Ultra Trail Grand Colombier 2026

It’s Christmas come early! 🎅 Want to know why? Because in your exceptional runner Advent calendar, there’s a new challenge that will have you drooling 🤤 as much as a good Kinder Bueno! 🍫 Let us introduce the Ultra Trail Grand Colombier! 💪 To make its mark in the highly sought-after world of sporting challenges, the event offers no fewer than 6 distances 🤩. And all of them for absolutely all levels, so treat yourself to a new getaway! This will also be a chance to visit the département of Ain, as the event has set up in Culoz in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region ⛰️. It’s a nature escape in the heart of the mountains, with the highlight being the Grand Colombier pass 🔥.

Across the 6 courses on offer, their differences are their strength! The Ultra Trail Grand Colombier lets you start small, with a 10 km trail designed as a little guided tour of the town of Culoz! 🏘️ The race levels up slightly with the 16 km route, while staying accessible thanks to a flat course along the Rhône. Next up is a 30 km, which starts to require a bit more experience to take part! 🎽 It will introduce you to the famous Grand Colombier, while exploring the breathtaking surrounding landscapes. But now let’s move on to the distances that only experienced runners will be able to chase! 👣 The marathon distance: 45 km in the heart of the Bugey, on the Jura border 🏞️. Wait, wait—enthusiasts can take on the challenge too! 🤠 Just don’t show up to this kind of challenge without training—we can spot the tourists coming! 😉 Now the adventure-hungry runners will feel concerned 😅. It’s the Ultra of 80 km that kicks off the big trail races! A whopping 3,000 meters of elevation gain🤯 on this demanding race through dizzying valleys! 🌿 If you’re dying to take part but feel that 80 km might be a bit too tough for you, you can always sign up as a 3-person relay! 🤝 To crown the event 👑, the Ultra Trail Grand Colombier truly lives up to its name with the impressive 120 km Ultra! 🔝 Across ridgelines, forests 🌲, lakes and waterfalls 🛶, if you take this route you’ll get a true blend of all the region’s most beautiful scenery! With a total of 5,000 m of elevation gain, you’ll need determination, patience, and courage! 🤓 This adventure is also offered as a 5-person relay, giving less experienced runners the chance to enjoy such a spectacle 😇.

So yes, if you can’t find what you’re looking for with the Ultra Trail Grand Colombier, over at Finishers we’re going to start running out of ideas... 💡 But if we can keep convincing you that this event is made for you, here’s a little taste of what happens after the race! Because if you love effort, you also love comfort 😏. For 120 km and 80 km runners (excluding relays), a nice hearty meal is waiting for them at the finish to help them get their strength back! 🥘 They’ll need it! Once everyone has recovered a bit ⚡, a small evening get-together is organized to celebrate these great achievements! 🎊

If you’re planning a short stay, treat yourself to a few activities. You could, for example, take a refreshing recovery dip in the Lac du Bourget 🏊‍♀️, just a 30-minute drive away ⏱️—also ideal for a family stroll, with friends (on your own too, don’t worry!) 🤪. If you want to enjoy a moment of calm and relaxation right away, we highly recommend a visit to Belley 🥰, a charming historic town with a rich architectural heritage 🙌. If your thirst for adventure still isn’t quenched, then take your ride 🏎️ (or carpool) to the Grottes de La Balme and explore this impressive natural site—you might even discover remnants of the past (come on, we’ve all dreamed of being an archaeologist)! 📜

So what do you think of all this? You’re the only missing piece to make everything perfect, right? 😎