Changes for 2018
From Luz Saint Sauveur, return to Merlans via the Glère refuge, then Tournaboup and the Aygues Cluses hut
Warning: the course has many parts on mountain trail where it is not easy to run
Program
Thursday, August 23
14:00 – 18:00: Removal of bibs and verification of Tour des Cirques bags – Village partners
17:00 – 20:00: Removal of assistance bags from the Circus Tour (Préau Ecole)
18:00: Circus Tour Briefing
18:30 – 20:30: Pasta Party
Friday, August 24
07:30: shuttle buses for the start of the Circus Tour from Vielle-Aure
09:00: departure of the Circus Tour from the center of Piau Engaly
Saturday, August 25
02:00: arrival of the first Cirques Tour in the center of Vielle Aure
20:00: Return of the bags base life Tour des Cirques
All day and all night: arrivals of the Tour des Cirques riders in the center of Vielle Aure
Sunday, August 26
01:00: Arrival of the latest Finishers Tour des Cirques
10:00: End of recovery of the bags base-life
10:00 – 12:00: Award ceremony (Place de Vielle-Aure)
12:15: Closing buffet of the Grand Raid of the Pyrenees in the presence of all the partners and volunteers
Supply composition
In Piau, Gèdre (round trip), Tournaboup, Merlans restaurant: oranges, bananas, bread, cheese, ham, salami, dried fruit, salted cakes, cakes, chocolate in tablet, still water, sparkling water, coke, tea , coffee and soup
In Gavarnie and Luz Saint Sauveur: same as above, pasta and compotes in addition
At the refuge of Espuguettes, and the Glère, at the cabin of Aygues Cluses: sausage, dried fruits, salty cakes, cakes, still water, soup.
At Lac des Gloriettes and the Sardiche hut: water only
It is not possible to sleep in the refuges mentioned above. It is possible to sleep in Gèdre, Luz, Merlans.
Mandatory material
The list is as follows
– Personal cup for drinking liquids (water, coca and soup) at the refreshments
– Minimum water reserve 1.5 liters
– food reserve
– two lamps in good working order with spare batteries
– survival blanket (minimum 2 m²)
– Whistle
– adhesive elastic band allowing bandaging or strapping
– waterproof and breathable jacket, membrane or coating type (jacket type KWAY or poncho not accepted)
– pants or long tights or corsair with socks up (this solution is accepted only if the legs can be fully covered)
– cap or equivalent
– long sleeve warm clothing, serving as a second layer between the t-shirt and the waterproof and breathable jacket (eg fleece or other warm technical clothing) (*)
– gloves completely covering the hands (mittens accepted) (*)
(*): The organization may decide before the start of the race to make this equipment recommended and no longer mandatory (typically based on weather forecasts). The announcement will be made at the time of the race briefing
Course
The start will be given Friday, August 24 at 9 am from the ski resort of Piau-Engaly. We start with a small loop at the top of the station to admire the Cirque de Barroude and to spread the peloton. After crossing the Port of Campbiel you can see the Vignemale and join Gèdre. A dry climb leads in front of the Cirque de Troumouse then we enter the wild Cirque d’Estaubé. The Hourquette d’Alans allows you to switch to the Cirque de Gavarnie where you can join, at the bottom, the foot of the Grande Cascade.
From the village of Gavarnie, a section alternating climbs and descents in summer and then forests makes us join Gèdre again then Saint Sauveur where we find the course of the Ultra and the base life of Luz. We then climb long above Luz to the refuge Glère before easily reach Tournaboup. A last long climb via the hut of Aygues Cluses allows to cross the Col de Barèges then to join the Col de Portet which brings back to Vielle Aure
The best could take less than 18 hours while the time barrier is set so that the last ones finish in 40 hours
