Triathlon Sud Vendée (L)
L'Aiguillon-la-Presqu'île / La Faute-sur-Mer, France · September · Independent (local organiser)
Not a standard 70.3. This course is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 85 km (53 mi) bike, 21 km (13.0 mi) run, not the usual 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run. 1.9 km (1.2 mi) / 85 km (53 mi) / 21 km (13 mi); bike is 5 km (3 mi) short of a standard half
Why people love it
- Flat, fast 85 km (53 mi) bike on three loops
- 20th edition in 2026, with shorter races and youth events the same weekend
- Run through the Faute forest and town centre
Watch out for
- The bike is 85 km (53 mi), 5 km (3 mi) shorter than a standard half
- No athlete reviews; swim venue, water temperature and elevation are unpublished
- The 2026 date is reported inconsistently, 19 or 26-27 September
- Low, open coastline means wind is likely
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 satisfactionLiked3.4
A 20-year-old event with a headline half, but we found only listings and no athlete comments. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.4
Long-running event with multiple distances on one weekend; no reports of how smoothly it runs. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.6
Flat coastal course and a long-established race, but the swim venue and water conditions are undocumented. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.7
Flat bike on three loops looks fast, but at 85 km (53 mi) times are not directly comparable with a standard half. · Low confidence
- Course easeModerate4.1
Flat coastal terrain; wind exposure is likely but undocumented. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.6
Late-September water temperature is not documented, so wetsuit rules are uncertain. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.2
Unknown venue and temperature; Atlantic water in September is usually mild but not warm. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.5
One listing calls it a lake, but the exact venue is unconfirmed. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.5
We found no details on laps, start format or sighting. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.2
No description of the water or start format from athletes. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
No surface information found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.3
Closure detail not found. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.3
Coastal marshland; no descriptions from athletes. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind2.9
Low open coastline beside marshland, so wind is likely a factor but is not documented. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.9
Flat three-loop course described as fast, but only listings support it and the bike is 85 km (53 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.4
Listings call it flat and coastal beside the marais; no elevation figure is published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
Three loops of a flat coastal route; no technical sections reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
Run passes through the town centre, but we found no reports of crowds. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
No reports on aid stations. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.4
Forest of La Faute and the town centre. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.6
Some forest shade on the run; no conditions reported. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.0
Run through forest and town; a flat coastal area, but no elevation published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Mid-to-late September on the Atlantic coast is typically mild, though no temperatures were found for this race. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Atlantic autumn weather varies, and the 2026 date was reported inconsistently. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.4
Seaside resort area with forest and marshland. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Loop courses and a town centre run help, but we found no detail. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Low coastal terrain at about sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Seaside resort area in September shoulder season. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
Shoulder-season prices are likely reasonable; no data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
No information on where athletes stay relative to the venue. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.7
La Rochelle or Nantes airports are the nearest, each needing a drive. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
Single-site event, but venue details are unclear. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.3
Small seaside resort; we found no athlete comments on dining. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- L'Aiguillon-la-Presqu'île / La Faute-sur-Mer, Vendée, France
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 26 September 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (local organiser)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 85 km (53 mi) bike, 21 km (13.0 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Water body at La Faute-sur-Mer (one listing says lake; exact venue unconfirmed) (lake)
- Bike laps
- 3
- Run shade
- Forest section (forêt de la Faute) gives some shade
- Nearest airport
- La Rochelle (LRH) / Nantes Atlantique (NTE)
- Where to stay
- La Faute-sur-Mer, L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer
- Booking
- Seaside resort area; September is shoulder season.
What racers and reviewers say
- Running.lifeRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Listing for the 20th edition: half (L) as the headline event alongside M, S, XS and youth races, in L'Aiguillon-la-Presqu'île. Gives the 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 85 km (52.8 mi) bike on 3 loops and 21 km (13 mi) run through the Faute forest.
- TrainerdayRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Event listing describing a fast 3-loop bike profile in a flat coastal environment next to the marais. Also lists a conflicting 19 Sep date in La Faute-sur-Mer.
- FinishersRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Page lists the L, M and S formats and mid-September timing for 2027. No elevation, swim location or athlete reviews.
- werun.worldRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Calendar entry confirming the event, its 20th edition in 2026 and half-distance format. No first-person content.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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