Trail EDF Val Cenis is based at Val Cenis-Lancelebourg in the French Alps and continues along the mountain path around Lake Monceny.
It is closer to a mountaineering competition that sequentially passes through forests,
mountain slopes, ridges, and old fortresses, rather than a flat course that runs only along a lake.
The official introduction explains that the existing mountain trail used by hikers in the summer will be used as course,
and the use of course will be discussed with local management entities.
The longest part, Trail Noir, starts on a wide road and climbs towards the old Langslebourg and Cuchet huts.
After a narrow, technical descent between pastures and forests, it traverses the foothills of Vanoise and over to the slopes towards Monsny.
The Arcelin viewpoint overlooks the lake, passing the Longs Fortress and the Montsny Pyramid before crossing the dam.
On the Malamo Hut side, the mountainous terrain with exposed rocks rather than the forest is the main focus.
The ridge that follows above the lake leads to Patacreuse Fortress and Petit Monsny Hut.
Finally, climb up to the Vequia Pass to view the lake and surrounding peaks again, then return to the village via the Tyra Fortress and the Monsny Pass.
Trail Bleu shares the same initial mountain path and Arcelin view section, but has a shorter return as it descends towards the Monsny Pass.
The scenery and terrain of the two races change depending on not only the length but also how long the alpine ridge is continued.
Rather than digging up a new mountain, the competition is choosing to connect this landscape within existing paths.
