Trail de la Noire Roche

The Trail de la Noire Roche is a trail race held in Ventron, a small village in the Vosges mountains of north-eastern France, at the foot of the ridges that separate Lorraine from Alsace. It is run by US Ventron, a club with deep roots in skiing and mountain sports that had to reinvent itself after its ski area closed and snow became scarce. The race revives an old summer tradition of the club, the Course du Grand Tétras, which was held in the 2000s before disappearing. The project is led by Antoine Gerard, a local who has been a club member since the age of six, a former French national team cross-country skier and a two-time Olympian, who now organises trail running events. The first edition, in 2026, drew around 500 runners.

The long course, Le Tour de Ventron, covers 35 km with 1,500 m of elevation gain and starts at 9 am. As the name suggests, it loops around the village from one side of the valley to the other. Runners tackle the Stations of the Cross path straight away, reach the northern slopes via the Col d'Oderen and arrive at the Orbi viewpoint, which looks out over much of the route still to come. After a first full aid station at Le Gros Pré (km 12), the course drops back to the village centre (km 21.5), then climbs again past the Ferme du Riant for the final big ascent to the top of the Frère Joseph ski area, the highest point of the day. The route is varied and includes plenty of technical sections.

The short course, La Trace des Skieurs, offers 15 km and 650 m of climbing, starting at 10 am. Demanding in its first part, it climbs in three stages to the top of Frère Joseph, then runs through the heart of the former ski area, past the ski jump, the cross-country trails and the downhill slopes. Two light aid stations are set up along the way, at the Ferme du Riant (km 5) and at Frère Joseph (km 10). Suitable for regular runners, it is a good way to discover Le Véternat and its skiing landmarks without taking on the full loop.

On the 35 km, two cut-offs apply: 4 h 30 of racing when passing through the village and 6 hours at the Ferme du Riant. Mandatory kit includes a survival blanket, at least 500 ml of water, a personal cup and a charged mobile phone, plus a hooded waterproof jacket for the long course. Both routes follow Vosges footpaths, alternating between woodland and open viewpoints over both sides of the valley.

The race village is set up around Ventron's festival hall on Chemin du Plain, which hosts registration, the start and the finish. Bib collection, with a timing chip attached, opens early in the morning, and a briefing is held before each start. The afternoon belongs to the youngest runners with the Mini TNR children's races, run in three waves, followed by the prize-giving. Entries are capped at 800, and the race takes place in early May, in a village-festival atmosphere driven by many volunteers.