For this new edition of the Trail in Côte-Rôtie, we’re taking you to visit vineyards 🍇 from one of the most exceptional crus of our heritage: Côte-Rôtie in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region 🇫🇷.
But before tasting in the literal sense 😋, you’ll do it in the figurative sense, because you’ll have to tackle the elevation of the surrounding vineyards under the beautiful colors of autumn in October 🍂. To do so, you can choose between several routes specially designed to match your abilities 😌. On the program, we start gently with 2 hikes of about 10 km and 15 km. Now for the masterpieces: the 3 trail races. The first is a 13 km route renamed “La Verticale” with its 600 mD+. Next is “La brune et la blonde” at 25 km and 1,200 mD+—that makes a nice pair 👯. “L'AOC” rounds out the trio, on a 46 km course with 2,500 mD+ 📈. This last distance can also be done as a duo, or as a relay! 🔗 With two it’s often more fun, so it’s up to you to choose whether you’d rather spend your whole race with your duo or if you’d prefer to just cross paths with them 🤪. No one is left out, so children 👶 can also try their hand at competition in one of the 4 races planned especially for them: “Les Millésimes”! So whether you’re young or old, a beginner or an expert, everyone will find something for themselves—and it’s almost as satisfying as drinking a good glass of wine! 🍷
So let yourself be swept up in one of the 5 routes planned for you starting from Ampuis, for a chance to zigzag between plots of the Syrah grape variety and discover the two slopes of the appellation: La Côte Brune 🖤 and La Côte Blonde 💛. For the backstory, it was Lord Maugiron 👑 who divided his estate between his two daughters, one blonde and the other brunette. That way, no one gets jealous! So will you be able to tell them apart when you taste them? 🤔 And yes, because you can then organize cellar visits around the area to discover local treasures through tastings offered by the winegrowers 🤤. To be enjoyed in moderation, of course! Or at least, with a full belly 🤰🏻. And on that note, you should know that the organizers have thought of everything there too, with a whole exhibitors’ village where you’ll find food trucks 🚚 to eat throughout the day 🍽. And after the events (physical and digestive), maybe you’ll have time to take a trip to Vienne, the neighboring city, and enjoy its unique Gallo-Roman heritage ⚔️.
We’ll never say it enough: these races are an opportunity to work up a sweat in a unusual setting 🌿 while offering fun, gastronomic, cultural and fascinating activities throughout the weekend 🥰. You’ll be able to crown your efforts with a wine that has won multiple awards and is over 2,000 years old 😮. Don’t like wine? No problem! You’ll surely enjoy visiting one of the region’s historic monuments, from the Sainte-Baudille Church in Ampuis ⛪️, which houses the relics of the patron saint of winegrowers, to the Saint-Pierre Museum 🖼️ in Vienne, “the City of Art and History”. And if you like the atmosphere, you can always come back in January to visit the Ampuis wine market! 🏪
So, what are you waiting for? Come burn off energy, push your limits, and taste! 🎉
With its 46 km and 2,500 m D+, “L’AOC” is the top dog of the competition 🙌. Grab your headlamp, because this trail will start at 2 pm at the Château d’Ampuis (the starting point for all races 🏰) and will probably finish around nightfall. But it’s worth it because you’ll be able to take in the landscapes of the Rhône department and its wild beauty 🌲, as well as a sublime sunset 🌅.
Come split the queen distance 👸 in 2 to make it more accessible. All you have to do is choose your 25 km or 21 km distance with your running partner! With colleagues, friends, or your other half, you can come share and discover a magical landscape 🧙 on this race with a total length of 46 km.
Same route as the AOC solo, but you'll be able to share this effort with your race partner 🏃. More fun, more motivation and more pushing your limits, running as 2 is better! 😉
If you like climbs and descents, then the “La Brune et Blonde” 25 km trail run is made for you! This route, which includes 1,200 mD+, will have you zigzagging between fields and vineyards, up and down and back up again 🍇. Enough to keep you from having time to cool down while waiting for the evening! Indeed, the start, scheduled for 4:30 p.m., won’t give you much chance to enjoy the sun’s light and warmth. You’ll still have time to cover both sides of the vineyard: La Côte Brune 🌑 and La Côte Blonde 🌕. Finally, you might be lucky enough to catch a sunset from the top of the vineyard 🥰.
