Trail Verbier St Bernard by UTMB
Trail Verbier St Bernard by UTMB – Verbier X-Plore
Verbier
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The Verbier X-Plore is the short-course option at Trail Verbier St Bernard by UTMB, a compact but genuinely alpine loop that starts and finishes in the Swiss resort of Verbier. Over 28 km it packs in 1629 m of climbing and reaches a high point of 2727 m, sampling the high balcony terrain of the Val de Bagnes without committing runners to an all-day effort. Don't let the modest distance fool you: with three crew-accessible checkpoints and a route that spends much of its length above 2000 m, this is a real mountain race in miniature. It suits runners who want a fast, scenic day out on classic Verbier trails, and it rewards anyone who can climb steadily and descend with control on genuine alpine footing.
The course: a high loop above Verbier
The X-Plore starts in Verbier at 1484 m and climbs to its first checkpoint at Savoleyres, 9.7 km in at 2335 m, a sustained ascent of more than 850 m that sets the tone for the day. From Savoleyres the route works across high terrain toward La Chaux at 21.4 km (2265 m), and it is on this central section that the course reaches its 2727 m high point. From La Chaux it is a 6.6 km descent back to the finish in Verbier at 1487 m. With only 28 km on the clock but 1629 m of gain, the profile is dominated by two long stretches of altitude rather than a series of short bumps. Runners spend the middle of the race up high, moving between Savoleyres and La Chaux across the sort of open alpine ground that gives the Verbier St Bernard event its reputation. The start and finish share the same town, making this an easy loop to reconnoitre and a friendly one for crew.
Where it is won or lost: the climb to Savoleyres and the high point
The opening 9.7 km to Savoleyres is the defining effort of the race. Gaining over 850 m from the Verbier start, it is long enough to punish anyone who goes out too fast and decisive enough that arriving at Savoleyres already cooked leaves little in reserve for the high section that follows. Treat it as a controlled climb, not a race within the race, and save your matches for later. The second key zone is the traverse from Savoleyres to La Chaux, where the course tops out at 2727 m before the final descent. This is the highest and most exposed part of the route, and holding a steady rhythm here while managing footing at altitude is what separates a smooth day from a struggle. Once over the top, the 6.6 km drop from La Chaux (2265 m) to Verbier (1487 m) is where a controlled descender can make up real time, provided the quads have been looked after on the way up.
Pacing and fuelling to the cut-offs
There are two cut-offs to plan around: Savoleyres at 9.7 km closes at 11:10 on Sunday, and La Chaux at 21.4 km closes at 14:00. Both checkpoints, along with the Verbier start and finish, are crew points, so you can plan resupply and support around them. The Savoleyres cut-off is effectively a gate on the opening climb, so runners who pace that ascent sensibly should pass it with room to spare; the La Chaux limit gives just under three hours to cover the high traverse in between. For a race of this length, a light but disciplined fuelling plan works best. Carry enough to cover the roughly 12 km between Savoleyres and La Chaux, the longest gap between aid, and top up fluids at each crew point. Because so much of the course sits above 2000 m, factor in that the effort of climbing at altitude burns through energy faster than the distance suggests, and keep eating and drinking on the high section even when appetite fades.
Conditions to expect
This is high alpine Valais terrain, and even in summer the weather at 2700 m can swing quickly from warm sun to cold wind, cloud or rain. The exposed high point between Savoleyres and La Chaux is where conditions bite hardest, so carry the mandatory windproof and warm layers and be ready to use them even on a day that starts fair down in Verbier. Mountain weather here is not to be taken lightly just because the race is short. Underfoot, expect classic Swiss mountain trail: steep, sometimes rocky climbs and descents that demand secure footing rather than raw speed. The 850 m climb to Savoleyres and the drop from La Chaux both reward runners comfortable on technical alpine ground. With a same-town start and finish and generous cut-offs, the X-Plore is an accessible introduction to the Verbier St Bernard courses, but it should be respected as the genuine mountain outing it is.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 1484 m · —
9.7 km · 2335 m · Sun 11:10
21.4 km · 2265 m · Sun 14:00
28 km · 1487 m · —
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