Tour des lacs – 80 km

The route is subject to change for administrative or practical reasons, or due to trail conditions.

Please note that the route includes many sections on mountain trails that are difficult to run on, particularly in the Néouvielle area, around the Col de Bastanet and the Hourquette Nère.

The race starts on Saturday at 5 a.m. from the square of Vielle Aure for a route of approximately 80 kilometres and 5,100 metres of elevation gain.
Runners will first climb along roads suitable for vehicles, then along ski slopes, to the Col du Portet. They will pass through the Merlans refreshment station before entering the Néouvielle sector and reaching the Col de Bastanet. Once the pass has been reached, a beautiful descent is on the programme, with a stop at the Campana de Cloutou refuge water point, followed by a series of lakes. Once the Laquets reservoir has been reached, the dreaded Serpolet wall awaits. The descent to the La Mongie refreshment station is quite steep.
Once past the refreshment station, a short descent to the pont  des Vaquès takes you to the foot of the long climb to the Col de Sencours refreshment station, then the summit of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, at an altitude of 2,877 metres. On the descent, you will pass through the Col de Sencours again, then reach Tournaboup refreshment station.

You will return to the Néouvielle area via Aygues Cluses refreshment station, then continue the climb to Hourquette Nère. A long descent will take you to Lac de l'Oule, first in open terrain, then through the Bastanet fir forest. The final climb takes you to the Col de Portet, passing by Merlans refreshment station, then a final long descent via Cap de Pède, which brings you back to Vielle Aure.
The best runners could complete the course in less than 10 hours, while the time limit is set so that the last runners finish in less than 25 hours.