LE 1000 DU SUD 2026 ON OPENRUNNER
ROUTE SHEET (English version - Streckenplan in Englisch) - available later
GPX FILES - available later
PHOTO CONTROL PLACES - available later
The 17th edition is the southernmost route in the entire history of Le 1000 du Sud (the Ubaye Valley is the northernmost part). We visit eastern Var, Alpes-Maritimes, Liguria, Piedmont, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and Drôme. The landscapes are very varied: mid- and high-altitude mountains, plateaus, and even the coast. The route is 100% paved. We enjoy taking (very) small roads. Some of them might surprise you.
The 2026 route is inspired by the 2019 edition, one of the toughest in the history of Le 1000 du Sud (13 finishers, including 8 in under 100 hours, out of 37 participants). We have tried to maintain the overall structure while smoothing it out in some areas. In its revised version, this Franco-Italian challenge features 19,000 meters of elevation gain (compared to 20,900 in 2019). The difficulties are distributed very unevenly:
First, 175 kilometers of moderate difficulty, leading to the Var Valley;
Then, an impressive section of medium altitude, approximately 320 km in "mounta cala" style, in the southeastern part of the French and Italian Maritime Alps (ending in Borgo San Dalmazzo);
Followed by about forty kilometers of gentle uphill terrain in the Stura Valley;
Then come the two major mountain passes, Lombarde and Bonette (without the Summit): 3,350 meters of elevation gain over 100 km (from km 540, Vinadio, to km 640, Jausiers);
The last 360 kilometers (from Barcelonnette), in Haute Provence, offer moderate difficulty.
The 2026 edition may seem slightly less demanding than the 2019 edition, due to the removal of some particularly challenging climbs (Perinaldo via Dolceacqua; Monte Ceppo; Passo di Teglia, Colle di Casotto, Prato Nevoso, Madonna del Colletto, Col de Pontis, Saint-Apollinaire, Col de Moissière). The Col de Turini and the summit of the Bonette have also been removed from the route. Nevertheless:
Don't focus solely on the Lombarde and the Bonette to the point of underestimating the 320 km that traverse the hinterland of Nice, Liguria, and Piedmont: a succession of climbs and descents, sometimes quite steep, on roads that are often very narrow and not very smooth – accept that this will take time.
Don't panic if your average speed drops below the critical 10 km/h mark and the dreaded tortoise catches up with you. The final 360km section of the 1000km route, after Barcelonnette, offers an opportunity to make up some time. First, the route descends the Ubaye valley, and then the slopes of Haute Provence are gentler than those of the Maritime Alps.
August 2026 modifications :
The route has been modified between Monasterolo Casotto and the Stura di Demonte valley to bypass the built-up areas of Mondovì and Cuneo. Staying true to the spirit of Le 1000 du Sud, we opted for the foothills of the Ligurian Alps rather than the Piedmont plain, albeit with a slight increase in elevation gain.
Since this initial change shortened the route, we extended the section between Le Lauzet-Ubaye and Monêtier-Allemont (south of Gap). We leave the Durance valley to cross the Digne Prealps. This adds elevation gain but also offers greater interest (the Col des Garcinets was previously used on Le 1000 du Sud in 2014, in the opposite direction).
To compensate, we removed the climb to Coursegoules; Le 1000 du Sud has passed through Coursegoules several times in the past editions (coming from Haut Thorenc). Crossing the Caussols Plateau allows us to continue via the Gorges du Loup, followed by the mid-altitude corniche road between Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Carros-Village. This lower-lying area is more developed yet picturesque, with secondary roads that allow us to avoid traffic.