Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail.
The Extra BVT is the long loop of the Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail: 90 km from Le Perréon out into the hills of the Beaujolais vert, over Mont Tournissou and Mont Soubran, and back to the wine village only by way of Rivolet. Around 4,200 m of climbing is spread over eight hard ramps, and three of the longest come after km 66.
Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are in Le Perréon, a wine village among the slopes of the Beaujolais. Straight after the start the route climbs from km 2 for just over two kilometres and about 275 m towards the ferme Sainte-Marie, and from km 9 a second ramp of similar shape leads to the first aid station at Château de Varenne around km 14. From there the course heads into the wooded heights over Mont Tournissou and Mont Soubran to the col de la Casse Froide at km 25.
The centrepiece is the climb from km 35: over four kilometres and close to 500 m of gain with pitches above 25 percent, taking the course to its high point a little above 900 m. Via Lamure-sur-Azergues and Le Parasoir the loop turns back east, and from km 66 three long climbs come in quick succession, the last from km 79 after the aid station in Rivolet, worth more than 330 m.
Underfoot this is upland trail: forest roads, paths along the crêts, short passages through the vines. On a clear day the view reaches across the Saône plain to Mont Blanc. In 2026 the start was well before dawn, so the first hours were run in the dark.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2 | 2.3 km | 11.8 % | 24.3 % | +275 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 9.1 | 2 km | 12 % | 22.1 % | +237 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 30.4 | 1.7 km | 13.6 % | 27.1 % | +228 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 35.4 | 4.3 km | 11.2 % | 25.8 % | +482 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 48.5 | 2 km | 11.4 % | 24.4 % | +223 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 66 | 2.4 km | 8.4 % | 25.6 % | +203 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 70.3 | 3.4 km | 10.2 % | 24.4 % | +348 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 79.3 | 2.8 km | 11.9 % | 27.2 % | +333 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.
How to pace Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail.
Start under control
More than half of the course is steep, up or down, and there is hardly any flat running. That means pace is not the unit here, the gradients set the rhythm. Walk every ramp above 15 percent, early in the race and even when you feel fresh, and run the sections in between easily.
Hold your rhythm
The Extra BVT is not decided on the big climb from km 35 but over the last 25 km. The three long ramps after km 66 add up to almost 900 m of gain, and they arrive when your quads already carry more than 3,000 m of descent. Whoever can still climb there gains places.
Spend what is left
The typical trap is the night start: running by headlamp in the dark, the effort feels slower than it is, and the first two ramps up to km 11 get run too hard. Save something for the descents, which on this course are as steep as the climbs.
Training plan for Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect 12 to 18 hours for a typical age-group runner. The demand is a long aerobic endurance day with constantly recurring short, hard spikes on the steep ramps, with little recovery in between because the next steep descent follows straight away.
Train race pace
The decisive part is the last 25 km with the three long climbs from km 66. So train climbing under fatigue specifically: long runs with 1,500 to 2,500 m of gain where the steepest sections come at the end, and back-to-back days with two long hill sessions.
Rehearse the course
Descending durability matters just as much. Around 4,200 m of descent on forest roads and paths loads the quads harder than any climb, so build in regular steep downhill running and eccentric strength work. Practise poling on ramps above 20 percent as well.
Arrive fresh
The start falls in the night and the race is held at the end of September: in 2026 the event ran in sunshine and heat. Train trail running by headlamp and test your fuelling in warm weather, so that you can still eat when you reach Rivolet at km 79.
Courses
Download the Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail dynamically
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Everything about Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail.
How long is Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail?
Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail is 90 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 Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail have?
Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail has around 4,180 m of elevation gain over 90 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail?
Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail is classified as Mountainous, averaging 46.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 5% of the route is flat, 20% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 27% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail have?
The hardest climb of Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail starts at kilometre 35.4, runs for 4.3 km at an average of 11.2% and gains 482 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail a loop course?
Yes, Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail course?
Yes. The Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail 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 Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail?
Preparation for Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail should account for 90 km, 4,180 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 Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail?
The pacing strategy for Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail should reflect 90 km, 4,180 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 Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail take place?
Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail takes place on September 25, 2027.
Where does Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail take place?
Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail takes place in Le Perréon, France.
Which distances does Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail offer?
Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail offers 5 distances — Extra BVT: 90 km; Mara BVT: 48 km; Maxi BVT: 28 km; Mini BVT: 13 km; Baby BVT: 9 km.
How do I register for Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail?
Registration runs through the organiser: beaujolaisvillagestrail.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
