Val d’Aran by UTMB

Q: How hard is Val d'Aran by UTMB (VDA) 161.3km? A: Among the most gradient-extreme 100M-class races in the DTR database. AvgUphill ranks 70th of ~390 (top 18% steepest; only 69 courses steeper; 15.3% DW across 40.4% uphill terrain). AvgDownhill rank 326 inverted (top 17% steepest going down; only ~64 courses steeper; -15.25% DW) — near-identical extreme gradient in both directions. 19.2km at 20%+ uphill gradient. Top1Ascent rank 53 (1,334m / 10.35km at km 62.67). Top1Descent rank 68 (1,244m / 6.3km / -19.75% avg at km 153.45 — less than 8km from the finish). D+/km rank 87 (top 22%; 59.5 m/km). PctFlat rank 177 (18.9% flat). 48-hour limit. Only 3 VDA champions ever crowned through 2025.

Q: What is the course route for VDA 161.3km? A: A 161.3km (marketed as 163km) loop from Vielha circumnavigating the Val d'Aran through "wild valleys, abandoned mines, and cirques of lakes" in the Pyrenean high-pass zone. The race is the "Torn dera Val d'Aran" (Tour of the Val d'Aran in Aranese). Key structural points: the opening 6.75km climb (Climb 3) begins at km 0.51 with a 17.71% average gradient; Climb 2 (1,301m / 8.58km / 15.16% avg) arrives at km 19.98; the biggest ascent (Climb 1, 1,334m / 10.35km / 12.89% avg) arrives at km 62.67; the mid-race long runnable descent (Descent 2, 14.73km / -6.86% avg) begins at km 132.81; and Top1Descent (1,244m / 6.3km / -19.75% avg) arrives at km 153.45 — less than 8km from the Vielha finish. 16:00 Friday start means darkness begins within 2–4 hours of racing.

Q: Why have so many editions of VDA been cancelled or shortened? A: Val d'Aran sits in a remote high-Pyrenean valley where sudden severe weather — storms, high winds, and rapid snowfall — can make the exposed high-pass sections dangerous or impassable. According to run247's 2025 results report, the 2023 and 2024 VDA flagship distances were cancelled or heavily curtailed due to storms, and the 2025 edition was shortened from 163km/10,000m to 142km/7,250m due to severe weather forecasts. As of 2025, only three runners have ever been recognized as VDA champions (implying only 2021 and 2022 produced full-distance completions before Joyeux-Bouillon's 2025 shortened-course win). Weather disruption is a structural feature of this race, not an outlier. The 48-hour time limit provides buffer for mandatory shelter periods, and race organizers actively modify the course for safety.

Q: What does VDA 161.3km cost and is it sold out? A: €281 standard registration fee plus UTMB service/administration fees (~8% = ~€22) — approximately €303 all-in (~€1.88/km). Registration was via in.register-utmb.world. SOLD OUT — SoldOutStatus confirmed as "Was Sold Out"; Mae_Notes state "SOLD OUT!" Monitor valdaran.utmb.world for 2027 registration opening. All finishers receive 8 Running Stones (double the standard UTMB Index points); top 10 M/F earn direct entry to UTMB Mont-Blanc finals. Title sponsor: HOKA. The event draws 6,000+ runners from 83 countries across all distances (VDA + CDH + TDL + PDA + shorter distances).