Saint-Étienne, FRA ·
28 Nov - Nov 29, 2026
The legendary nocturnal crossing of the Monts du Lyonnais, 82 km through mud, cold and darkness from Saint-Étienne to Lyon
One of the oldest endurance races in France, the SaintéLyon is a nocturnal trail that links Saint-Étienne to Lyon across the Monts du Lyonnais every winter. With 20,000 runners braving the cold, the mud and the night, it has become one of the most iconic trail events in Europe. Multiple distances from 13 km to the 164 km LyonSaintéLyon ultra offer a challenge for every level.
The SaintéLyon is a true institution of French trail running. Born in the 1950s as a winter hiking event and officially a running race since 1977, it is considered the dean of nature races in France. Every year at the end of November, up to 20,000 runners set off from Saint-Étienne into the night, headlamps blazing, for a nocturnal crossing of the Monts du Lyonnais that ends in the heart of Lyon at daybreak.
The course covers 82 km with 2,040 m of elevation gain through a rolling landscape that alternates between forest trails and rural roads. While the terrain may lack the high peaks of alpine races, the Monts du Lyonnais demand their own brand of resilience: sticky mud that swallows shoes, icy winds sweeping across the ridges, and the relentless cold of a winter night spent on the move. Fog, rain, snow or frost can transform the course into a true survival challenge, making every finish a personal victory.
Beyond the flagship 82 km solo, the festival offers distances for all ambitions: the SaintéTic (13 km), SaintéSprint (24 km), SaintExpress (44 km), relay formats on the main course and the formidable LyonSaintéLyon ultra covering 164 km with 4,400 m of elevation gain. The SaintéLyon is more than a race; it is a shared rite of passage, a winter night woven from effort, solidarity and the glow of thousands of headlamps cutting through the darkness.