Asics SaintéLyon
SaintéLyon 78 km
Saint-Étienne → Lyon
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The SaintéLyon is one of Europe's most iconic night ultramarathons, running 78 km point-to-point from the heart of Saint-Étienne to Lyon's Halle Tony Garnier. With 1,965 m of cumulative ascent and a high point of 924 m, the race crosses the Monts du Lyonnais in darkness, demanding solid navigation skills, reliable lighting, and the mental fortitude to keep moving through the early hours. The start in Saint-Étienne sits at 493 m and the finish in Lyon at just 171 m, so the overall profile trends downward — but the route earns its elevation through a series of rolling climbs and descents in the middle third that can destroy unprepared legs before dawn even breaks. The race is run overnight, typically starting on Saturday evening and finishing on Sunday, with the overall cut-off at 16:00 on Sunday giving a generous window of up to 16 hours for back-of-pack runners. That said, intermediate cut-offs at each checkpoint tighten the margins progressively, so understanding the timing requirements at each of the six checkpoints is essential for anyone chasing a finish rather than a podium.
Course & Terrain
The route travels northeast from Saint-Étienne through the rural ridgelines and villages of the Monts du Lyonnais before descending into the Rhône valley and entering Lyon from the south. The terrain is predominantly trail and forest track in the first half, transitioning to more mixed surfaces — including road sections — as the course drops toward Soucieu-en-Jarrest at 56 km and beyond. Footing can be technical on wet descents in the hills, and in November conditions expect mud, roots, and slick grass on the climbs. From Saint-Étienne (493 m) to Saint-Christo-en-Jarez at 17 km (669 m), the course climbs steadily into the hills. The section from Saint-Christo-en-Jarez through to Sainte-Catherine (31 km, 700 m) and on to Saint-Genou / Le Camp (44 km, 665 m) represents the heart of the race — a rolling high-altitude passage around 650–700 m that accounts for the bulk of the total elevation and is run entirely in darkness. After Le Camp the route descends significantly, dropping nearly 300 m to Soucieu-en-Jarrest at 56 km, before a flatter, more urban final 22 km into Lyon.
Decisive Climbs & Where the Race Is Won or Lost
Despite the net downhill profile, the section between km 17 and km 44 is where races unravel. The sustained climbing to the high point of 924 m — reached somewhere in this central block — demands a conservative approach in the opening hours. Runners who chase the early pace on the climb out of Saint-Étienne often find themselves cramping or fading badly on the long descent toward Soucieu-en-Jarrest, which at 56 km is still 22 km from the finish. The descent from the Le Camp area (665 m at km 44) down to Soucieu (378 m at km 56) is a 12 km quad-burner that rewards runners who have protected their legs on the climbs. Once through Chaponost at 66 km (318 m), the final 12 km into Lyon is relatively flat and runnable — but if your legs are already spent, this section will feel very long. Mentally, the stretch between km 31 and km 44, run deep in the night, is where the race is decided for most participants.
Pacing & Cut-Off Strategy
The cut-off structure gives you a clear framework for pacing. From the start to Saint-Christo-en-Jarez (17 km) by 04:00 Sunday means you need to cover the opening 17 km within whatever time has elapsed since Saturday's start — factor in your actual start time carefully. From Saint-Christo-en-Jarez to Sainte-Catherine (14 km) you have until 06:30, and on to Le Camp (13 km more) by 09:00. These intermediate splits demand a consistent pace of roughly 4–5 km/h including stops to remain comfortably inside the cut-offs. From Le Camp to Soucieu-en-Jarrest (12 km) by 11:45 and Chaponost (10 km further) by 13:00 — note the tight 75-minute window between these last two checkpoints, which requires you to be moving well on the descent. The finish cut-off at Lyon is 16:00 Sunday. Plan your checkpoint time aggressively: the gaps between cut-offs leave little room for prolonged stops, especially in the central mountain section. Aim to arrive at each checkpoint at least 30 minutes before the cut-off to absorb any late-race slowdown.
Fuelling & Kit
With the only designated crew point at the finish (Lyon - Halle Tony Garnier), you are largely self-sufficient between checkpoints for the entire 78 km. Checkpoints at Saint-Christo-en-Jarez, Sainte-Catherine, Le Camp, Soucieu-en-Jarrest, and Chaponost will offer race-provided nutrition, but confirm the specifics with the organiser closer to race day. Carry sufficient calories to cover the longest gap between checkpoints — the 17 km opening leg and the 14 km middle sections — without relying solely on aid station food. A minimum of two headtorches (primary and backup) is non-negotiable for a race run entirely in November darkness. Expect temperatures between 0°C and 8°C in the hills, with wind chill on exposed ridgelines near the 924 m high point. Waterproof jacket, gloves, and a buff are essential layers. Poles are permitted and can be valuable on the muddy climbs to Saint-Christo and through the central mountain section, though the runnable final descent and urban approach to Lyon make them more of a hindrance once past Soucieu.
Conditions to Expect
The SaintéLyon is held in late November or early December, meaning the entire race is run in the dark and temperatures in the Monts du Lyonnais regularly drop below 5°C. Rain, mud, and occasionally frost or light snow are all realistic possibilities on the higher terrain above 700 m. The trail surface between Saint-Étienne and Le Camp can be very slick after autumn rainfall, making traction a priority — trail shoes with aggressive lugs are strongly recommended over road or hybrid options. Visibility conditions in the hills can change rapidly, with mist and low cloud common on the higher ridgelines. The urban approach into Lyon in the final 10–12 km is well-lit and typically on harder surfaces, so the lighting and traction demands ease off in the closing stages. Wind exposure is most significant around the high point of 924 m and the ridgeline running through Sainte-Catherine, so an outer layer that packs small is worth carrying even if the start feels mild.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 493 m · —
19 km · 774 m · 9h30 elapsed limit is later; barriere 4h30
34 km · 772 m · barriere 7h00
45 km · 627 m · barriere 9h30
58 km · 358 m · barriere 12h15
65 km · 310 m · barriere 13h30
78 km · 171 m · barriere 16h30
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