
The Triathlon L at Obernai-Benfeld is the long format of the Obernai-Benfeld triathlon, held for the 27th time in 2027: a 2.1 km swim in the lake at Benfeld, 82 km on the bike over Mont Sainte-Odile and the Champ du Feu, and two run laps through Obernai. It is a PTO Bronze race, and it is decided in the Vosges.
The race starts at the lake in Benfeld with a 2,100 m swim and two Australian exits across the sand beach. In the first transition you change in closed tents; the organisers take your swim kit to Obernai.
The bike is point-to-point: flat across the plain first, then two big climbs over Mont Sainte-Odile up to the Champ du Feu and back over Sainte-Odile down to Obernai. There, in the second transition at the edge of the old town, your run bag hangs on the rack and two 9.3 km laps through town and vineyards follow.
In the 27th edition in 2027 the S, M and L all race on the Sunday, the L first in the morning. Because the transitions are separate, you drop your run kit in Obernai the day before or early on race morning and make your own way to Benfeld; there are no shuttles, and the organisers suggest riding the 16 flat kilometres.
+1,760 m
+315 m
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 14.3 | 2.1 km | 4.9 % | 9.5 % | +102 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 18.5 | 3.9 km | 5.4 % | 21.6 % | +210 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 22.6 | 3.1 km | 7.5 % | 14.7 % | +231 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 26 | 1.1 km | 5.5 % | 15.4 % | +58 m | — |
| km 30.7 | 1.8 km | 4.2 % | 13.7 % | +75 m | — |
| km 36.1 | 1.1 km | 6.9 % | 13.2 % | +75 m | — |
| km 39.4 | 1.6 km | 5.7 % | 12.5 % | +89 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 42.7 | 4.6 km | 7.4 % | 20.2 % | +339 m | Cat. 2 |
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.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.7 | 0.5 km | 6.5 % | 12 % | +32 m | — |
| km 2.8 | 0.4 km | 5 % | 8.9 % | +18 m | — |
| km 4 | 0.8 km | 4.8 % | 9.1 % | +39 m | — |
| km 7.8 | 0.4 km | 5.4 % | 7.1 % | +22 m | — |
| km 10.1 | 0.5 km | 6.5 % | 12.4 % | +33 m | — |
| km 12.2 | 0.4 km | 4.9 % | 9 % | +17 m | — |
| km 13.4 | 0.8 km | 4.8 % | 9 % | +39 m | — |
| km 17.1 | 0.4 km | 5.5 % | 7.1 % | +22 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.
The split is clear: the swim is short enough to take calmly and the run rolling enough to reward restraint on the bike. The bike decides the race, specifically the section from Mont Sainte-Odile to the Champ du Feu.
The biggest trap is the flat ride after the swim. With adrenaline and an empty flat road it is easy to overcook, and that comes back in the Vosges and on the second run lap. Ride the plain deliberately below your time-trial pace and spend evenly on the climbs.
Plan your fuelling around the three bike aid stations and use the long descents to eat. Reach Obernai with reserves and you can still run the climb from km 4 on the second lap and gain places there.

For capable age-groupers the race takes roughly five and a half to eight hours, most of it on the bike. The effort is long and aerobic, with long climbing stretches near threshold and a rolling run at the end.
The focus is mountain riding: long rides with two big climbs in the second half, and practice on technical descents. Add brick runs on hilly ground after long rides.
In the water, solid endurance for 2.1 km of open water is enough. Practise the Australian exits and swimming both with and without a wetsuit, since the rule depends on water temperature.
In early June the valley can be warm and the Champ du Feu cool. Train your fuelling over the full race duration and think about a layer for the descents.

Download each leg of Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld as its own GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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.
Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld is 102.7 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld has around 2,075 m of elevation gain over 102.7 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
The bike course at Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld is classified as Mountainous, averaging 21.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 22% of the route is flat, 29% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 9% is steeper than 6%.
The hardest climb on the bike course at Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld starts at kilometre 42.7, runs for 4.6 km at an average of 7.4% and gains 339 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Yes. Each leg of Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld 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.
Preparation for Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld should account for 102.7 km, 2,075 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
The pacing strategy for Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld should reflect 102.7 km, 2,075 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld takes place on June 5, 2027.
Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld takes place in Obernai, France.
Triathlon Obernai-Benfeld offers 4 distances — Triathlon L: 102.7 km; Triathlon M: 56.7 km; Triathlon S: 29.3 km; Triathlon XS: 12.82 km.
Registration runs through the organiser: triathlon-obernai.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.