The red volcanic trails of the Estérel will host the XTERRA European Trail Run Championship on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th April 2027. The championship comes to Mandelieu-La Napoule 20 years after the first Trail des Balcons d’Azur, the local race that will stage both European title contests.
The weekend’s four races will be based at the Parc Familial de Robinson, with routes climbing into the massif above the Mediterranean. Pre-registration opens on Tuesday 10th November, with places allocated via a lottery system.
TWO DAYS OF RACING
The first European titles will be decided on Saturday in the 23km half marathon, which will include 1,000 metres of climbing. Sunday’s 47km marathon features 2,200 metres of climbing. The weekend also includes the 14km Capitou on Saturday and the 68km Ultra Trail des Balcons d’Azur on Sunday.
Both championship races are open to all eligible runners. European titles will go to athletes representing European countries, and runners in either race can qualify through their age groups for the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Gozo, Malta.
FROM LOCAL RACE TO EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Philippe Cordero and Laurent Gourmaud founded the Trail des Balcons d’Azur in 2007, and the race joined the XTERRA calendar in 2021. Mandelieu-La Napoule follows venues in Italy, Andorra, Spain, and Germany in hosting the championship, which began in 2023.
“Hosting the XTERRA European Trail Run Championship is a fantastic way to showcase our exceptional heritage, the Estérel massif and the town of Mandelieu-La Napoule,” said Cordero.
Runners can enter the lottery through the XTERRA Trail des Balcons d’Azur event page. Direct registration for any remaining places will open on Wednesday 18th November.
Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.
Photo credit: XTERRA