Embrunman

Key facts

Location

Embrun, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

Typical month

August

Latest or next date

15 August 2026

Organiser

Independent (Embrun organiser)

Field size

About 1,100 athletes

First held

1984

Distances

3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run

Cutoffs

Bike Intermediate cutoffs enforced (a 2017 athlete was stopped before the Izoard summit); exact times not found, Finish 17:00

Swim venue

Lac de Serre-Poncon (Embrun plan d'eau) (reservoir)

Water temperature

9–22 °C (48–72 °F)

Wetsuit

Legal

Swim start

mass

Swim laps

2

Bike climbing

3,600 m (11,810 ft)

Bike laps

1

Key climbs

Col d'Izoard (2,360 m); Early climb out of transition; Cote de Pallon (omitted in 2026 due to wildfires)

Run climbing

400 m (1,310 ft)

Run laps

3

Run shade

Little shade in afternoon heat; route through Embrun centre and along Durance dikes

Air temperature

10–35 °C (50–95 °F)

Humidity

Dry alpine; heatwaves common in mid-August, cold at high passes

Altitude

870 m (2,850 ft)

Nearest airport

No nearby major airport; Marseille, Nice, Turin, Grenoble or Lyon are common gateways (roughly 150-250 km, unverified)

Where to stay

Embrun centre (Hotel de la Mairie), near the lake (Hotel Le Lac), Les Orres

Booking

Embrun hotel stock is limited in race week; Gap, Les Orres and Savines-le-Lac are alternatives. Camping and apartments common. Rates for ordinary weeks ~USD 105-130 per night (Booking cache).

Official race website (embrunman.com)

What racers and reviewers say

• Slowtwitch forum - Embrunman race report (2017)Raced 2017 · forum · Mixed

  American amateur recounts a dark mass swim of about 1,000 athletes, a long early climb, and missing the bike cutoff about 9 km (5.6 mi) before the Izoard summit after a heat-induced bonk. Descents felt frightening with steep drop-offs and no guardrails. Logistics were hectic after delayed luggage, but a registration worker allowed a late pickup. Entry was 300 euro and the hotel opened for a 3:30 breakfast.

  “course thrilling but frightening”

• Slowtwitch forum - Embrunman report (long with pics)Raced 2011 · forum · Positive

  First-person report with a surprise early start, warm lake (~22 °C (72 °F) / 72 °F) that overheated him in a wetsuit, and a steep climb out of transition. The Izoard descent chilled his legs, and he got a second wind late on the bike. The run fell apart in 32 °C (90 °F)+ (90 °F+) heat, forcing a walk-run and vomiting before he finished near 9:20 pm as sun set. Emotional, grateful tone.

• Slowtwitch - Up close with Scott DeFilippisRaced 2018 · article · Positive

  Pro racing his fourth Embrunman calls it the epitome of long-course tri. Notes three bike passes (including Izoard), over 4,570 m (15,000 ft) of climbing and a hilly hot marathon. Describes a chaotic pitch-dark mass start from a small beach where a wrong line drags you to the middle of the lake. He ran up to 7th.

  “epitome of what the forefathers of triathlon set out to create”

• L'Avenir - L'Embrunman: la plus dureRaced 2019 · article · Positive

  Belgian pro Alexandra Tondeur finished third and calls it harder than Hawaii or Lanzarote. Water about 8-9 °C (46-48 °F) at the start and she never saw the buoys in the dark swim. Strong Izoard climb and fast descent, then low blood sugar from nutrition errors around km 120 (mile 75). High passes were far colder than the valley.

  “Je n'ai jamais vu les bouees!”

• Arts et Metiers - Erwan Lambert, student finisherRaced 2024 · article · Positive

  French engineering student finished in 2024 after a year of training. Intense dark start with ~1,100 athletes, then a tough bike with a derailleur issue, gusty wind, a fall and cramps on the Izoard where family waited. He had 6.5 h for the marathon and finished just under six hours. Warm, emotional account of the community support.