Triathlon du Lac de Paladru.
The Triathlon du Lac de Paladru is not a race for lone wolves: its long format is a team time trial in which three to five athletes swim, ride and run the whole course together and are timed as one. Preparing for it means planning the pace of the whole group, not just your own fitness.
Triathlon du Lac de Paladru 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start, transition and finish sit on the beach of the Détente & Clapotis campsite in Montferrat, on the east shore of Lac de Paladru, a lake in the hill country of the Pays Voironnais in Isère. The swim is a single lap of the lake. Two bike laps follow through the Valdaine hills, each breaking its rhythm with a drop into the valley and a longer climb back onto the plateau. The race ends with one run lap of the whole lake, roughly half on road and half on runnable trails.
What sets it apart is the format. Teams start 40 seconds apart, enter transition together, wear matching kit and must cross the line with at least three members; mixed teams need at least one person of each sex among them. Losing a teammate weakens the team but does not end its race as long as three carry on.
The race is held in September and places are in demand: the M format sold out in February 2026. The long format has fixed cut-offs at the start of the run and four kilometres into it; teams that miss them are diverted onto the shorter M run.
+1,178 m
+330 m
Bike course
75 km · +1,178 m| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 20.2 | 0.7 km | 5.9 % | 8.7 % | +40 m | — |
| km 21.2 | 0.3 km | 11.1 % | 17.6 % | +33 m | — |
| km 21.7 | 2.3 km | 7 % | 16.8 % | +157 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 29.8 | 1.4 km | 4.3 % | 9.5 % | +60 m | — |
| km 44.2 | 0.8 km | 3 % | 5.6 % | +25 m | — |
| km 55.8 | 0.7 km | 5.9 % | 8.8 % | +40 m | — |
| km 57.3 | 2.6 km | 6.3 % | 16.7 % | +161 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 65.4 | 1.4 km | 4.3 % | 9.4 % | +60 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.
Run course
18 km · +330 m| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.9 | 0.5 km | 4 % | 9.2 % | +20 m | — |
| km 5.5 | 0.7 km | 6.7 % | 15.4 % | +47 m | — |
| km 9.1 | 1.6 km | 5.5 % | 16.6 % | +89 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 11.1 | 0.6 km | 13.5 % | 18.3 % | +77 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 du Lac de Paladru.
Settle into the race
In a team time trial the weakest member sets the pace. A team that plans its race around its strongest athletes will come apart on the long climb of the second bike lap at the latest. Agree beforehand who waits on the climbs and who does the work on the flat.
Spread the effort
The race is decided on the second pass through the Valdaine and on the run around the lake. The bike course repeats its climbs, and whatever the team over-spends on the first lap is missing on the same slope the second time. On the run, the steepest ramp comes only in the last third, on the west side of the lake.
Finish strong
The usual trap is the start: fresh legs and teammates around you pull the swim and the first bike lap too fast. Keep the first lap deliberately easy so that everyone is still together on the second.
Training plan for Triathlon du Lac de Paladru: 12-week build
Build all three disciplines
For an age-group team the long format takes roughly five to six and a half hours, most of it on the bike. The effort is mainly aerobic, broken up by repeated climbs and by a run on partly unpaved, rolling paths.
Brick sessions
The most important training priority is training together. Ride several long sessions as a team in hilly terrain, practise staying together on climbs and regrouping afterwards, and run your brick sessions at the pace of your slowest runner. Athletes who only train alone underestimate how much it costs to keep adjusting to others.
Practise transitions
Individually, every member needs long rides with climbs of several kilometres and runs on paths with short, steep ramps. Rehearse transitions as a group as well: everyone has to enter transition together, and each athlete fetches and racks their own bike.
Arrive fresh
The swim is in the open lake. Train open-water swimming as a group so that you are not waiting for each other in transition after the exit.
Courses
Download each leg of Triathlon du Lac de Paladru as its own GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Triathlon du Lac de Paladru 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 du Lac de Paladru.
How long is Triathlon du Lac de Paladru?
Triathlon du Lac de Paladru is 94.8 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 du Lac de Paladru have?
Triathlon du Lac de Paladru has around 1,508 m of elevation gain over 94.8 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the profile of the bike course at Triathlon du Lac de Paladru?
The bike course at Triathlon du Lac de Paladru is classified as Rolling, averaging 15.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 23% of the route is flat, 33% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 4% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does the bike course at Triathlon du Lac de Paladru have?
The hardest climb on the bike course at Triathlon du Lac de Paladru starts at kilometre 57.3, runs for 2.6 km at an average of 6.3% and gains 161 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is there a GPX file for the Triathlon du Lac de Paladru course?
Yes. Each leg of Triathlon du Lac de Paladru 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 du Lac de Paladru?
Preparation for Triathlon du Lac de Paladru should account for 94.8 km, 1,508 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 du Lac de Paladru?
The pacing strategy for Triathlon du Lac de Paladru should reflect 94.8 km, 1,508 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 du Lac de Paladru take place?
Triathlon du Lac de Paladru takes place on September 18, 2027.
Where does Triathlon du Lac de Paladru take place?
Triathlon du Lac de Paladru takes place in Montferrat, France.
Which distances does Triathlon du Lac de Paladru offer?
Triathlon du Lac de Paladru offers 2 distances — Triathlon L par équipe: 94.8 km; Triathlon M par équipe: 51.5 km.
How do I register for Triathlon du Lac de Paladru?
Registration runs through the organiser: triathlon-paladru.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
