is four climbs plus an hour of climbing at the end: the 21 hairpins come after more than 100 km, and then nearly 20 km of running at altitude follows. Long rides with long climbs placed late matter more than fast flat kilometres, and so do brick runs straight off the bike that include uphill and downhill running.
Practise transitions
Conditions are alpine: cold reservoir water in the morning with mandatory wetsuits, July sun on south-facing slopes, and a run at 1,800 m. Swim open water in a wetsuit, rehearse fuelling over eight to ten hours, and practise descending mountain roads that stay open to traffic.
Arrive fresh
Put long climbing sessions at steady power, rides over several passes back to back, and brick runs at the centre of your preparation. If you can, arrive a few days early to adapt to the altitude.
Courses
Download each leg of Alpe d'Huez Triathlon as its own GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Triathlon de l'Alpe d'Huez 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 Triathlon de l'Alpe d'Huez.
How long is Alpe d'Huez Triathlon?
Alpe d'Huez Triathlon is 139.4 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 Alpe d'Huez Triathlon have?
Alpe d'Huez Triathlon has around 4,343 m of elevation gain over 139.4 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the profile of the bike course at Alpe d'Huez Triathlon?
The bike course at Alpe d'Huez Triathlon is classified as Mountainous, averaging 32.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 15% of the route is flat, 29% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 15% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does the bike course at Alpe d'Huez Triathlon have?
The hardest climb on the bike course at Alpe d'Huez Triathlon starts at kilometre 106.7, runs for 13 km at an average of 8.4% and gains 1,094 metres. Cycling-convention rating: HC. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is there a GPX file for the Alpe d'Huez Triathlon course?
Yes. Each leg of Alpe d'Huez Triathlon is on this page as its own free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Alpe d'Huez Triathlon?
Preparation for Alpe d'Huez Triathlon should account for 139.4 km, 4,343 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 Alpe d'Huez Triathlon?
The pacing strategy for Alpe d'Huez Triathlon should reflect 139.4 km, 4,343 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 Triathlon de l'Alpe d'Huez take place?
Triathlon de l'Alpe d'Huez takes place on July 28, 2027.
Where does Triathlon de l'Alpe d'Huez take place?
Triathlon de l'Alpe d'Huez takes place in L'Alpe d'Huez, France.
Which distances does Alpe d'Huez Triathlon offer?
Alpe d'Huez Triathlon offers 3 distances — Triathlon L: 139.4 km; Triathlon M: 35.9 km; Duathlon: 27 km.
How do I register for Alpe d'Huez Triathlon?
Registration runs through the organiser: alpetriathlon.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
