L’Expérience Grande Traversée Volcanic XGTV

About the Event

The Expérience Grande Traversée Volcanique (XGTV) 2026 is an extraordinary ultra-endurance race taking place from Wednesday, May 13 to Friday, May 15, 2026. This journey through the heart of the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Natural Park—a UNESCO World Heritage site—offers a complete crossing of France's most iconic volcanic landscapes. Designed as an adventure race, it requires significant mental commitment and strong navigation skills, as participants progress primarily using a GPX track and the marking of Grande Randonnée (GR) trails.

Feature	Event Details
Distance & Elevation	224 km / 8,400 m D+ / 9,050 m D-
Start Location	Le Lioran Station (Cantal)
Time Limit	62 hours
Format	Solo or Inseparable Duo

Auvergne is a historic region in central France, situated in the heart of the Massif Central. The department of Puy-de-Dôme, where the finish line is located in Volvic, has approximately 660,000 residents, while Cantal (the start) is more rural with about 144,000 residents. The local population is deeply attached to mountain traditions and pastoralism. The median annual household income in the region is approximately €22,000. Geographically, the route crosses five major volcanic territories: the Monts Dômes, Monts Dore, Cézallier, Cantal, and Artense. The mid-mountain climate in mid-May is unpredictable; average temperatures at 1,000m altitude range between 5°C and 15°C, but winter conditions (snow, frost) or violent thunderstorms are frequent on the ridges.

Registration for this adventure requires strict prerequisites, notably having completed at least one ultra-trail or raid of over 24 hours between 2023 and 2025. The organization ensures rigorous monitoring via GPS beacons and provides a medical base as well as four life bases with hot meals and physiotherapy services. Bib collection takes place in Volvic on Tuesday, May 12, followed by a train transfer to the starting line at Le Lioran. For any assistance or information regarding the regulations, runners can contact the Volvic Volcanic Association at +33 06 15 93 07 89 or by email at [email protected].

Races Offered

224 km Duo

May 13, 2026

straighten

Distance — 224K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

10:00

sell

€560.00

224 km Solo

May 13, 2026

straighten

Distance — 224K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

10:00

sell

€290.00

110 km Duo

May 15, 2026

straighten

Distance — 110K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

04:00

sell

€144.00

110 km Solo

May 15, 2026

straighten

Distance — 110K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

04:00

sell

€134.00

Weather Overview

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for May in Le Lioran.

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

thermostat 5.7° / 13.2°

wb_sunny 2.6° / 9.9°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 11.1 /

water_drop 81.8%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 5.7° / 13.2°

wb_sunny 2.6° / 9.9°

air 11.1 km/h

water_drop 81.8%

About Le Lioran

Learn more about the host city, Le Lioran.

Le Lioran is a small mountain resort in the heart of continental France. It consists of the original settlement of Le Lioran in the valley bottom as well as the settlements of Prairie de Sagnes, Font d'Alagon, Font de Cère, and Prat de Bouc, all of which are geared towards the mountain tourism market. The largest of these is the Prairie de Sagnes, now known as Super-Lioran; most facilities and accommodation are concentrated there. One of the few remaining resorts in central France, it has grown to become one of the biggest and most advanced resorts in the Massif Central. There is a wide range of sporting and leisure activities on offer in addition to the more traditional winter sports and the wealth of lodging and other services available. There is a heavy emphasis on the all year round nature of the resort, although, inevitably, the resort is busiest in the winter season.