Trail running course through mixed terrain in Grand Est, FR
Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB

Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB 10.5K

10.5K·400m gain·Obernai, France
mountainforesttrailqualifier10k

AI-generated image

Distance10.5K
Gain400m
Date15 May 2026
Difficulty2/5

About This Race

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.

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.

Location

Notable Features

This UTMB World Series event uniquely combines trail running with cultural immersion, taking runners through Alsace's historic landscape of castles and vineyards. The themed race names honor the region's rich medieval heritage, while the courses showcase the distinctive Franco-German character of this border region. As part of the UTMB World Series, finishers earn Running Stones that count toward qualification for the prestigious UTMB Mont-Blanc.

Other Distances at This Event

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.