The Templiers Trail Festival is a must for any trail runner. It’s one of Europe’s biggest trail running events, drawing thousands of athletes from all over the world. It’s a unique chance to run one of the 13 races set in a stunning natural playground, while discovering or rediscovering the culture and gastronomy of Aveyron. If you live for trail running, or you’re simply craving a real challenge, mark your calendar for October 17 to 20, 2024.
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Templiers Trail Festival, A legendary race
The Templiers Trail Festival is an iconic trail running event held every year since 1995 in Aveyron, above Millau, in the Grands Causses Regional Natural Park. Gilles Bertrand and Odile Baudrier, photographer and journalist, came up with the idea after reporting on American trail races like the Leadville Trail in Colorado or Western States in California. As a true trail running pioneer, it sits alongside other mythical events such as the 6000D in La Plagne, which has been around since 1990.
Proud of its heritage and breathtaking scenery, the Templiers courses will show you the region from a whole new angle. Between traditional farms and stone hamlets, ridgelines and iconic viewpoints, unique singletrack trails, and postcard-perfect villages, you’ll experience the Causses in a truly special way.
Races for every level
The organization offers no fewer than 13 races, from 7 km all the way up to 106 km, with more or less elevation depending on the challenge you want. In an exceptional setting, whether you’re a beginner runner or a seasoned trail athlete, there’s a race for you at the Templiers Trail Festival.
To get the most out of race day, we recommend preparing properly with a trail running training plan. As we say at RunMotion Coach: “All you have left to do is run”!
Endurance Trail
The Endurance Trail is the longest format at Templiers, with 106 km to cover and 4,580 m of elevation gain to conquer. Starting Friday, October 18, 2024 at 4:00 a.m. and finishing in Millau, this ultra trail blends technical terrain, endurance, and a truly majestic atmosphere.
You’ll get access to exclusive routes opened only for the Templiers Trail Festival. Singletrack is king on this course. But don’t worry, the first 20 kilometers are designed to stretch out the field, letting you settle into your own pace on wider paths and roads. Five aid stations are spread along the route, along with several water points.
More information about the Endurance Trail course.
Grand Trail des Templiers
This is the festival’s legendary race. On the menu: 80.6 km and 3,060 m of elevation gain. The field is capped at 2,350 bibs, so it’s smart to grab yours early. The start goes off on October 20, 2024 from 5:15 a.m. in Millau. A headlamp is strongly recommended, and actually mandatory. Watching more than 2,000 runners moving through the darkness, their headlamps dancing in waves, is unforgettable for runners and spectators alike.
Just like most Templiers races, singletrack dominates. The opening kilometers help you position yourself before hitting the first narrow “single” section. The finish is also in Millau, and you’ll hear cheers all along your journey.
More information about the Grand Trail des Templiers course.
Intégrale des Causses
Shorter than its two big sisters, the Intégrale des Causses still packs a serious punch with 66.3 km and 2,860 m of elevation gain. The start is on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 6:50 a.m. in the village of Peyreleau. The organizers provide a network of free shuttles to get there, but you need to reserve your spot. The finish is not in the same place, it’s in Millau. If you’re thinking of signing up for this Templiers race, don’t wait too long, it’s limited to 600 runners.
More information about the Intégrale des Causses course.
Boffi Fifty
The Boffi Fifty is the perfect race to test yourself before stepping up to a longer Templiers distance. With 48.5 km and 2,180 m of elevation gain, it’s demanding. With very tight cut-off times, a highly technical finish, and relentless terrain, this trail race requires excellent fitness and smart pacing. The start is in Millau on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 8:00 a.m., with the finish back in the same place.
More information about the Boffi Fifty course.
Marathon des Causses
36 km and 1,640 m of elevation gain await runners who toe the line for the Marathon des Causses. The start is on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 12:10 p.m. in two waves from Millau. The finish is in the same place. The route is well balanced overall, but full of traps. A true trail running adventure to level up your experience. The Marathon des Causses is part of the Templiers C.O.L.T. This is a series of four trail marathons brought together in a circuit symbolically named “COLT, the marathon-trail challenge that draws fast”. All are organized by the Templiers Trail Festival team.
