La Course Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau
Run on the highest bridge in Europe above the Tarn
2026
About Course du Viaduc
The Course Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau in Aveyron offers the unique opportunity to walk across the Millau Viaduct, the architectural masterpiece designed by Norman Foster and built by Eiffage, while the A75 motorway is closed to traffic. Established in 2007, the race takes place every two years, covering 23.7 km with a 390 m elevation gain. The route runs from Millau's town center to the Parc de la Victoire, crossing the bridge deck 270 meters above the Tarn valley. Each edition attracts thousands of runners from France and abroad; in 2024, there were 9,000 participants representing 64 nationalities, 37.5% of whom were women.
Course du Viaduc — edition 2026
The 8th edition of the Course Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau in Aveyron will take place on Sunday, September 13, 2026. There is a single race distance: 23.7 km with 390 m of elevation gain, running from the Boulevard de l'Ayrolle to the Parc de la Victoire. The route includes a 4,920 m round trip across the viaduct deck, 270 meters above the Tarn, on the A75 motorway which is closed to traffic for the occasion. The 12.8 km race introduced in 2024 to mark the bridge's 20th anniversary will not be held this year. The first wave starts at 9:00 AM, and the last at 9:30 AM. Former Olympic race walker Gabriel Bordier is the event's patron, and organizers expect nearly 10,000 runners. Online registration opened on January 6, 2026, and will remain open until September 10.
8th edition, Sunday, September 13, 2026
The Course Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau in Aveyron returns on Sunday, September 13, 2026, two years after the last event on September 22, 2024. The race is held biennially: the organization's press release from March 9, 2026, summarizes the first seven editions held on May 13, 2007, May 13, 2012, May 18, 2014, May 24, 2016, May 27, 2018, May 22, 2022, and September 22, 2024. The edition originally planned for 2020 was postponed to 2022.
A single distance for 2026
The 12.8 km race added in 2024 for the viaduct's 20th anniversary has been dropped. All runners will follow the same 23.7 km route with 390 m of elevation gain, including one kilometer of unpaved trail. The course leaves the Boulevard de l'Ayrolle, follows the Tarn along the Peyre road for five kilometers, climbs in switchbacks beneath the bridge piers via the old northern construction track, joins the deck at the 10th kilometer for a 4,920 m round trip, reaches its high point around the 12.5 km mark, leaves the A75 motorway at km 15.7, and then descends through the foothills of the Causse Rouge to the Parc de la Victoire. Three refreshment stations are set up along the course, with a fourth in the finish area. The time limit is 4 hours.
Registration
Registration opened on January 6, 2026, and is handled exclusively online via the Njuko platform. No bibs are sold at the race village. The capacity is set at 13,000 general public participants and 1,500 Eiffage employees; organizers expect nearly 10,000 runners. The general public entry fee is €48 until September 10, 2026, following the final price increase on July 1. The race is open to anyone born before December 31, 2006, regardless of whether they hold a sports license. Files must be completed by 11:59 PM on September 10, including the FFA's 'Pass Prévention Santé' or a valid sports license: medical certificates are not accepted, and no bibs will be issued without these documents.
On-site
A partner village will be set up at the Parc de la Victoire starting Friday, September 11, featuring exhibitors and entertainment. This is where bibs can be collected on Friday and Saturday. John Blo and Thibaud Chabert will host the event on the microphone. The race is open to para-athletes, with the exception of wheelchair users due to safety reasons related to the course; joëlettes (racing chairs) have their own start wave. Over 900 volunteers will manage the event.
