Triathlon de Luchon.
The Triathlon de Luchon is a middle-distance race in the Pyrenees, held for the sixth time in 2027, that finishes high in the mountains: after the swim in the Lac de Badech the bike climbs to the Les Agudes ski station and the Hospice de France, where two run laps over the Campsaure plateau follow. The race is decided on the two big climbs, not in the water.
Triathlon de Luchon 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The race starts on the shore of the Lac de Badech by Bagnères-de-Luchon: 1,200 m in one and a half laps with an Australian exit at 800 m, and spectators can follow along the bank. The first transition, with changing tents, sits right by the lake.
The bike course is point-to-point. A rolling out-and-back along the valley comes first, then the road towards the Col de Peyresourde, from halfway up which the course turns off to the Les Agudes ski station. After the descent back to Luchon comes the final climb to the Hospice de France, a narrow, steep road through the forest that the organiser itself calls wild. At the top, at about 1,385 m, is the second transition.
The run is pure nature: two laps from the Hospice up onto the Campsaure plateau to almost 1,750 m and back down, with Pyrenean peaks all around. The finish is at the Hospice de France, at the head of the valley.
+2,532 m
+983 m
Bike course
89 km · +2,532 m| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 30.5 | 1.7 km | 8.5 % | 18.4 % | +142 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 38.4 | 1 km | 5.6 % | 17.2 % | +55 m | — |
| km 47.8 | 2.1 km | 6.8 % | 16.9 % | +141 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 51 | 10.9 km | 7.1 % | 19 % | +767 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 78.9 | 1.9 km | 8.3 % | 26.1 % | +156 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 82 | 1.5 km | 6.8 % | 13 % | +99 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 83.6 | 2.2 km | 7.1 % | 16.8 % | +153 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 86.1 | 2.8 km | 11.3 % | 35.8 % | +319 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.
Run course
18.8 km · +983 m| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.8 | 2.5 km | 10.9 % | 29.2 % | +271 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 3.5 | 2.1 km | 7.7 % | 18.4 % | +161 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 5.8 | 0.4 km | 5.8 % | 9.2 % | +23 m | — |
| km 10.4 | 2.5 km | 11 % | 29.2 % | +270 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 13.1 | 2.1 km | 7.7 % | 18.3 % | +161 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 15.3 | 0.4 km | 5.8 % | 9.3 % | +23 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 Triathlon de Luchon.
Settle into the race
The load is lopsided: the swim is short, the bike takes most of the day, and the run with its long climbs is closer to a mountain run than a half marathon. The first 45 km in the valley are where you save strength, not where you win time; drafting is not allowed.
Spread the effort
The race is decided by the pairing of the climb to Les Agudes and the final climb to the Hospice de France. Overcook the first mountain and you pay on the steep last kilometres to the Hospice, and then again on the first run climb straight out of transition.
Finish strong
The classic trap is to treat the run like a road run. Plan the climbs on the Campsaure as walking sections when your heart rate asks for it, and keep something for the second lap: it has the same climbing as the first, on tired legs.
Training plan for Triathlon de Luchon: 12-week build
Build all three disciplines
As an age-group athlete, expect six to nine hours in total, most of it on the bike. The effort is long and aerobic, with long spells near threshold on the climbs and almost no recovery on the run, which goes nearly all up or down.
Brick sessions
The decisive parts are two long ascents on the bike, the second with very steep sections at the end of a long day, followed by a run with over 400 m of climbing per lap. That calls for gearing that lets you stay seated on double-digit gradients, and legs that can still run uphill after the bike.
Practise transitions
Key training themes are long rides with the climbing in the second half, brick runs straight off the bike onto hilly ground, and regular hill runs with descents so your quads can take the downhill running on the plateau.
Arrive fresh
The run reaches about 1,750 m and the transition sits at almost 1,400 m. Prepare for natural trails rather than tarmac and plan your kit for altitude, because the day goes from the valley floor into high mountain terrain.
Courses
Download each leg of Triathlon de Luchon as its own GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Triathlon de Luchon 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 Luchon.
How long is Triathlon de Luchon?
Triathlon de Luchon is 109 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 Triathlon de Luchon have?
Triathlon de Luchon has around 3,515 m of elevation gain over 109 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the profile of the bike course at Triathlon de Luchon?
The bike course at Triathlon de Luchon is classified as Mountainous, averaging 28.5 vertical metres per kilometre. 25% of the route is flat, 28% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 14% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does the bike course at Triathlon de Luchon have?
The hardest climb on the bike course at Triathlon de Luchon starts at kilometre 51, runs for 10.9 km at an average of 7.1% and gains 767 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 1. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is there a GPX file for the Triathlon de Luchon course?
Yes. Each leg of Triathlon de Luchon 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 Triathlon de Luchon?
Preparation for Triathlon de Luchon should account for 109 km, 3,515 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 Triathlon de Luchon?
The pacing strategy for Triathlon de Luchon should reflect 109 km, 3,515 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 Luchon take place?
Triathlon de Luchon takes place on June 5, 2027.
Where does Triathlon de Luchon take place?
Triathlon de Luchon takes place in Bagnères-de-Luchon, France.
Which distances does Triathlon de Luchon offer?
Triathlon de Luchon offers 2 distances — Half: 109 km; Courte distance: 51.8 km.
How do I register for Triathlon de Luchon?
Registration runs through the organiser: triathlondeluchon.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
