How Hard Is UTBV 82km? (~54 m/km, Pre-Alpine Forested Ridges, and a 16h30 Time Limit from a 5am Start)

Beaujolais Vert — the green Beaujolais — is the northern, more rural and forested portion of the Beaujolais region, distinct from the southern wine appellations (Fleurie, Moulin-a-Vent, Brouilly) most people associate with Beaujolais wine. The terrain for UTBV is a mix of forested pre-Alpine ridges and vineyard-fringed zones — more managed French countryside than high-alpine wilderness. The Lac des Sapins area around Cublize is known for its forest and lake character. October timing coincides with autumn foliage and the regional harvest season.

UTBV 82km is priced at AUTO EUR 1.00/km — around EUR 82 for the full distance — which is exceptional value for an 82km European trail ultra. Entry pricing is tiered (fees increased after February 28, 2026); there is no on-site registration. The race is not sold out as of the DTR research date. For comparison, similar-profile French trail ultras typically run EUR 1.20-1.50/km. UTBV at EUR 1.00/km, combined with Lyon LYS at 83 minutes, represents one of the strongest combined value-and-access propositions in the DTR France database.

Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport (LYS) is the primary gateway — approximately 83 minutes from the race start at Lac des Sapins, Cublize by car. The race is NOT IS FAR. Lyon is well-served by international flights and by TGV from Paris (approximately 2 hours). Accommodation is extensive in Lyon itself and in the smaller towns of the northern Beaujolais region. Car hire or coach transfer from Lyon is the standard approach; check the official race site for any shuttle services from Lyon.

UTBV Ultra Trail du Beaujolais Vert is in its 9th edition in 2026, founded in 2018. It is organised by the Office de Tourisme du Beaujolais Vert — one of the rare French trail races where the local tourist office serves as race organiser, giving the event a distinctly community-rooted, regional-promotion character. Community reviews describe it as a race with good atmosphere and a small but capable organisation. The event runs five distances: 82km, 42km, 23km, 11km trail, and 11km Nordic walking. Finisher counts are approximately 187 (2025) and 152 (2024)

UTBV 82km is a punchy mid-distance trail ultra with significant elevation — the DTR Airtable records 4,400m D+ (external sources indicate ~3,810m; discrepancy under review). D+ per km ranges from ~46-54 m/km depending on the confirmed total, placing it in the upper-mid tier of 82km races. The terrain is forested pre-Alpine ridges with some vineyard-fringe sections — sustained climbing without extreme technical gradients. The 05:00 start and 16h30 time limit (finish cutoff 21:30) require consistent pacing of ~5 km/h average. No GPX course profile data is currently available in the DTR database; check the official race site for the course map and elevation profile before registering. Race date: October 10, 2026.