THP Winter 2026

Put away the sled 🛷, take out the poles and crampons and come tackle the THP winter! It’s in November, in the morning, on the Lure mountain ⛰️, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, that the 7 distances of the winter edition of the race will take place ❄️. This edition is the last stage of the Provence Trails Challenge (we explain it all below 😉).

If you are an expert (or a challenge seeker 🏅), the W100 will challenge you with its 102 km and its 5,300 mD+. This course will offer you 100K UTMB, 4 points ITRA, and also a panoramic view over the entire Provence. There's enough to convince you to lace up your shoes! 👟 For the ambitious and equally bold, the W70 and W70 relay of 2 will take you on 70 km with 3,700 mD+. At stake 🔑, 100K UTMB and 3 points ITRA. The three other starts of the THP winter will be on the W45, the W30 and the W15. The W45 of 45.5 km for 2,200 mD+ will allow you to obtain 50K UTMB as well as 2 points ITRA. The 32 km event will have 1,509 mD+ and give you 20K UTMB. As for the W10, the shortest event of the moment, it will make you run on 14 km with a total of 600 mD+. 

And because the THP Winter aims to be inclusive, even for the young, the W Junior will complement this array of offered distances 😍. From 10 to 15 years old, young champions 🐺 can also try trail running on 1,400 m and 3,900 m.

These white trails will let you discover the Lure mountain and its impressive views over the PACA region. However, saying Provence doesn't necessarily mean good weather ⛅. These races take place on routes where weather conditions can change rapidly and winds are common 🌬. Weather conditions can vary, reaching extremes: cold (<-10°) 🥶, strong wind (>80km/h) 🌪, hail 🌨, fog… 🌫 or perhaps great sunshine 🌞(we won't jinx it for you!). For this reason, you must equip yourself with the mandatory equipment 🎒, listed in the race regulations. No panic, for an experienced runner like you, it's impossible not to have this gear in your kit! On the day, don't forget your shoes, they might be useful! 🤪 To reach the starting point of the race, you'll have to climb the Lure mountain (by car 🚗, don't worry) to go to the station. On the way, you'll be able to immerse yourself in the wild landscapes and get a preview of the race. 

All races start from the Station of Lure, the oldest ski resort in the department. Skiing has been done here since 1937! Don't put on the skis after the race ⛷️; you might land on stones! 🪨 The course will climb from the start! 🧗 On all formats, the passage on the Lure ridge is unavoidable. This section of the trail offers a breathtaking view over the entire Provencal massif. The very technical terrain is dotted with flat stones (be careful, it’s slippery ⛸️). Keep your feet on the ground 🌍, even if you'll have your head in the clouds at 1,800 m altitude! ☁️ The W100, W70, W45, and W30 editions will take you to the Cairn 2000, built by all the inhabitants of Cruis to symbolize the millennium shift. The end of all courses will be challenging: you’ll have to fight for the last climb before the finish line 🏁 (push on the poles!). Once passed, you'll find yourself surrounded by all the supporters and other runners who finished the race 👏. Speaking of atmosphere, the THP Winter is preparing great events outside the races: Pasta party 🍝, festive evening upon arrival 💃, DJ 🎶, bar...🍻

Before moving on to after-race activities, we’ll tell you a bit more about the Provence Trails Challenge! This challenge shines on a national scale 🇨🇵. It consists of 39 events in total, including 22 long trail stages (40 km and +) and 17 short trail stages (less than 40 km). All the combined races account for over 1,500 km 😯. You're not required to do all the challenge's races to get a result! Only your 6 best results in long trails and your 4 best results in short trails will be taken into account for the final rankings! The W100, the W70 and W70 relay, the W45 and the W30 of this THP winter edition will be the last opportunities to make times in this challenge. You’ll need to speed up! 🏎

If you plan to stay in the region on Sunday for a short Provence-tinted weekend 🪻 (even in winter, it warms up🌡), we've got ideas for you! 😁 Just 1h30 by car, you'll find the small village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, classified as the most beautiful village in France 🏘. This village, built right into the rock ⛰, is located not far from the Lac de Sainte-Croix, promising nice walks to relax your legs the day after the race (they’ll thank you 🦵). You can even taste on the way one of the culinary specialties of Lubéron: the black truffle. Winter ❄ is the perfect season to find them in the markets… You'll have to wait until next summer to get a beautiful Cavaillon melon 🍈. 

If you are a fan of the French writer and filmmaker Jean Giono 📝, you’ll know he gave his name to the region (“the land of Giono”). You can extend your stay by following his route, a literary and tourist road itinerary around the Lure mountain you will have climbed. This place is one of the key locations for the inspiration of his novels. So, will you allow yourself to be charmed by the mountain landscapes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence too?

You can always come back for the summer edition of the trail and hit the THP paths again! 😉