Tour des cirques – 120 km

The route is subject to change for administrative or practical reasons, or due to trail conditions. Some sections cross private land and will only be accessible during the race. (At the finish line in Luz Saint-Sauveur)

Please note that the route includes many sections on mountain trails where it is difficult to run, particularly in the Néouvielle area, around the Glère refuge and the Hourquette Nère.
The race starts on Friday at 7:00 a.m. in Piau-Engaly for a course of approximately 125 kilometres with 7,000 metres of elevation gain and 8,000 metres of elevation loss.
The course begins with a loop on the heights of the resort to admire the Cirque de Barroude and spread out the pack. After a refreshment stop, the riders enter the Pyrenees National Park and head towards the Port de Campbieil, from where they can see the Vignemale. Once the highest point of the route has been reached, a very long descent leads to Gèdre.
After a refreshment stop, a gentle climb leads to the Saugué plateau, facing the Cirque de Gavarnie. The route then reaches the village of Gavarnie. From the village, it continues to the bottom of the cirque, near the large waterfall. A balcony path leads to the refuge des Espuguettes, then a steep climb takes you over the Hourquette d'Alans and into the cirque d'Estaubé.After skirting the Gloriettes dam, we return for the second time to the refreshment station at Gèdre. A series of small climbs and descents through the woods then takes us to the base camp at Luz.
We then make a long climb to the refuge de la Glère, before reaching Tournaboup. A long climb then awaits you, passing through  Aygues Cluses refreshment station, then continuing the ascent to the Hourquette Nère. A descent will take you to the Lac de l'Oule. A final climb to reach the Col de Portet, passing through the Merlans refreshment station, then a final long descent to return to Vielle Aure.
The best runners could complete the course in less than 17 hours, while the time limit is set so that the last runners finish in 41 hours.