Triathlon de Gérardmer (XL / L)
Gérardmer, France · September · Triathlon de Gérardmer (town-run)
Why people love it
- Famous Belgian-supported race, with fans lining the Côte du Poly climb.
- Lake swim and three-loop bike and run keep the day easy to watch.
- Bike loops through the Ballons des Vosges regional park with nine climbs.
- Run is three 7 km (4.3 mi) loops around the lake.
Watch out for
- Bike has 1,890 m (6,200 ft) of climbing over 93 km (58 mi).
- Swim cut-off is 1:10.
- Sources disagree on the bike distance (90 or 93 km (57.8 mi) / 56 or 58 mi) and the climbing total.
- No first-person race reports are published, so ratings lean on press and the official page.
- Sells out fast; Strasbourg airport is about 110 km (68 mi) away.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.0
Belgian clubs treat it as an annual tradition and the race sells out fast, but no first-person reports are published. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
A long-running town event with an athlete brochure and a firm 1:10 swim cut-off; no complaints or praise are published. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.7
1,890 m (6,200 ft) of climbing in 93 km (58 mi) and a 1:10 swim cut-off make it a stretch for a first half. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.3
Winners have taken 4:26 to 4:37 in dry and wet years, slower than fast halves, on a course with 1,890 m (6,200 ft) of climbing. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.8
Wetsuits are allowed below an organiser temperature that is not published; the lake was near 21 °C (70 °F) in 2026. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.2
About 21 °C (70 °F) was forecast for the 2026 race, inside the comfortable range; that is a forecast, not a measurement. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.0
Inland lake with no chop reports, though a 2015 gallery showed frothy water at the start of the big fields. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.7
Buoyed 1.9 km (1.2 mi) lake course; the 1:10 cut-off is generous but large fields mean contact. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.9
Lake in a forested valley with an entry from a bridge; no clarity reports are published. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
No surface reports are published; road course in a regional park. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Closures are not documented, though Belgian press describes fans lining the route. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2
Ballons des Vosges regional park with views over the lake and hills. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
No wind reports; forested valley loops probably give some shelter. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow2.0
Three hilly loops with 1,890 m (6,200 ft) of climbing and nine ascents; winners take about 2:47 to 2:54. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMountainous1.2
1,890 m (6,200 ft) over 93 km (58 mi) is well beyond mountainous, and even the lower 2015 figure of 1,460 m (4,800 ft) is. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.5
Nine climbs over three loops mean repeated descents; no technical detail is published. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.3
Belgian supporters line the route with flags and the Côte du Poly climb is a famous viewing spot. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
No data is published on aid station spacing or volunteers. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Three 7 km (4.3 mi) loops around Lac de Gérardmer. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.5
About 80% asphalt and 20% stabilised path, run after 1,890 m (6,200 ft) of climbing in mild September weather. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.5
240 m (790 ft) of gain over 21 km (13.1 mi) makes for a gently rolling run. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.9
Early September in the Vosges is mild to cool; no race-day temperature series is published. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.9
Mountain climate; the 2012 race was rainy and slow. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.3
The largest natural lake in the Vosges, surrounded by forested hills. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.3
Three-loop bike and run around town and the lake, with a well-known viewing climb. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeModerate3.1
The lake sits at about 660 m (2,170 ft), close to the 700 m (2,300 ft) mid-point. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.7
Clubs reserve hotels and cottages for the weekend and the race sells out fast. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
No pricing data is published; it is a resort town. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Lakeside venue in the town centre. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.3
Strasbourg airport is about 110 km (68 mi) away and a car is needed. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.7
Single lake venue; full logistics are not published. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
An established Vosges lake resort with plenty of restaurants. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Gérardmer, Vosges, Grand Est, France
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 5 September 2026
- Organiser
- Triathlon de Gérardmer (town-run)
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 1:10
- Swim venue
- Lac de Gérardmer (start at the Union Nautique) (lake)
- Water temperature
- 20–22 °C (68–72 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional (allowed when water is below the organiser's threshold)
- Bike climbing
- 1,890 m (6,200 ft)
- Bike laps
- 3
- Key climbs
- Côte du Poly (spectator hotspot, nicknamed the Belgians' Alpe d'Huez)
- Run climbing
- 240 m (785 ft)
- Run laps
- 3
- Altitude
- 660 m (2,170 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Strasbourg (SXB), 110 km (68 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Gérardmer town centre by the lake
- Booking
- Belgian clubs book hotels and cottages for the weekend; sells out fast. Airport distance approximate.
What racers and reviewers say
- Finishers - Triathlon de GérardmerRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Event page: L format of 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 93 km (57.8 mi) bike in 3 loops of 31 km (19.3 mi) with 1,890 m (6,200 ft) gain, and a 21 km (13 mi) run in 3 loops of 7 km (4.3 mi) with 240 m (787 ft) gain. Last held 5-6 Sep 2026, next early Sep 2027, and the L is labelled the most popular format. No athlete ratings are shown.
- La DH Les Sports+ (Vincent Goffinet)Raced 2018 · article · Positive
Belgian press piece on why Gérardmer is the Belgians' favourite: clubs book hotels each year, over 100 triathletes from Namur and Luxembourg provinces travel, flags line the course, and the Côte du Poly climb is called the Belgians' Alpe d'Huez, with crowds there giving athletes goose bumps.
“Atmosphere found only at Gérardmer”
- Slowtwitch (Tim Carlson)Raced 2012 · article · Mixed
Report on the 2012 XL: rainy conditions left times well off the previous two years, with the bike featuring daunting climbs. Toumy Degham won in 4:36:53 and Delphine Pelletier in 5:09:50 against a small but talented field.
- Slowtwitch (Herbert Krabel)Raced 2015 · article · Mixed
Report on the 2015 XL, held 5 Sep: three 30 km (18.6 mi) bike loops each with just under 1,600 ft (490 m (1,610 ft)) of climbing, Héctor Guerra beat Joe Gambles by 13 seconds in 4:28:51, and Jeanne Collonge won the women's race in 4:59:15.
- Reference-Trail live and results coverageRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Coverage of the 2026 XL held Saturday: conditions were announced favourable with lake water near 21 C (70 F) the day before; Pierre Dupuy and Darleen Pfister won in a bit over four hours, ending Alanis Siffert's two-year run. Course described as 3 bike loops with 9 climbs and a 3-loop run.
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- Municipal athlete brochure 2026 (Mairie de Gérardmer)Raced 2026 · article · Mixed
Official town brochure confirming the format line-up: XL is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (55.9 mi) bike and 21 km (13 mi) run, alongside shorter M, S and kids races on the Sunday.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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