What's New
The 15th edition of the adidas Terrex Maxi-Race
In 2026, it will be the 15th edition of the adidas TERREX MaXi-Race (there was no race in 2020 due to COVID). For this 15th edition, the municipalities and organizers have worked together to offer you a unique course that’s better suited to the weather conditions, which change from year to year. Indeed, in recent years, extreme heat has impacted the “ Race ,” and late-afternoon thunderstorms have often forced us to switch to “alternate routes.” In collaboration with local authorities and alpine pasture owners, we have therefore completely redesigned the course. The goal is to provide shaded areas during the hottest parts of the day and areas that are easier to secure as the day draws to a close. Of course, we’ve kept iconic sections with views of Mont Blanc, the lake, and the mountains at sunrise and sunset!
We’re in the final stages of completing this project; we just have a few details left to iron out. These trails will let you explore the lake in a way no one
has seen it since 2011, when MaXi was born!
What we can tell you already is that the event will take a different route than it did in the first 15 years. The contour lines are on the website, but don’t look for the GPX tracks—we’ll keep them under wraps for as long as possible…
CONTENTS
Click on one of the new features below to learn more:
- The event will run in the opposite direction
- The layout of MaXi-Village will change again in 2026
- The Shokz-Race is evolving and becoming the Shokz-Demi Tour, which starts in Doussard
- The Marathon-eXpérience is evolving: the 2026 edition will be a loop course
- Activities at Refueling Station C
- Refueling Zone A of the Tour du Lac will be completely closed
- The Quarter Tour will be a “negative trail”
The event will run in the opposite direction
This is the big change. This year, the Tour du Lac will follow a route in the opposite direction from previous editions—that is, clockwise. This decision stems from several factors observed during recent editions, including changing weather conditions (extreme heat, thunderstorms, etc.). As a result, local authorities, various regional stakeholders, and the organizers of the adidas TERREX MaXi-Race have worked together to design a new course that, among other things, includes shaded areas during the hottest parts of the day and sections that are easier to secure toward the end of the day—when thunderstorms are common— while retaining the race’s iconic sections offering views of Mont Blanc, the lake, and the mountains at sunrise and sunset.
For all races, the final mountain to climb will be the Semnoz, offering a 360° view (the Mont Blanc range, La Tournette, Lake Bourget, and more).
- The first mountain to climb will therefore be the Veyrier Massif; the routes will be adapted to accommodate the fact that we’ll be crossing it at night and during the initial phase of the race (route kept secret).
- For most of you, the sunrise will be viewed from a spot with a magical panoramic view.
- A few kilometers from the finish line, just before the last aid station, you’ll enjoy a 360° view, followed by a descent to the lakeshore, where you’ll reach the finish line.
New MaXi-Village location at the Marquisats parking lot
Following constructive discussions with certain elected officials from the city of Annecy, we were able to identify a new, suitable location for the MaXi-Village.
The MaXi-Village will be located in the Marquisats parking lot.
Please note that the few parking lots in this area fill up very quickly, which is why we advise against coming by car. The organizers will provide special shuttle buses from park-and-ride facilities located outside the city. We are currently determining which parking lots these will be. The first one we have identified is at the Parc des Sports in Annecy; we will add more as we receive confirmation.
The Shokz-Race is evolving into the Shokz-Demi Tour, which starts in Doussard
The Shokz-Demi Tour will start in Doussard and cover between 52 and 57 km, with between 3,000 and 3,500 m of elevation gain. The course will reach an altitude of 1,650 m, passing by a viewpoint that’s as magical as ever! A minimum Betrail
score of 43 points is required to register.
The marathon experience is evolving; the 2026 edition will be a loop course
The Marathon-eXpérience will cover a distance of 38 to 42 km, starting and finishing in Annecy (a loop course). This helps reduce the number of bus and car trips during the event. The route will take runners to an iconic viewpoint at an altitude of over 1,500 meters.
Activities at the Semnoz C Refueling Station
Refreshment Area C at Semnoz will feature children's games and other activities.
A private shuttle bus will be provided from Annecy to this area.
Refueling Zone A (secret) of the Tour du Lac will be completely closed
The first aid station along the Tour du Lac route will be completely off-limits to assistants, support staff, spectators, and relay runners (except for those who are finishing or taking over their leg at that location). Vehicles (other than those belonging to the organizers) will not be permitted. Relay runners taking over or finishing their leg must take the bus between Annecy and this point. This Zone A will remain confidential for as long as possible.
The Quart de tOur will be a “Negative Trail”
In 2026, the “ Quart de tOur du lac ” will be given a special designation: “Négatif Trail,” since the course will be mostly downhill. The concept was tested and approved several years ago, so let’s meet up in May to rediscover this type of Race.