The Trail du Vélan series of races start and finish in the Swiss village of Bourg-St-Pierre. The race has been running since 1977, when 60 locals ran the Cross du Vélan in dedication to the 1971 tragedy when an avalanche took the lives of the guardian of the Cabane du Vélan and four local children.
The races are proudly organised by the Cross du Vélan Association, formed by the locals since 1987, and are steeped in local history. In addition to the main races there were three races for children, and the day had a family friendly welcoming atmosphere. The local landowners and farmers clear the trails of vegetation and move cattle aside for the day of the race. The 1907 Swiss Civil Code provides that forest and pasture are accessible freely for everyone.
I had entered the 45km race with 3,600m of ascent with a 5.30am start. Having travelled out the day before, I didn’t have any chance to acclimatise. Normally with a race reaching a high point of over 3,000m, I would spend a few days getting high (not in a drug misuse sense). So this would be a bit of an experiment.
Nicola was none too impressed with a 3.00am alarm call to get to the start from the chalet we were staying in at the next valley, and elected to go back to sleep in the car until her race, the 15km Discovery Trail which started at 7.30am.
The start was low-key, just a simple count down from 10, and about 100 runners started in the dark, head torches lighting the way down the valley before the first climb of 1,100 m to the familiar Cabane de Mille, location of the 2016 Pubegate incident. From here onwards I was running mainly on my own, in and out of the clouds, but the route was well marked with the usual red flags. There were stunning glimpses of the Grand Combin and the high glaciers to distract from the long climbs. With great local support, there were lots of marshals at key points and on the high cols, plus safety ropes for a river crossing. From the second aid station at the small chalet of Azerin, the trail became more technical, with some short sections equipped with chains. It was from 2,500m that I began to struggle, my lack of acclimatisation allowing 3 runners to pass me on the climb to the 3,034m Cabane Valsorey. A quick swig of coke, and some banana and chocolate and I began the descent, my pace picking up as the richness of the oxygen increased. A final short climb to the aid station at the 2,638m Cabane du Vélan where a chapel is dedicated to the lost lives. From here it was a fast descent back to the village, where there was a party atmosphere. Rows of tables laid out to enjoy the post-race BBQ, raclette, and creperie, all being washed down with an endless flow of beer and wine.
A nice touch was the live results provided by Swiss timing company “mso” on three small screens, where you could search by runner and see their progress and split times at each of the checkpoints which instantly updated.
The prize-giving followed with an emphasis on the children’s races and mountains of sweets periodically thrown into the square. First place categories received a local hamper including a massive wheel of cheese, with second place a half cheese, and third a quarter cheese. There was lots of cheese.
Graham Nash
Although Graham has often told me of the wonders of alpine running, I have so far resisted. For me, the prospect of attempting those long steep climbs just seemed too hard. It was therefore with some trepidation that I entered the Trail du Vélan 15km Discovery Trail.
I woke from my snooze in the car shortly before 7am, gathered my kit and joined the other 70 or so runners for the 7.30 start. The first few kms were down a well marked trail through the valley and, as I settled into the run, I was relieved to see the early morning cloud gradually lifting. The race had just one climb, which makes it sound easy. The only problem was that it was a gruelling 700m to a height of 2200m. It certainly wasn’t easy, but what a reward: the second half of the race followed a balcony path that gently led back to the village. The views were amazing, and definitely worth the 3am alarm call!
Nicola Nash
Races:
Petit Cross, race through the village of Bourg-St-Pierre for children
Cross du Vélan, 6.8 km and 1,010 vertical meters
Discovery trail; 15 km and 900 meters of altitude difference
Petit Trail; 21 km and 2,000 vertical meters
Trail du Vélan ;45 km and 3,600 meters of elevation gain
Race info:
https://www.trail-velan.ch/
Results:
https://www.mso.swiss/en/events/1855-trail-du-velan/results