REGISTER

TRAIL DU GRAND BALLON

10 | 18 | 23 | 32 | 48 | 70KM

27 and 28 april 2024

BRIEFING (French)
Registration

It's already the 6th edition of the Trail du Grand Ballon, with the start at an altitude of 1183m! We propose 6 different distances over the weekend.

How about 3 trails in 2 days with a combined ranking? Sign up for the Scott Xtrails Hautes Vosges Multistage and start the Sprinttrail (2km uphill) in the early afternoon on Saturday, the Trail du Grand Ballon (18km) in the afternoon and the Trail du Grand Ballon (32 ou 10km) on Sunday!

PHOTO ALBUM
ROUTES
XTRAILS

70 km

Longest distance

1652

Finishers in 2023

6h41'55"

Time of the 2023 winner

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The start and finish is at Hotel Wolf in Le Markstein. (Route des Crêtes, Le Markstein.)

Parking is provided 500m from the start (follow the yellow arrows).
Do not park directly at the start/finish itself, this area must be kept free
for the participants.

Wrong parking may be fined.

Start and finish location on Google Maps

Friday

18.00 – 20.00: Race office open, pick-up bib numbers at Hotel Wolf.

Saturday

05.15 – 07.00: Race office open, pick-up bib numbers at Hotel Wolf.
06.00: Start Trail du Grand Ballon 70km
07.00: Start Trail du Grand Ballon 48km
12.00 - 13.00: Race office open, pick-up bib numbers at Hotel Wolf.
13.00: Start Sprinttrail
15.00 - 16.00: Race office open, pick-up bib numbers at Hotel Wolf.
16.00: Start Trail du Grand Ballon 18km
19.30: End day 1.

Sunday

09.00 - 12.00: Race office open, pick-up bib numbers at Hotel Wolf.
10.00: Start Trail du Grand Ballon 32km
11.00: Start Trail du Grand Ballon 23km
12.00: Start Trail du Grand Ballon 10km
16.00: End of the event.

Award ceremony (per distance) is provided 15min after arrival of the 3rd athlete.

Each participant receives ALL the GPX files one week before the event.
Courses are indicated with signs of the organization.
Please respect the start time of your distance as the opening hours of our refreshment points are based on the start times.

Water, isotonic drinks, coca-cola, Etixx energy bars, sandwiches, sweet and savoury snacks and other goodies will be available at the refreshment points.

Showers will be available in the City Wash trailer in the parking lot opposite registration.
This trailer also has changing rooms.
Please wear clean shoes only.

We offer storage facilities inside the Wolf Hotel, next to the race secretariat.
No clothing will be accepted. Only (sports) bags will be accepted.

Looking for a nice place to stay?

1. Hotel Wolf, Le Markstein.

At 50m of one of the startlocations !

For booking, contact them by

  • e-mail: hotelwolf@aol.com
  • telephone: +33 3 89 82 64 36

2. Auberge du Steinlebach.

1km from one of the startlocations and this place is one of the aid stations!

For booking, contact them by

  • telephone: +33 3 89 82 61 87

  • Trail du Grand Ballon | 70km (Saturday)
    • Aid station 1 (19km) closes 3h10 after the start (6,2km/h)
    • Aid station 2 (25km) closes 4h15 after the start (5,9km/h)
    • Aid station 3 (42km) closes 7h35 after the start (5,6km/h)
    • Aid station 4 (54km) closes 9h50 after the start (5,5km/h) | This is a time barrier. After this time, you will be disqualified and redirected to the finish.
    • Aid station 5 (63km) closes 11h45 after the start (5,4km/h)
    • Time limit at the finish: 19h30. (5,36km/h)
  • Trail du Grand Ballon | 48km (Saturday)
    • Aid station 1 (19km) closes 3h40 after the start (5,4km/h)
    • Aid station 2 (30km) closes 6h00 after the start (5,1km/h) | This is a time barrier. After this time, you will be disqualified and redirected to the finish.
    • Aid station 3 (39km) closes 8h05 after the start (4,9km/h)
    • Time limit at the finish: 17h30. (4,8km/h)
  • Trail du Grand Ballon | 18km (Saturday)
    • Aid station 1 (9km) closes 1h45 after the start (5,6km/h)
    • Time limit at the finish: 19h30. (5,2km/h)
  • Sprinttrail | 2,4km (Saturday)
    • Time limit at the finish: 13h30. (4,8km/h)
  • Trail du Grand Ballon | 32km (Sunday)
    • Aid station 1 (14km) closes 2h20 after the start (6km/h)
    • Aid station 2 (27km) closes 4h55 after the start (5,6km/h)
    • Time limit at the finish: 16h30. (5,3km/h)
  • Trail du Grand Ballon | 23km (Sunday)
    • Aid station 1 (14km) closes 2h35 after the start (5,4km/h)
    • Time limit at the finish: 16h30 (4,80km/h)
  • Trail du Grand Ballon | 10km (Sunday)

The following equipment can be checked during the race or when picking up your starting number.
The absence of the required equipment results in a time penalty or disqualification.
X = Compulsory equipment
A = recommended material
 70km 48km 32km 23km 18km 10km
Survival blanket X X X X X X
Whistle X X X X X X
Water supply, min. 1l X X X X A A
Waterproof (running) jacket X X X X X X
Telephone X X X X X X
GPX A A A A A A
Gels, bars, .. A A A A A A
Head lamp A - - - - -

One or two timing chip(s) will stick to the back of your chest number. Do not fold the chip(s) and make sure you wear your bib number above your clothes on your belly or chest. The chips ensure that your (intermediate) times are registered when you pass a checkpoint.

