Vertical Kilometer of Blayeul 2026

If you’re here, it’s because you love elevation gain! Come test the Vertical Kilometer of Blayeul in Verdaches! 🏔️ Here, no detours, no flat, no mercy: 2.9 km of straight-up climbing, with a single goal in mind: to rack up 1,000 meters of elevation gain as fast as possible 💨. Yes, yes, you read that right 🤓. One thing’s for sure: it’s going to go straight up!

Your calves will scream betrayal from the first 300 m D+ out in the great outdoors. But you’ll see—when you get up there, at the summit of Blayeul at 2,189 m, with the insane view over the Trois-Évêchés massif... you’ll forget your pain 🤕. Well, not right away—you’ll first collapse on the ground, get your lungs back where they belong... and then you’ll enjoy it 🤤. The concept is brutal simple: a time-trial race ⏰, with a start every 30 seconds. The main goal is to reach the summit, but if you’re competitive, you can go for the record 🏆. The time to beat is 34'14" for men and 42'31" for women. Oh—and if you’re tempted to be smart and cut corners to shave off two minutes, bad idea: any cheater gets at least a 15-minute penalty. And if you’re crazy enough, you can follow it up the next day with the Trail de Digne-les-Bains, because if you’re not going to feel your legs anymore, you might as well take on a two-day challenge, right? 💀

And after the race, what do we do? 🤔 The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence are full of activities: paragliding 🪂, climbing 🧗, horse riding…🐎 You’ll be able to enjoy the extraordinary setting of Provence 🪻. Plus, you’re just a few minutes from the citadel of Sisteron and its 1,500 years of history 🏛️. You can visit its chapel, its theater, its ramparts and its underground passages 🔦. As for refueling, we hope you’ve got a descent as steep as a vertical kilometer 📉, because you’re going to be treated! If you need a little boost before (or after) your race 💥, try Provence génépi. On your post-race plate, you’ll find delicious local dishes like socca, pissaladière, fougasse, bourride or the local star: Provençal daube 🥘. 

Warning: alcohol should be consumed in moderation! ⚠️