Grand Raid des Pyrénées Ultra Tour 174km: The Pyrenees Race That Almost Never Flattens

Extremely difficult. The course covers 174.2km with 11,372m of elevation gain (65.3m per km). Just 11.4% of the course is flat — the 39th least-flat of 390 European trail distances tracked. The race opens with a 1,276m climb to Col de Portet. The biggest descent drops 1,408m. A 2018 finisher described it as "a 100-mile fell race at altitude." The 2018 edition recorded approximately 58% completion; the race starts at 4am with many runners still out through the following night.

All GRP distances (except relay) require entering a lottery draw. Pre-registration costs €1 (non-refundable even if not selected). Runners drawn are given a deadline to confirm and pay. The 2026 Ultra Tour is effectively full — all lottery places have been confirmed. Maximum field size is 1,000 runners. Check grandraidpyrenees.com for future edition lottery windows.

The standard 2026 entry fee is €206 until April 30, rising to €210 from May 1 — approximately €1.18 per kilometre. Number transfers are permitted March 30 to June 30, 2026, via the registration platform. The 2026 edition is full via the lottery; future editions are expected to open registration in early 2027.

Toulouse airport (TLS) is approximately 115 minutes by car from Vielle-Aure, the race start village. Public transport connects via train or bus to Tarbes or Lannemezan, then onward by bus or taxi to Saint-Lary-Soulan and Vielle-Aure. Accommodation is strong in Saint-Lary-Soulan; book early as the race fills the valley.

Yes. The Ultra Tour requires 130 effort points from a single race completed between January 2021 and December 2025. Effort points are calculated as 1 point per km plus 1 point per 100m of elevation gain — so a race of around 80km with 6,000m gain would typically qualify. Check grandraidpyrenees.com for the current qualifying race list.