If you’re a more timid trail runner but you absolutely don’t want to miss the event, you can race in “The Vertical” 📈. However, with its 600 m of elevation gain, the race lives up to its name. But hang in there, because your efforts will be richly rewarded! This 13 km race will also start from the village’s historic castle and take you up to a breathtaking view over the Pilat and Ampuis 👀.
The Trail in Côte-Rôtie also offers races for little ones 👶:
The races are open to children born:
Between 01/01/2008 and 12/31/2011 for the 2 km kids’ race
Between 01/01/2012 and 12/31/2013 for the 1.5 km kids’ race
Between 01/01/2014 and 12/31/2015 for the 1 km kids’ race
Between 01/01/2016 and 12/31/2018 for the 500 m kids’ race
2026 information coming soon.
The races will start on 17 October 2026, from Avenue du Château in Ampuis (69420), at the following times:
“L’AOC” 46 km solo or duo: start at 2:00 pm
“L’AOC Relay” 46 km, 2-person relay: start at 3:00 pm
“La Brune et Blonde” 25 km: start at 4:30 pm
“La Verticale” 13 km: start at 6:00 pm
“Les Vendangettes” non-timed hikes of 10 or 15 km: starts between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm
“Les Millésimes” kids’ races: starts according to age between 4:45 pm and 5:30 pm
Participants must have been born:
Before 12/31/2007 for the 46 km trail
Before 12/31/2007 for the 25 km trail
Before 12/31/2009 for the 13 km trail
Between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2013 for the 2 km kids’ race
Between 01/01/2014 and 12/31/2015 for the 1.5 km kids’ race
Between 01/01/2016 and 12/31/2017 for the 1 km kids’ race
Between 01/01/2018 and 12/31/2020 for the 500 m kids’ race
The hikes are open to everyone
The maximum split times are as follows:
46 km: 6:30 pm at the aid station around km 22, 7:30 pm around km 28, and finally 9:30 pm at the aid station around km 36
25 km: 7:00 pm at the aid station around km 12 and 8:00 pm at the aid station around km 18
13 km: 7:30 pm at the aid station around km 6
For all trail races:
A fully charged phone
An emergency blanket
A headlamp
A reusable cup or container, as there are no disposable cups at aid stations
Equipment may be checked, and missing mandatory gear will result in disqualification.
Pole (telescopic or not) are permitted after the first kilometer.
Here are the fees:
€46 for the 46 km trail
€30 per person for the 46 km relay trail
€26 for the 25 km trail
€16 for the 13 km trail
€8 for the hikes (free for under-15s)
The kids’ races are free
The 3 trail races are semi self-sufficient, so it is up to runners to carry with them the solid and liquid supplies they deem necessary.
For the 13 km: 1 solid and liquid aid station: at km 6
For the 24 km: 1 solid and liquid aid station: at km 12 + one water point: at km 18
For the 45 km: 3 solid and liquid aid stations: at km 13, 22 and 36 + 1 water point: at km 28.
Participation in one of the 3 trail races is subject to the mandatory presentation of:
Either an Athlé Compétition, Athlé Entreprise, Athlé Running license or a Pass’ j’aime courir, issued by the FFA, valid on the date of the event;
Or a sports license, valid on the date of the event, issued by a federation approved solely for this purpose, on which must appear, by any means, the non-contraindication to practicing athletics in competition or running in competition;
Or an electronic attestation number indicating that the person has completed the Health Prevention Pathway (or PPS). To be valid, the PPS must have been completed no more than 3 months before the date of the event.
Ranking for the 3 trail races:
Top 3 men and top 3 women overall
First man or first woman representing each category according to the FFA reference framework (no double ranking)
Top men’s/women’s/mixed teams for the 46 km in duo or 2-person relay
The first man / first woman to achieve the best time on the timed climb
Prizes for the 3 trail races:
A souvenir for all participants
Partner prizes for the winners of the various rankings present on the podiums
A special prize for the most represented club or association
A souvenir gift will be given to all participants.
At the exhibitors’ village, there will be food trucks to eat all day long.
If you still have questions, you can contact the organizers via this link.
You can contact the organizers by email: trailencoterotie@ampuis.com
You can access the list of participants by clicking here.
You can check the race rules here
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