Dji 0984
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Dji 0984

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Louis Billy

Vars Mountain Trail

24 to 26 July 2026

Three days of trail running, challenges and camaraderie: a look back at the 12th edition of the Vars Mountain Trail.

A magnificent playground

Challenging courses

With 1,250 runners taking part across the five race formats, Vars once again buzzed with the excitement of trail running throughout the weekend.

From the most accessible routes to the most challenging courses, the Hautes-Alpes resort offered a true showcase of its region, inviting participants to discover its high-altitude landscapes, panoramic ridges, lakes and mountain trails.

This 2026 edition also featured two new additions. Those keen to enjoy the experience together were able to try the ‘Boucle Gourmande’, a friendly route of around 4 km, featuring three gourmet stops, whilst the ‘Tour des Crêtes’ could, for the first time, be tackled as a two-person relay, offering a new way to take on this iconic challenge.

Buoyed by a warm atmosphere, the support of numerous volunteers and the enthusiasm of the public, the runners tackled the various challenges with determination. From introductory formats to the most demanding events, everyone was able to fully enjoy the experience of the Vars Mountain Trail.

1 day, 1 race

Challenge 3 Formats

The 3 Formats Challenge set an ambitious challenge for runners seeking an extraordinary experience.

The concept was simple but demanding: to complete three iconic events from the ‘ Vars Mountain Trail ’ over three days of competition.

Participants therefore had to tackle the KV de la Mayt, the Tour des Crêtes (45km) and the Foulée du Château (10km).

From Friday evening’s Kilomètre Vertical, with its 930 metres of elevation gain, right through to the final strides on Sunday, the competitors demonstrated remarkable versatility. Explosive power, endurance, resistance to fatigue and pace management: all the qualities of a mountain trail runner were required to rise to this formidable challenge.

This challenge also provided great satisfaction for the Varsinc public. Whilst Robin Dugast and Nicolas Legrand took the top two places in the men’s rankings, local favourite Pierre Klein rounded off the podium. A regular at the Vars Mountain Trail which he has competed in for several editions, he confirmed his perfect knowledge of the terrain and his attachment to the event by excelling in the finest possible way on the trails of his valley. In the women’s race, Claire Brun finished ahead of Déborah Furtado in the overall standings of the 2026 3-Format Challenge.

A look back at the routes

Vars Mountain Trail Dy6 4288 Bd
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Vars Mountain Trail Dy6 4288 Bd

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damianobenedettophoto

Vars Mountain Trail Dy6 5094 Bd
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Vars Mountain Trail Dy6 5094 Bd

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damianobenedettophoto

Vars Moutain Trail 23 And 42km 40
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Vars Moutain Trail 23 And 42km 40

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Thibaut Blais

Vars Mountain Trail 10km
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Vars Mountain Trail 10km

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Thibaut Blais

Biathlon Vars Moutain Trail 8
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Biathlon Vars Moutain Trail 8

Vars Mountain Trail 2023 Tour of the Villages Thibaut Blais Ot Vars 13 Bd
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Vars Mountain Trail 2023 Tour of the Villages Thibaut Blais Ot Vars 13 Bd

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thibaut blais

A look back at the 11th edition

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Permanent trails

Discover the Pays Varsinc on our 6 permanently signposted trails!

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