Effort management and nutrition: Théo Detienne’s strategies at the Grand Trail des Templiers

The Templiers race, one of the most famous trail-running events in France, takes place every year in Millau, Aveyron. It features a demanding course through the Causses and Cévennes, combining technical trails, steep climbs, and dizzying descents. Created in 1995, the race now attracts thousands of participants from all over France and several neighboring countries. The event includes several race formats suited to different levels of runners, ranging from ultra-trail races to shorter distances.

Théo Detienne is a French trail-running athlete and member of Team New Balance. He has distinguished himself in several trail competitions, notably with a victory in the Trail Alsace Grand Est 100K by UTMB in 2024, where he covered 114 km with 4,000 m of elevation gain. He has also achieved strong results in other prestigious races such as the Mont-Blanc Marathon and the Galibier Trail. Although he competes in formats ranging from 50 km to 100 km, he is considering even longer distances in the years to come. We gathered his thoughts on this Grand Trail des Templiers after his excellent fifth-place finish, featuring the fast start he is known for!

How did you approach this race as a whole, knowing that it was one of your goals this year and that you had not competed during the summer?

I approached this race very calmly. I had wanted to take part for some time because it is a legendary and very demanding event. I prepared well for it, even though there are still areas to improve next time!

How do you manage your nutrition during races? Are you supported by someone, or does Overstim's advise you directly?

I plan my nutrition based on what I have tested in training and on my past experiences. Overstim's provides me with suitable products, but it is something I adjust for each race. In this Templiers race, the intensity was so high that I was caught off guard on a few points, which will allow me to improve them going forward, particularly by adjusting the quantity.

Have you always had nutritional support?

Yes, I receive support throughout the year and regularly provide feedback on the Overstim's products I use.

What was your nutrition plan for this particular race?

I planned to consume 90 g of carbohydrates per hour, mainly through the ULTRA drink and gels. I used different types of gels depending on the sections of the race: caffeinated gels, Energix, and "Coup de Fouet" gels, which helped me a lot.

Did everything go according to plan with your nutrition strategy, or did you encounter any difficulties?

The intensity was higher than expected, which caused me to experience hypoglycemia. I had to increase my intake to 110 g of carbohydrates per hour during the final three hours of the race to compensate.

Do you take your electrolyte intake, such as sodium, into account during long-distance races?

Yes, it is crucial for me, and the ULTRA drink meets this need perfectly.

What nutritional mistakes have you made in the past, and how did you correct them?

My main mistakes were failing to adapt my nutrition to the weather conditions, which affects my ability to absorb nutrients.

Have you ever had to adapt your nutrition plan during a race because of an unexpected issue, such as a lack of aid stations or sudden fatigue?

Yes, almost every race! Especially at the Templiers, real-time adjustments are often necessary because things never go exactly as planned.

What do you do if you experience digestive problems during a trail race? How do you anticipate them?

I anticipate them by adjusting my intake, but if it happens, I try to slow down and prioritize products that are easier to digest.

How do you feel after this Grand Trail des Templiers?

It is an extremely intense race, both muscularly and energetically. I learned a great deal about myself and about managing my effort during a race.

Do you think you will come back next year?

I clearly want to come back; it will depend on how the start of my season goes next year!

We wish Théo a good recovery and thank him for sharing his experience of the Grand Trail des Templiers, an 80 km race with 3,430 m of elevation gain! See you next year.