More information about the Marathon des Causses course.
Marathon du Larzac
35.5 km and 1,420 m of elevation gain, that’s what you should be ready for if you’re taking on the Marathon du Larzac. The start is in the hamlet of La Salvage on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. Shuttles will be set up from Millau, where the race finishes, by the Templiers organization. Remember to reserve your seat. The Marathon du Larzac is also part of the Templiers C.O.L.T.
More information about the Marathon du Larzac course.
Monna Lisa Trail
Created in 2012 and more approachable in distance, the Monna Lisa Trail is still one of the festival’s more technical races, adding a real dose of challenge to its 29.7 km route with 1,170 m of elevation gain. On Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 9:30 a.m., the race takes you from Millau on a stunning loop around the Causse Noir.
More information about the Monna Lisa course.
Dourbie Formi
The Dourbie Formi celebrates its first edition this year at the Templiers Trail Festival. With 24.6 km and 1,260 m of elevation gain, this new race is accessible thanks to its distance, and it starts in Millau, right in the heart of the Graufesenque archaeological site, on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. The finish is a few kilometers away in the same city after a beautiful loop through the Causses. Still, watch out for the technical descent at the end (1.1 km with 400 m of elevation loss).
More information about the Dourbie Formi course.
VO2 Trail
Fast, fun, and playful, the VO2 Trail course has its own personality. On Saturday, October 19, 2024, you’ll take on 17.7 km with 700 m of elevation gain. The originality of this race is its near-straight climb from Millau up to the Causse Noir plateau, followed by a more steady section across the plateau, then a strong descent down to the Tarn river before heading back to Millau. It’s a great way to truly test your fitness before moving up in distance at Templiers, or to chase a strong time, because the level is usually very high.
More information about the VO2 Trail course.
Troubadours
Even if the distance isn’t huge at 11.4 km compared with other Templiers races, the elevation is still no joke for a race this size: 540 m of elevation gain. A great way to torch your quads before winter and soak up the true Templiers spirit. Note that access is also open to hiking and Nordic walking. The start is on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. in Millau, with the finish in the same place.
More information about the Troubadours course.
La Templière
Created in 2004, this women-only race is the feel-good event of the Templiers Trail Festival. Its 7.3 km course with 290 m of elevation gain above the Tarn delivers an amazing atmosphere and magnificent views. Registration is open to everyone, including hikers. The start is on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 1:45 p.m. in Millau. The finish is in the same place.
More information about the La Templière course.
KD Trail and Kinder Trail
Yes, the Templiers Trail Festival also thinks about the younger runners. A chance to challenge themselves and absorb the unique race atmosphere from an early age. Three kids’ races will take place on the wide grassy plain of Graufesenque along the Tarn river, just outside Millau. A perfect opportunity to enjoy the Templiers races as a family.
The KD Trail, reserved exclusively for Cadets (boys and girls), meaning athletes born in 2007 or 2008, is a discovery trail race of 7.3 km with 290 m of elevation gain. The Kinder Trail is a 1.5 km loop, with the distance varying by category. Poussins (born in 2013 or 2014) and Benjamins (born in 2011 or 2012) run one lap. Minimes (born in 2009 or 2010) complete two laps.
Sign up for the Templiers Trail Festival and get ready
Registration
Sign up now to take on the Templiers challenge and live an unforgettable endurance sports experience in the heart of Millau and the Causses massif.
Templiers Trail Festival training plan
RunMotion Coach is the official coach of the Templiers Trail Festival. In 2023, several hundred runners achieved their goals with personalized training. Like them, start preparing now for Templiers 2024 with a personalized trail running training plan on RunMotion Coach.
You’ll get access to a wide variety of training sessions (hike-run workouts, interval training, hill repeats, …), tailored to your goal, your level, your schedule, and the terrain you have available.
Have a great build-up! 😉