Mont-Ventoux Half-Marathon Kookabarra 2027
- Next event : Sun, July 4, 2027Date confirmed
- Last event : Sun, July 5, 2026
The event in a few words
This Provençal saying sets the tone, doesn't it? 🧐 Will you dare to come (or return) to tackle the slopes of the Giant of Provence? 🦶Like a solitary mountain, it stands there in the heart ❤️ of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ☀️, in the Vaucluse. This legendary, even mythical summit is highly appreciated by cyclists for its challenge, and it awaits you for the Mont-Ventoux Half-Marathon Kookabarra ! 🏔
Are your legs tingling? 🦵 Then let's speak clearly! One single distance 👆, and not just any, on the program: 21.6 km and 1,610 mD+ 📈. It's a grueling ascent awaiting you, with average slopes at 7.5% and up to 11.5% 😮. You will have very little respite. You must have a strong heart ❤️🩹for a well-deserved finish! Moreover, we'll be in the middle of July, so it'll be really hot! 🥵 Don't forget to bring water and energy bars to avoid a hunger pang 🤒. But no regrets, because at the finish 🏁, there awaits you a breathtaking view and a chilled beer, even if you'll consume it in moderation! 🫵
Be careful ⚠️ to keep your feet on the ground, as the wind doesn't play around there: winds have been recorded at over 320 km/h! 🌬️And in 2016, the finish of Stage 12 of the Tour de France 🚴 had to be moved to 6 km from the summit due to powerful gusts! It blows you away 💆, a bit like a Christopher Froome acceleration! 😂 It's no wonder there's no greenery here, our good old Ventoux being totally bare of vegetation recolors it as the "Bald Mountain". Since you surely don't want to end up with the same nickname, think of your headgear 🧢 (especially your windbreaker) before you arrive, a cold catches easily 🤧. Above all, enjoy the natural scenery around you, here you have the chance to run in the midst of a Biosphere Reserve 🌿, designated by the UNESCO in 1990! Quite a privilege, don't you think 😄.
But the Vaucluse is also a typical Provençal department! 🌷Visit the little stone villages that will make you crazy 🤪 for its beauty. Le Baroux, Malaucène, or Buis-les-Baronnies, these villages are full of stone houses 🪨, with magnificent alleys surrounded by lavender fields 💜. The Roman bridge of Vaison-la-Romaine 🌉 does it ring a bell? Yes, located only 30 minutes from Mont-Ventoux, this city is known for its sublime atmosphere, but also for its colossal flood of 1992. With a river rise of over 17 meters high 🤯, it's a site not to miss! Aspeta! We forgot to talk about food🍴. In the South during summer, it's a feast for the eyes and palate 😍: check out the colors of la bohémienne, a true delicious rainbow 🤤. And even if it's not quite the season, a real homemade pistou soup 🍜 (not pesto 🤌) is impossible to decline! For a sweet note, Mont-Ventoux has its specialty! The Ventoulet, a little travel cake 🍰, with apricots and honey 🍯 perfect for a race snack! Otherwise, nothing beats a good Cavaillon melon 🍈 or some oreillettes, a delicious biscuit, bringing back childhood memories 🎀. You have plenty to enjoy after a colossal effort.
I hope your gear is ready, and your legs are sharp 🏃♀️, because the summit awaits you!
4 reasons to join this race
The message from the organizer Bertrand Delhomme:
Great surprises await, with a high-profile elite field, many activities in our partner village. The celebration promises to be wonderful, and we can't wait to see you there with the FINISHERS team, who will be present on site!"
The distance you'll all agree on
21.6 kmTOP
- Sunday, July 4, 2027
- Elevation gain : 1610mD+
- 1,000+ runners in the last edition
- 1 loopx21.6 km
A few more words
The start is in Bédoin, a charming village at the foot of Mont Ventoux, which itself is located at 1,912 m altitude. On the first part of the route (6 km with an average gradient of 4.5%), you will pass through the larch 🌳 forests that cover the lower part of the mountain up to the village of Saint-Estève. Cedars and firs 🌲 provide pleasant shade from the sun; perfect for a gradual warm-up 😉. Then you'll tackle the second part, the most challenging, up to Chalet Reynard with its average gradients of 9.4% 😅. Finally, you will be there: the last part, with its 6.5 km at 8%... A difficult and gradual section for a triumphant finish at the summit! 🙌
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
From Saturday 4 July 2026, 12:00–19:00, in the school courtyard in Bédoin (2 place de la République, 84410, Bédoin), and on Sunday 5 July 2026 from 6:00 to 7:30.
The Mont Ventoux Half Marathon will start on Sunday 5 July 2026 at 8:00.
The overall time limit is set at 3h40. After that, runners finishing will no longer be ranked. Intermediate cut-off times will be confirmed on race day depending on local (prefectural) authorisations.
In addition, there is a safety cut-off at Chalet Reynard (km 15). Participants have 2h30 to reach the aid station. The organisation will remove the bib of any participant who has not reached this point in time and declines all responsibility for runners who choose to continue.
This year, if you can’t attend, you can resell your bib to someone else via the official platform, which is dedicated and secure. Once the transaction is validated, the original participant receives a refund of 95% of the bib price (excluding booking fees). From that point on, they are no longer considered registered and cannot take part in the event.
The bib resale platform is currently closed.
Four aid stations are spread along the course:
km 6: Drinks
km 11: Drinks and food
km 15 (Chalet Reynard): Drinks and food
km 18: Drinks
Finish: Drinks and food (+ one free beer per participant)
You can drop off your belongings on Saturday 4 July when you pick up your bib, or on Sunday 5 July at least 1 hour before the race starts.
Bags will then be transported and can be collected at the summit finish in the dedicated area, upon presentation of your bib.
Each participant will receive a race pack when picking up their bib and will get a finisher medal after crossing the finish line.
Return buses are available for €5 (not included in the race entry), upon presentation of the wristband given at bib pickup. You must reserve your seat to be able to board.
They will take runners back to Bédoin. Buses will depart from the summit only when full and according to the race’s progress.
To register, the bib price is €45, plus €2 in registration management fees.
You can also add the return shuttle as an option (€5) to get back to Bédoin after the race.
The race takes place in July, so be prepared to run in high heat. However, once you reach the top of Mont Ventoux, it can be windy. Bringing a lightweight windbreaker is recommended.
There are plenty of accommodation options, but you should book early so you don’t get caught out during a period of very high demand. Find a list of nearby places to stay by clicking here.
No, a medical certificate is no longer mandatory to start the race.
The new PPS declaration available here replaces it. This FFA “Parcours Prévention Santé” must be completed within the 3 months before the event (from 05/04/2026) and its reference number must be entered on the registration platform.
FFA licence holders must provide their 2025–2026 Athletics Licence number.
For more information about the “Parcours Prévention Santé” (PPS), we recommend this article.
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