Highlights Course du Viaduc 2026
- 8th edition on Sunday, September 13, 2026, first start at 9:00 AM on Boulevard de l'Ayrolle, last at 9:30 AM
- Single distance: 23.7 km and 390 m of elevation gain, including a 4,920 m round trip on the viaduct deck
- The 12.8 km race created in 2024 for the viaduct's 20th anniversary is not being held
- Gabriel Bordier, former Olympic race walker and two-time Olympian, is the event's patron
- Nearly 10,000 runners expected, with a capacity of 13,000 general public bibs
- Online registration until September 10, 2026, €48 for the general public
- Biennial event: the race only returns every two years
Programme Course du Viaduc 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026 — Parc de la Victoire, Millau
- 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM — Bib collection, Millau town hall, Avenue Charles de Gaulle
- 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM — Exhibitor village, Parc de la Victoire town hall
Saturday, September 12, 2026 — Parc de la Victoire, Millau
- 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM — Bib collection, Millau town hall
- 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM — Exhibitor village
No registration is available at the village: you must be registered online in advance. No bibs are distributed on Sunday.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 — Race Day
- From 7:00 AM — Free bag drop opens at the Parc de la Victoire town hall until 2:30 PM. Allow 20 minutes to walk to the start line.
- Before the start — Warm-up led by coaches in front of the starting pens, Boulevard de l'Ayrolle
Starts, Boulevard de l'Ayrolle (near the wash house, by Place Frédéric Bompaire)
- 9:00 AM — Elite and Preferential Wave
- 9:05 AM — Eiffage Employees Wave
- 9:10 AM — Wave 1
- 9:15 AM — Wave 2
- 9:20 AM — Wave 3
- 9:25 AM — Joëlette Wave
- 9:30 AM — Wave 4
This grid is published by the organizer on their 'Joining the Start Line' page. Their FAQ provides a simplified version with four start times: 9:00 AM for Elites, the Preferential pen, and Wave 1, followed by 9:10, 9:20, and 9:30 AM for Waves 2, 3, and 4. Your wave is assigned with your bib and cannot be changed after registration: check the time in your confirmation email. The Elite pen requires a reference time under 35' for 10 km, 1h20 for a half-marathon, or 2h45 for a marathon for men, and 40' for 10 km, 1h30 for a half-marathon, or 3h00 for a marathon for women.
The Course: 23.7 km, 390 m D+
- km 0 to 5 — Crossing Millau then the Peyre road, along the Tarn, flat section
- km 5 to 10 — Switchback climb under the viaduct piers, on the old northern construction track
- km 10 to 15 — Crossing the deck, 4,920 m round trip 270 m above the Tarn, on the closed A75. High point around km 12.5. A professional photographer will take a picture of every runner on the viaduct.
- km 15 to 15.7 — Exiting the deck and the A75 motorway
- km 15.7 to 23.7 — Descent through the foothills of the Causse Rouge, Rue Montplaisir, then arrival in the alleys of the Parc de la Victoire
Time Barriers
- 11:00 AM — km 8.3, entrance to the motorway rest area, after the first refreshment station
- 11:50 AM — km 12.8, U-turn on the viaduct
- 12:15 PM — km 15.7, exit from the A75 motorway
- 1:30 PM — km 23.7, finish at Parc de la Victoire
Barriers are calculated based on the start of the last wave. Runners who do not pass these points in time will be shuttled back to Millau. The maximum time is 4 hours, an average of 6 km/h. Three refreshment stations with water, gels, and bars are set up on the course, with a fourth after the finish line.
After the finish
- Medal given to every finisher at the finish line
- After the race — Awards ceremony on the Parc de la Victoire podium: top 3 men and women overall, the first man and woman in each FFA category from Espoirs to Masters, and winners of the Club, Corporate, and Number challenges
No showers at the finish. Grandstands are set up for the final meters.
For spectators
The viaduct and motorway are strictly off-limits to anyone other than runners, and roads on the course are closed. Spectators have time to watch the start on Boulevard de l'Ayrolle and then head to the Parc de la Victoire for the finish. Rue Montplaisir, leading to the city center and the park, is the usual viewing spot. In Millau, parking is prohibited in certain sectors starting Thursday, September 10 at 2:00 PM, and traffic is cut off on the course on Sunday from 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with progressive reopening after the race passes.
Prices Course du Viaduc 2026
General public: €48
Students up to 26 years old, with proof of enrollment: €27
Groups of 10 or more runners (clubs, associations): €36 per runner
Full 2026 price list, including taxes, excluding booking fees.
