Course description
A full distance on the Atlantic coast of the Vendée. The 3.8 km swim runs from the Grande Plage into the Vendée Globe channel, with transition on the Place du Vendée Globe. The 180 km bike course crosses 17 towns on closed roads — rolling, with many restarts. The marathon covers four laps from the Remblai past the Lac de Tanchet to the Puits d'Enfer, with a short stretch on the sand of the Grande Plage.
Coach tip
The bike course is rolling with many restarts: cap your power on every one rather than surging out of the corner above threshold — a hundred of those cost more than one long climb.
Late June on the Atlantic coast can be hot, up to 35 degrees in 2026: do some long runs in the midday heat and plan to cool down at every aid station.
The run crosses a short stretch of sand: shorten your stride there rather than holding your pace.