About This Event
Set in France's Alsace region, this UTMB World Series event offers runners a unique journey through historic landscapes dotted with medieval castles and renowned vineyards. The race takes place across the Grand Est region, combining the cultural richness of Alsace with challenging trail terrain that showcases the area's distinctive blend of French and German influences. With five main distances ranging from 18 kilometers to 156 kilometers, the event caters to runners across the experience spectrum while maintaining the high standards of the UTMB World Series. The races are themed around historical figures - Chevaliers (Knights), Païens (Pagans), Celtes (Celts), Pèlerins (Pilgrims), and Pages - reflecting the deep historical heritage of the region. The event weekend extends beyond the main races with children's events in both Châtenois and Obernai, making it a comprehensive celebration of trail running in one of France's most picturesque regions. The race serves as both a standalone adventure and a qualifying opportunity for runners pursuing their UTMB World Series journey.
Choose Your Distance
10.5K
Despite its shorter distance, this 10.5-kilometer course packs substantial elevation gain that provides a concentrated challenge. The Trail des Ecuyers offers an intense but brief introduction to the region's terrain character.
18K
The route navigates the distinctive landscape where the Alsace plain meets the Vosges foothills. Runners traverse vineyard paths that have defined this wine-growing region for centuries, with sections passing within view of medieval fortifications that dot the ridgelines. The mixed terrain includes established trail sections and vineyard access paths, requiring attention to footing but remaining runnable throughout for prepared participants.
29K
Detailed course information for 2026 has not been released. Historical editions have incorporated Alsace's characteristic terrain: vineyard trails with exposure and views across the Rhine valley, forested ascents into the Vosges foothills, and ridgeline sections that connect the region's wine country to its mountain culture. Runners should anticipate mixed surfaces including dirt trails, forest paths, and potentially brief paved sections through villages, with technical demands typical of managed trail networks rather than wilderness routes.
47K
109K
The route departs from Obernai, a well-preserved medieval town that serves as the cultural and logistical hub for the event. Runners encounter the characteristic mixed terrain of the region, where maintained trails alternate with more technical sections requiring focused attention. The course weaves through areas marked by centuries of European history, though specific routing details and aid station locations have not been published. The distance and terrain combination necessitates headlamp use for most runners, as finishing times will extend well beyond daylight hours. Course marking follows UTMB World Series standards, with clear waymarking throughout the route.
156K
The 156K course departs from Obernai, a town that has preserved its medieval fortifications and serves as gateway to the Alsace Wine Route. Runners traverse mixed terrain including forest singletrack through the Vosges foothills, fire roads connecting ridge systems, and vineyard trails that occasionally open to views across the Rhine plain toward Germany's Black Forest. The route's character shifts between technical wooded sections requiring careful footing and more runnable passages through agricultural landscapes, with navigation supported by UTMB's standard marking protocols.