Grand Raid des Pyrénées
Date
20.8.2025 - Sun Aug 24 2025
Location
Vielle Aure, France
Price
60 - 223 - EUR
Distance
160, 120, 80, 60, 40, 40 km
Elevation
10000, 7500, 5000, 3500, 3400, 2400 m
Surface
Gravel, Trail, Asphalt
Description
The Grand Raid des Pyrénées is one of the most legendary and demanding races on the world ultra-trail circuit.
Trail runners discover the grandiose sites of the Hautes Pyrénées: the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, the cirques of Gavarnie, Estaubé and Troumouse, Piau-Engaly, the Aygues Cluses valley.
The start of the 160 km race will be on Friday morning from Vielle Aure. The runners will climb via motorable roads then ski slopes to the Col du Portet. They will then switch to the Néouvielle sector to reach the Mongie station via the Col de Bastanet and the dreaded Serpolet climb. Then climb the Pic du Midi via the Coume de Sencours then the pass of the same name, return to the Col de Sencours before continuing on to the Bonida, Aoube, Bareilles and Ouscouaou passes to reach Hautacam. Descent to Pierrefitte where the first life base is located.
A cycle path then a few single tracks lead to the heights of Cauterets from where we descend to Cauterets before joining Luz Saint Sauveur via the Col de Lisey, second life base. We then climb the Bolou valley to the Glère refuge and its multiple lakes before joining the Tournaboup car park in order to return to the Néouvielle area to pass the Hourquette Nère and join the Col de Portet which leads back to Vielle Aure.
The best could take less than 24 hours while the time barrier is set so that the last finish in less than 49 hours.