Trail d'Aqui - Espalion
42.5 km - D+ 1500m - *** - 31 % road - 37 % wide path - 32 % monotrace - 100 % happiness! Run when you feel like it? Run with whoever you want? Let yourself be guided? Run in total freedom!
Loop 1: 15km. A good warm-up. Up to Biounac, we climb steadily. It's never steep, but it's long. Don't forget your headlamp when crossing the 574m Biounac tunnel, which dates back to 1903! The passage through the village of Biounac marks the summit of this loop! The panorama is magical.
The route gradually descends into the valley, alternating between carriage roads, single-track roads and small country roads.
Be careful, from Montplaisir onwards and for 800m, you are also on Trail d?Aqui demi KV de St Côme. This route then turns right, while you continue straight on towards the quarry and the Vermus Virgin.
You're on the GR 65; in summer, you won't be alone!
Return to the starting parking lot.
Loop 2: 10km. Along the Lot river and Espalion sports fields. Then you cross the village on the road, but it's flat, so you can recharge your batteries before the next stage.
The climb begins in the northern districts of the town. Then the climb to Alayrac on a pretty monotrace. We take a breather on the road before crossing a pretty little natural cirque. We finally finish the bump at the farm, just before reaching Lasbinals.
We're off and running! 2.5km of sometimes technical descent! But what a delight this Combefouillouse ravine is!
A long stretch of road on the opposite side of the route allows you to lengthen your stride. At the old bridge, those who stop will return via this one; for the others, it's straight on and left to loop 3.
Loop 3: 17.5km. Follow the signs to reach the private college. Then it's a steep climb to Carbonnelle.
Enjoy the view, then head back up to Ayrolles on a lovely path reopened for Trail d?Aqui by the local council.
at the 3rd stage of the climb, the hunters? path takes you to the roadside summit.
Then it's downhill to Bonneval Abbey. No time to nibble on a chocolate bar, here you are on the Way of the Cross above the Boralde: it's wild!
Back on the road, you plunge down to the imposing, proud Tour de Masse, and then down into the valley to the sublime village of Flaujac! The crossing is short, but allows you to recover before the last well-marked embankment!
Make the most of the carriageway, then return to the road to St Côme.
A final stretch along the banks of the Lot brings you back to the finish.