Checkpoints are scattered around the course, usually at the supply point. Some checkpoints beep when you walk through them, but not all. So don't panic if you don't hear anything, you will still be registered.

All split times and finishing times of all participants can be followed live online on the SQM Time website. On the day of the event, the results can be followed live at www.sqmtime.com/live.
Through this live coverage, supporters on site can follow the progression of their favourite runners via their smartphones. Of course, fans at home can also follow everything closely.

There are even participants who, during the race, like to check how much position they are in and how much time their buddy is ahead or behind!

You can find a selection of photos on our Facebook page a few days after the event. These photos can also be viewed by people who don't have a Facebook account.

During the event, the Sportograf team will be on hand to take the best photos of you in action. You can find your personal photos via the link below or by clicking on the icon next to your name in the results list.

PHOTOS | TRAIL DU GRAND BALLON

PHOTOS 2023

RACE COURSES

Tighten your shoe laces, as the terrain is fairly technical and you'll need a minimum of grip.

For the exact location of refreshment points, see the Google Maps link below. For details of profiles and routes, please refer to our Trace de Trail routes.

The Vosges is a mid-range mountain range and you will often be running at between 800 and 1400m altitude. The weather can be very changeable, with temperatures dropping from 35°C to 5°C. All the distances start and finish at the Hotel Wolf in Le Markstein.

ATTENTION: Due to forestry work, the 70/48/32 and 23km distances have had to be modified for your safety. A few kilometers have been added to the route. The table below contains information (distances and elevation changes) updated to April 15, 2024.

RACE COURSES ON GOOGLE MAPS | SATURDAY
RACE COURSES ON GOOGLE MAPS | SUNDAY
Sprint Trail

270 D+

2,3KM
  • Start Saturday at 13.00
  • No aid station
  • 95% offroad
  • Time limit 0h30
  • No UTMB Index
MAP & PROFILE
SUNDAY

410 D+

10 KM
  • Start Sunday at 12.00
  • No aid station
  • 95% offroad
  • Time limit 2h00
  • UTMB index 20K
MAP & PROFILE
Watch the course (video 3D) via Relive
Multistage

2 -18 -10km

XTRAILS SHORT
  • 2km Sprint Trail (sat.)
  • Trail du Grand Ballon 18km (sat.)
  • Trail du Grand Ballon 10km (sun.)
  • Overall ranking
  • UTMB index 20K
MORE INFO
SATURDAY

750 D+

18 KM
  • Start Saturday at 16.00
  • Aid station after 9km
  • 95% offroad
  • Time limit 3h30
  • UTMB index 20K
MAP & PROFILE
Watch the course (video 3D) via Relive
Multistage

2-18-32km

XTRAILS LONG
  • 2km Sprint Trail (sat.)
  • Trail du Grand Ballon 18km (sat.)
  • Trail du Grand Ballon 32km (sun.)
  • Overall ranking
  • UTMB index 20K
MORE INFO
SUNDAY

1070 D+

23 KM Actual KM: 26,2km
  • Start Sunday at 11.00
  • Aid station after 14km
  • 95% offroad
  • Time limit 5h30
  • UTMB index 20K
MAP & PROFILE
Watch the course (video 3D) via Relive
SUNDAY

1300 D+

32 KM Actual KM: 34,2km
  • Start Sunday at 10.00
  • Aid station after 14km & 27km (water)
  • 95% offroad
  • Time limit 6h30
  • UTMB index 20K
MAP & PROFILE
Watch the course (video 3D) via Relive
SATURDAY

2040 D+

48 KM Actual KM: 50,1km
  • Start Saturday at 7.00
  • Aid stations after 19, 32 & 41km
  • 89% offroad
  • Time limit 10h30
  • UTMB index 50K
MAP & PROFILE
Watch the course (video 3D) via Relive
SATURDAY

3420 D+

70 KM Actual KM: 71,9km
  • Start Saturday at 6.00
  • Aid stations after 19, 25, 42, 54 & 63km
  • 89% offroad
  • Time limit 13h30
  • UTMB index 100K
MAP & PROFILE
Watch the course (video 3D) via Relive

The courses , distances and altimeters are always subject to change and may change at any time if necessary.

TIP - SCOTT XTRAILS MULTISTAGE

27 - 28 april 2024

You run 3 different trails in one weekend - we add up all the times and draw up an overall ranking. In 2024, we'll have a LONG and a SHORT version for the first time.

SHORT: 2km Sprint Trail (Saturday) | 18km Trail du Grand Ballon (Saturday) | 10km Trail du Grand Ballon (Sunday)
LONG: 2km Sprint Trail (Saturday) | 18km Trail du Grand Ballon (Saturday) | 32km Trail du Grand Ballon (Sunday)

SPECIAL OFFER: The first 100 people to register for the Xtrails will receive a free "Trail du Grand Ballon" technical jersey worth 35 euros. OUT OF STOCK

SCOTT XTRAILS MULTISTAGE

TRAIL SPEED CALCULATOR

Want to estimate in advance what your speed will be on the marathon du Grand Ballon? Fill in your distance and altimeters , your current running level and mark this trail as "very technical"

CALCULATE NOW

SQM TIME | PASSION FOR SPORTS

TIMING & REGISTRATION SOFTWARE

SQM Time is our regular partner for timing all our events. Live results with lots of intermediate points is their Strength.

Both online registration and event timing are always handled perfectly by Lucien and his team.

MORE INFO

CONTACT US

If you wish to contact us with a specific question about an event and/or about your registrations, the best way to do so is via the chat widget at the bottom right of this page. If no one is available to help you live, leave your email address and we will help you as soon as possible.