Les Balcons de la Durance

For seasoned long-distance trail runners, come and challenge yourself on this 42k "Les balcons de la Durance" 42km / 1800 D+.

Like its 2 smaller brothers, "Pierre plantée" and "Tourdeaux", you will set off from Place Joseph Fauchier up the Avenue de la Roche. After climbing the first hill, you will come back down to the village and cross the Gau fields on a single-track path. After crossing the River Bevon, you'll tackle the second climb (1 km / 100 D+), at which point you'll be on a beautiful PR single-track path through undergrowth that will take you as far as "Pont Bernard", where you'll pass under the suspended canal, after which you'll begin the serious business of climbing to the rock of the Ganagobie priory (3 kms / 300 D+), passing through the beautiful village of Ganagobie. At the top, you'll want to stop and contemplate the magnificent panorama over the Durance Valley. Off you go on a technical descent, taking a very rolling track to reach ravito 1 and the time barrier. After a short climb, there's a hilly path and the Caramelin ridge, A long technical descent takes you back across the Bevon, where another climb awaits you (3 km / 200 D+) to the summit of Pierre Plantée and the Piouzin rock, from where a balcony path leads to a rapid descent with a panoramic view of the Tourdeaux summit, which will be your last climb, and the lower Alpine peaks, the Pic de Couard, the Cousson, the Barre des Dourbes, Cheval Blanc and more. You'll continue downhill, with a few flat sections to take a breather and head for the Aigrevin ravine, stop-off point 2.

You then head for Montfort. Before taking a single-track path through undulating undergrowth, you will see the Louvière ridge on your left, waiting for you. After a short, steep climb, you will reach the Marcouline ridge and plunge into the vortex of the A51 motorway via a series of tunnels, before climbing the Chamant hill and descending to Monfort. From here, you'll come to a stretch of tarmac that leads to a fine ascent to the Louvière ridge, another opportunity to contemplate the Lure mountain. At the end of the ridge, you'll switch to a technical descent that will take you to the third feed station and time barrier at the chapel of Saint Donnat, a Montfort heritage site built in 1050. From here you return to the common 22K route with successive crossings of the Thoron river, another climb and, after some beautiful undulating single sections in the undergrowth, you'll arrive on the job trail which will take you gently down to the foot of your final climb to the Tourdeaux summit, a 360° view guaranteed. A quick descent awaits you as you begin to hear the fervour of the announcer and the spectators who will be waiting for you at the finish line on Place Joseph Fauchier!