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SainteLyon race photo

SainteLyon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

FRNov 28, 2026160km · 80km · 45km +3 more events
Race date in 52 days
Nov 28, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Saint-Étienne · 160km · 80km · 45km +3 more events
Entry fee
Fee TBDVaries by event and entry period
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 7, 2026
SainteLyon race photo
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About SainteLyon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

It is one of France's flagship running events, held continuously for more than 71 years.

It takes place on a winter night.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

SainteLyon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
julienRan in 2013 · Finish time 8h15m
“I try to focus for a moment, or just clear my head.”

The runner recounts finishing 75km at SaintéLyon through a cold night and frozen trails. They followed the planned pace and fueling strategy, then met family near the finish in an emotional moment.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Je prends le temps de me concentrer un peu, ou d’essayer de faire le vide.

Read the original on Mangeurdecailloux.com
PatriceRan in 2011 · Finish time 8h20m
“I'm glad I finally finished this SaintéLyon in 8 hours 20 minutes!”

Patrice struggled with rain and mud at SaintéLyon but got going again after changing wet clothes and socks. He endured cramps and fatigue to finish in 8 hours 20 minutes.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Content d’être finisher de cette SaintéLyon en 8h20 au final !

Read the original on U Run

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

AFTERMOVIE | Asics SaintéLyon 2025

Extra Sports

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter SainteLyon — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2025 edition
Next edition entry

Entry dates for the next edition haven't been announced yet

We'll fill this in once the official entry rules are out.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

SainteLyon course map and elevation

The 160km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2025 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 23:30

The start time and cut-off follow the official announcement (checked Aug 3, 2026) — re-check on the official page before entering.

EventStart
Ultra80km23:30
START

Parc des Expositions, 31 boulevard Jules Janin

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon

Finish · Google Maps

Cut-off
80 km: 17 km 04:00 · 32 km 07:00 · 48 km 09:30 · 60 km 12:00 · 67 km 13:30 · 82 km (Lyon) 16:00

Start line is located in Saint-Étienne, and the start time is 11:30 p.m. local time.

Course is a point-to-point course with a different start and finish.

Elevation gain
1950 m
Field size
80 km: approximately 8,000 runners (6–7 waves)
Typical race-season temperature: around 6°C (42°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your SainteLyon race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Bib is collected during race week at Halle Tony Garnier in Lyon by reserving a collection time slot in the registration area.
For the 20,000-participant night trail race, check the detailed 2026 schedule in your registration account.

Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon

Packet Pickup·race village

Google MapsDirections
Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Shuttle departure point in Lyon: Avenue Tony Garnier - reachable via Tram T1 (Halle Tony Garnier stop), Metro Line B (Debourg stop), or buses C22/60 from Perrache

Race starts at midnight from Parc des Expositions in Saint-Étienne.

Runners are encouraged to take the train to Saint-Étienne,

or use organizer shuttle buses from Lyon (Avenue Tony Garnier) departing 4:00-7:30 PM to the Saint-Étienne start.

City listed as Saint-Étienne (start city) though finish is in Lyon.

Getting to the finish

Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon - same location as the Avenue Tony Garnier shuttle stop (Tram T1/Metro B Debourg)

Point-to-point overnight ultra trail finishing directly in central Lyon at Halle Tony Garnier, well served by Lyon's tram/metro network.

More details

Organizer shuttle buses run from Lyon (Avenue Tony Garnier) to the Saint-Étienne start, 4:00-7:30 PM before the midnight start.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Saint-Errion is France's representative night trail, now in its 72nd year.

It is an all-night race that runs 80km and a cumulative altitude of 1,950m along the ridge of Mont du Lyonnais from Saint-Etienne to Lyon.

In course, singletrack accounts for 65% and paved roads account for 35%.

The start is from Saint-Etienne at 11:30 pm with headlamps on, and finish is Tonly Garnier Hall in Lyon.

Due to the nature of running on mountainous terrain at night in late fall,

the race management informs in advance that there is a high possibility of encountering harsh weather conditions such as snow or strong cold,

so cold and waterproof equipment is considered essential.

In addition to the main event of 80km, shorter events such as the 45km Sainte Express, the 24km Sainte Sprint,

and the 13km Sainte Thetic are also held, and the total number of participants is approximately 20,000.

Times are local to Saint-Étienne. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the SainteLyon start line in Saint-Étienne

Hotels that make race morning easyHotels to rest in right after the finish

7 places

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Distances are straight-line from the finish.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are 46km apart.

Ibis Budget Saint-Étienne Centre Gare Châteaucreux

Hotel · 849m

8.0/10(1434)
View on Booking.com

Terminus Du Forez Saint Etienne Centre Gare Chateaucreux

Hotel · 794m

7.9/10(248)
View on Booking.com

Le Rooftop Loft premium 3 chambres avec terrasse & parking en centre-ville de Saint-Étienne

Accommodation · 915m

9.4/10(28)
View on Booking.com

Suite Évasion Céleste Balnéo et Ciné proche Zénith

Accommodation · 639m

9.0/10(107)
View on Booking.com

Novotel Lyon Centre-Confluence Bord de Saone

Accommodation · 1.5km

8.4/10(3200)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →
View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

24 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Saône River Dinner Cruise by Les Bateaux Lyonnais Hermes II

₩121,045

View on Klook

Saône River Lunch Cruise by Les Bateaux Lyonnais Hermes

₩104,811

View on Klook

Saint-Étienne Airport–City Private Taxi

Fixed rate advance reservation, pickup at the door, check price and reserve

View on Kiwitaxi

Saint-Étienne Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Lyon｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Lyon-Bron Airport

₩186,861

View on Klook

Grenoble–Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport bus transfer service (Flixbus)

₩20,998

View on Klook

Annecy｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Annecy–Haute-Savoie Airport

₩244,736

View on Klook

Lyon Confluence Museum Fast-Track Admission Ticket

₩22,614

View on Klook

ECLIPSO Paris, Life Chronicles VR Experience Ticket

₩45,412

View on Klook

Lyon Old Town & La Presqu'île Half-Day Tour

₩89,284

View on Klook

Geneva Annecy Old Town Half-Day Private Tour

₩1,641,993

View on Klook

Lyon Private Guided Walking Tour (Half Day)

₩64,751

View on Klook
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Saint-Étienne with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Saint-Étienne.

Total cost and budget for SainteLyon

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about SainteLyon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Saint-Étienne runners' room

Frequently asked questions about SainteLyon

FAQ
When does SainteLyon 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sat, November 28, 2026 in Saint-Étienne, France.

What distances does SainteLyon 2026 offer?

Trail. (From the 2025 edition)

What time does SainteLyon 2026 start?

The race starts at 23:30. (From the 2025 edition)

Where does SainteLyon 2026 start?

Parc des Expositions, 31 boulevard Jules Janin. (From the 2025 edition)

Where does SainteLyon 2026 finish?

Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon. (From the 2025 edition)

What are the SainteLyon 2026 cut-off times?

80 km: 17 km 04:00 · 32 km 07:00 · 48 km 09:30 · 60 km 12:00 · 67 km 13:30 · 82 km (Lyon) 16:00.

(From the 2025 edition)

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