Maxi Race 2024 Report: An Epic Weekend of Races in the Heart of the Mountains

Maxi Race 2024: An epic race weekend in the heart of the mountains

Mathieu Blanchard's victory at the Maxi Race
©Guillaume Salem

The Maxi Race weekend is much more than a simple competition; it has become a must-attend event for trail-running enthusiasts. Every year, this event brings together thousands of trail runners from all over France, ready to take on the majestic mountains surrounding Lake Annecy. This year, the Maxi-Race also hosted the European Trail Running and Mountain Running Championships. It was a fantastic weekend of sport, with Nutribay there to take the event's pulse.

The Maxi Race trails are technical and varied, alternating between steep climbs, technical descents, and ridge sections. Each section of the course presents specific challenges, whether dense forest trails, rocky scree, or meadows. The reward for these efforts lies in the breathtaking landscapes and views of Lake Annecy, an exceptional setting.

The Maxi Race – An unmissable challenge

1)    The different courses
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The Maxi Race offers a variety of courses suited to all levels of ability and endurance, making this event a must-attend for trail runners from every background.

• The Maxi Race (94 km) on Saturday

The Ultra Race is the event's flagship race, designed for the most seasoned trail runners. This 94 km course with 5,200 meters of elevation gain presents an extreme challenge. Participants cross ridges, forests, and peaks around Lake Annecy, putting their endurance, mental resilience, and running technique to the test. It is an epic adventure that requires rigorous preparation and optimal management of physical and mental resources. It is also possible to take part in this race, which completes a circuit around the lake in two days: the XL Race. On the first day, participants stop in Doussard, then set off the next day toward Annecy. For a race with friends or family, the circuit around the lake can be completed as a relay by 2 or 4 participants.

• The Marathon Race (58 km) the day after the official European Trail Championships race

For those who want to experience the Maxi Race without committing to an ultramarathon, the 61 km Marathon Race is ideal. This course offers the perfect balance between distance and difficulty, with technical sections and demanding climbs. Runners enjoy spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains, making every kilometer covered a true visual reward.

• The Marathon Expérience (42km) or the half-lap around the lake on Sunday

The Marathon eXpérience was created to allow everyone to gain experience in the mountains while discovering breathtaking scenery. No minimum level is required, but a healthy dose of motivation will be needed to cross the finish line!

• The Short-Race (16 km) and the Mini-Race (5 km) on Friday evening

For beginners or those looking for a more accessible challenge, the 16 km Short-Race and the 5 km Mini-Race are perfect. These shorter races allow participants to discover the world of trail running in a magnificent setting without the extreme demands of longer distances. They are also ideal for local runners or families who want to participate together.

• The participants' experience

At the heart of the weekend's races, we were able to gather impressions from male and female runners. Maxi Race participants often speak of the camaraderie and mutual support that are evident throughout the courses. Mutual encouragement, advice exchanged on the trails, and shared moments at the aid stations create a strong and motivating community spirit. Here are a few testimonials:

• "It was the most difficult race of my life, but also the most rewarding. The scenery was incredible, and the atmosphere on the trails was electrifying." - Pierre, Maxi-race finisher.
• "The solidarity among runners is exceptional. When I felt tired, another participant helped me get going again, and we continued together for a few kilometers. That's the spirit of the Maxi Race." - Sophie, participant in the Marathon Race.

The atmosphere of the Maxi Race is also enhanced by the many volunteers and spectators lining the courses. The aid stations are true places of comfort and motivation, where runners can regain their strength while exchanging a few words with the volunteers and their families. 

On Sunday morning, the runners received a message announcing a course change for the Marathon Expérience and the Marathon Race. The course had become too muddy after numerous runners had passed through and due to the weather in the preceding days. The organizing team made the decision because the rescue services could no longer properly assist runners if necessary. The excessively muddy ground prevented them from reaching Mont Veyrier. The runners therefore stopped at the Col de Bluffy, boarded a bus to Annecy, and finally completed the 3 km stretch along Lake Annecy to reach the finish and ring the bell! This shortened route cut approximately 10 km and 800 m of elevation gain compared with the original course.

Hosting the European Trail Running and Mountain Running Championships

The European Trail Running Championships were recently created to promote trail running as a discipline in its own right, with its own specific features and demands. They are held every other year, alternating with the World Championships. The edition held as part of the Maxi Race enhances the event’s profile by drawing on the prestige and difficulty of the routes around Lake Annecy.

Categories and events

Three events were held this weekend:

• On Friday, the 7.6 km uphill time trial with 980 m of elevation gain (5.6 km and 330 m of elevation gain for the U20 category).
• On Saturday, the European Trail Running Championship race, covering 58 km and 3,500 m of elevation gain.
• On Sunday, the 16 km and 960 m elevation-gain Up & Down format (5.9 km and 400 m elevation gain for the U20 category). Belgian athlete and Nutribay ambassador Victoire Cravate also took part.

The standard gets higher every year at the trail running championships. Overall, the level is improving rapidly. This year, the French team delivered some excellent performances in the races.

At the European Trail Running Championships, the French athletes enjoyed a medal haul.

Men:

🥇 Thomas Cardin
🥈 Benjamin Roubiol
🥉 Loic Rolland

©Alanis Duc

Women:

🥇 Clémentine Geoffray
🥈 Blandine L’Hirondel
🥉 Adeline Martin

©Alanis Duc

These excellent results put France at the top of the team podium in both the men’s and women’s events.

In the uphill time trial, the performance of French athlete Jules Mongellaz in the U20 category stands out: he finished third behind the Swiss runners Matthieu Bührer and Loïc Berger. As a team, they finished second behind the British team. Among the women, the U20 team won the gold medal thanks to several excellent finishes.

In the final race, Sunday’s Up & Down format, French athlete Théodore Klein finished third behind Lukas Ehrel (Germany) and Roberto Delorenzi (Switzerland). The French team won the team event, just ahead of Great Britain.
Victoire Cravatte, Belgian athlete and Nutribay ambassador, finished 44th among the women in the U20 category. Not the result she had hoped for, but she gave it her all despite foot pain. A great experience nonetheless! 👏

The Partners’ Expo – A weekend of discoveries

At the race village, located beside the lake, a multitude of activities and booths created a festive and friendly atmosphere. This year was rainy. Accustomed to the warm weather during this first weekend in June, the village was quickly covered in mud. Despite this, the exhibitors’ smiles did not disappear. We were able to discuss the latest innovations with our partner brands at the expo, as well as upcoming recipes 🤫. 🤫, Baouw, TA, 4Ultra were present, along with the Belgian brand Moov360, which creates eco-friendly, technical clothing from recycled materials for running and cycling.

Don’t forget that the first 500 orders between the Maxi Race and the Mont-Blanc Marathon will receive a free TA gel* !

*Random flavor

As for equipment, several brands such as Salomon, Merell, Compressport, Instinct, Julbo, I-Run, AZR, etc. were present to showcase their new products and let trail runners test their products: packs, sunglasses, clothing, shoes, etc.

Nutribay ambassador results

Victoire Cravate represented Belgium at the European Championships in the 16 km Up&Down format with 960 m of elevation gain. She finished 44th in these championships in 1:39:28. This was not the result she had hoped for, but she gained valuable experience for future races.

As for our ambassador Théo Carlini, who entered the Maxi Race, he finished in 66th place. Living in Corsica and accustomed to more rugged terrain, he found the muddy, fast-running trails around Lake Annecy a little challenging.