On July 25th 2015, the 4th edition of the Trail du Vélan will start. The event takes place each year in Switzerland’s Valais Alps at the feet of the majestic Mt. Vélan and Grand Combin, set against the backdrop of Great St. Bernard and the Combins.
The route offers unmatched view of the Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses. In 2011, Philippe Balleys, one of the founding members of the Trail presented us its event during an interview.
In 2015, the organizers innovate by adding a new race to the event: the Spéci-Men, a new 72km route with 5,500m of vertical gain. On several ‘technical’ sections of the race, fixed ropes will be installed to secure the runners.
The races scheduled are:
- Spéci-Men: 72km, 5,500m D+
- Trail du Vélan: 45km, 3,600m D+
- Petit Trail: 21km, 2,000m D+
- Cross du Vélan: 6.8km, 1,000m D+
- Spéci-Kids: 1.7km kids race in the streets of historic Bourg –St-Pierre.
This year, Jules-Henri Gabioud will be Trail du Vélan’s ambassador.
The first race organized in Bourg–St-Pierre was the 6.8 km run. Over the years, new races have been added, always longer and more technical. If this is a trend, what do the organizers have in mind for the 2016 or 2017 editions?