For this new edition of the Trail in Côte-Rôtie, we’re taking you to visit the vineyards 🍇 of one of the most exceptional crus in our heritage: Côte-Rôtie in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region 🇫🇷.
But before you taste in the literal sense 😋, you’ll do so figuratively, because you’ll have to tackle the elevation gains of the surrounding vineyards under the beautiful colors of autumn in October 🍂. To do that, you can choose between several routes specially shaped according to your abilities 😌. On the program, we start nice and easy with 2 hikes of about 10 km and 15 km. Now for the centerpieces: the 3 trail races. The first is 13 km renamed "La Verticale" with its 600 mD+. Next comes "La Brune et la Blonde" over 25 km with 1,200 mD+—that makes a great pair 👯. "L'AOC" rounds off the trio, on a course of 46 km and 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 whether you prefer to spend your whole race with your duo or if you’d rather just bump into them 🤪. No one is left out, so kids 👶 can also try their hand at competition in one of the 4 races planned especially for them: "Les Millésimes"! So young or old, beginner or expert, everyone will find something for themselves—and it’s almost as satisfying as drinking a good glass of wine! 🍷 Time-wise, the race counts too: "La Brune et Blonde" and "L'AOC" are part of the UTMB® Index races 🏅, and the event is one of the stages of the Athlé Nature Challenge Rhône.
So let yourself be carried away on one of the 5 routes planned for you starting from Ampuis for the chance to zigzag between plots of the Syrah grape variety and discover the two sides of the appellation: La Côte Brune 🖤 and La Côte Blonde 💛. For a bit of history, 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 afterwards you’ll be able to arrange cellar visits around the area to discover local treasures during tastings offered by the winegrowers 🤤. Consume in moderation, of course! Or at least, have a full stomach 🤰🏻. And on that note, you should know that here too the organizers have thought of everything, with an entire exhibitors’ village on site, where you’ll find food trucks 🚚 to grab a bite throughout the day 🍽. And once the events (physical and digestive) are over, maybe you’ll have time to take a trip to Vienne, the neighboring town, and enjoy its unique Gallo-Roman heritage ⚔️.
We can’t say it often enough: these races are a chance to work up a sweat in an unusual setting 🌿 while offering fun, gastronomic, cultural and exciting activities throughout the weekend 🥰. You can crown your efforts with a wine that has been rewarded many times over and is more than 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, labeled a 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 and wine down by getting active, pushing yourself, and tasting! 🎉
With its 46 km and 2,500 m D+, “The AOC” is the heavyweight of the competition 🙌. UTMB 50K-labeled and worth 2 ITRA points, it crosses the entire Côte-Rôtie appellation, through Ampuis, Saint-Cyr-sur-Rhône and Tupin-et-Semons, from the most renowned plots to the most little-known trails. Grab your headlamp, because this trail will start at 2 p.m. at the Château d'Ampuis (the starting point for all the races 🏰) and will probably finish at dusk. 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 section with your running partner: 25 km or 21 km, each with 1,250 mD+ and UTMB 20K-labeled / 1 ITRA point! 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 course as the AOC solo, but you’ll be able to share this effort with your running partner 🏃. More fun, more motivation, and more pushing your limits, running as 2 is better! 😉
If you like climbs and descents, then the « The Dark and the Blonde » 25 km trail is made for you! UTMB 20K certified and worth 1 ITRA point, this route crosses the heart of the appellation from north to south of Ampuis. It includes 1,200 mD+ and will have you zigzagging between the land and the vineyards, up and down and back up again 🍇. Enough to give you no time to cool down while waiting for the evening! Indeed, the start, scheduled for 4:30 pm, won’t let you enjoy much of 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 enter “The Vertical” 📈. However, with its 600 m of elevation gain, the race truly lives up to its name. But hang on, because your efforts will be richly rewarded! This 13 km race will also have you start from the village’s historic castle and climb up to a breathtaking view over the Pilat, the Rhône and Ampuis 👀. A refreshment station awaits you around km 6, before the descent to the finish, set on Church Square 🔦
The races are open to children born:
Between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2013 for the 2 km race
Between 01/01/2014 and 12/31/2015 for the 1.5 km race
Between 01/01/2016 and 12/31/2017 for the 1 km race
Between 01/01/2018 and 12/31/2020 for the 500 m race
This year, in case of unavailability, participants can resell their bib to a third party via the official platform, which is dedicated and secure.
All starts will be given on Saturday 17 October 2026 on Avenue du Château in Ampuis, and the finish will be judged at Place de l'Église:
« Les Vendangettes », non-timed hikes of 10 or 15 km: free start between 9am and 12pm
« L'AOC » 46 km solo or duo: 2pm
« L'AOC Relais » 46 km two-person relay: 3pm
« La Brune et Blonde » 25 km: 4:30pm
« Les Millésimes », non-timed kids' races: starts between 4:45pm and 5:30pm depending on age
« La Verticale » 13 km: 6pm
Bibs must be collected on Saturday 17 October 2026 from 10am at the Ampuis multi-purpose hall, 4 avenue du Château.
Participants must be born:
before 12/31/2007 for the 46 km trails
before 12/31/2008 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: 6:30pm at the aid station around km 22, 7:30pm around km 28 and 9:30pm around km 36
25 km: 7pm at the aid station around km 12 and 8pm around km 18
13 km: 7:30pm at the aid station around km 6
For all trails, you must carry:
a charged phone
a survival blanket
a headlamp
a reusable cup or container
Registration includes:
a keepsake
aid stations along the course and at the finish
chip timing integrated into the bib
free access, no appointment needed, to the recovery area located in the gym’s hexagonal hall
The recovery area brings together physiotherapy students supervised by physiotherapists, an osteopath, a podiatrist and a doctor.
The online registration fees, excluding Finishers platform fees, are as follows:
€46 for the 46 km trail solo or duo
€30 for the 46 km relay trail
€26 for the 25 km trail
€16 for the 13 km trail
€8 for hikes online, €10 on site, free for under-15s
free for kids' races
Each trail is limited to 500 participants and no on-site registration for the trails is possible. On race day, it is still possible to register for the hikes from 8:30am to 11:30am and for the kids' races before 4pm.
The 3 trails are run in semi self-sufficiency: each runner carries the solid and liquid supplies they deem necessary. Aid stations are distributed as follows:
13 km: one solid and liquid aid station around km 6
25 km: one solid and liquid aid station around km 12, then a liquid-only point around km 18
46 km: three solid and liquid aid stations around km 13, 22 and 36, plus a liquid-only point around km 28
An aid station is also planned at the finish. The organization, committed to an eco-responsible approach, provides no cups and offers water fountains.
Participation in one of the 3 trails 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 only, on which must appear, by any means, the absence of contraindication to practicing Athletics in competition or running in competition;
Or an electronic certificate number indicating that the person has completed the Health Prevention Pathway (or PPS). To be valid, the PPS must have been completed at most 3 months before the date of the event.
Food trucks are set up in the exhibitors’ village throughout the day.
For each of the three trails, the organization establishes the following rankings:
The first three men and the first three women overall
The first man and the first woman in each FFA category, no double awards
The first men's, women's and mixed teams of the 46 km in duo and relay
The first man and the first woman in the timed climb
Each finisher receives a commemorative gift. Winners present at the podiums receive partner prizes, and the most represented club receives a special award. Awards are presented only on race day.
If you still have questions, you can contact the organizers via this link.
To become a volunteer for this race, you need to submit your application here
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