General public: €35 from Jan 6 to Jan 20 (limited to 1,000 entries), €38 from Jan 21 to Mar 31, €43 from Apr 1 to Jun 30, €48 from Jul 1 to Sep 10.
Students: €23, then €25, then €27 during the same periods.
The group rate remained at €36 all year.
Options: cancellation insurance €8, bib mailing €12 (subscription closed since Aug 14).
FFA 'Pass Prévention Santé' (€5, valid for one year) or a valid FFA, FSCF, FSGT, or UFOLEP sports license is mandatory. No medical certificates are accepted. Files must be complete by September 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
Corporate offers for 5+ runners available upon request: [email protected]
Practical information — Course du Viaduc
Practical Information
Getting to Millau
- By car: Via the A75, 230 km from Clermont-Ferrand (approx. 2h25) and 110 km from Montpellier (approx. 1h30). From Toulouse, 205 km via Albi and Rodez (approx. 2h35). From Lyon, 385 km via Clermont-Ferrand (approx. 3h40). The A75 is toll-free, except for the viaduct crossing.
- By train: Millau SNCF station is about 2 km from the historic center. There are no direct TGV trains; the nearest TGV stations are Montpellier-Saint-Roch and Montpellier-Sud de France, 120 km away.
- By bus: Montpellier (Mosson tram station) – Lodève – Millau (bus station) line. FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus provide occasional service to Millau from Paris, Montpellier, Clermont-Ferrand, and Toulouse.
- By plane: Rodez-Aveyron airport is 80 km away (1h15), Montpellier-Méditerranée is 120 km (1h30), and Toulouse-Blagnac is 220 km (2h30), followed by a car rental or regional bus connection.
Bib Collection
Millau Town Hall (Salle des fêtes), Avenue Charles de Gaulle, Parc de la Victoire: Friday from 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. No bib collection on race day. You must present your confirmation email with the QR code, a valid ID, your "Pass Prévention Santé" or a copy of your license, and proof of student status if applicable. A third party may collect your bib by providing these same documents. Bib transfers are strictly prohibited, and there is no official exchange platform.
Registration
Online only at in.njuko.com/cevma-2026. Nothing is sold at the bib collection village. The race is open to both licensed and non-licensed runners. A valid FFA "Pass Prévention Santé" or a valid license from the FFA, FSCF, FSGT, or UFOLEP is mandatory; no medical certificates are accepted.
On-site
Free luggage storage is available at the Salle des fêtes in Parc de la Victoire on race day from 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM; allow 20 minutes to walk to the start line. There are no showers at the finish. Free shuttles serve certain parking areas on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Bus parking: Intermarché when arriving from the north, Millau Hôtel Club from the south.
Traffic and Parking
Parking is prohibited in certain sectors starting the Thursday before the race, and traffic is restricted in the town center from Saturday noon. On Sunday, streets along the route are closed from 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM and reopen as runners pass. The viaduct and motorway are strictly off-limits to anyone other than runners. Spectators have time to watch the start on Boulevard de l'Ayrolle before heading to Parc de la Victoire for the finish; Rue Montplaisir is the traditional viewing spot.
Contact
Contact form available at www.course-eiffage-viaducdemillau.fr, or email [email protected]. Association Course Viaduc Millau Aveyron Organisation, BP 60457, 12104 Millau Cedex. Corporate offers: [email protected].
A race on the world's tallest motorway bridge
The Millau Viaduct is 2,460 meters long and rests on seven piers, the tallest of which reaches 343 meters. It carries the A75 motorway over the Tarn valley. The race was created in 2007 by Eiffage, the company that financed, built, and continues to maintain and operate the structure: it remains the only time the bridge is open to pedestrians.
The inaugural event on May 13, 2007, was intended to be a one-off. It drew 10,500 runners, all starting in a single wave. Due to its massive success, the event returned in 2012 with 13,500 participants divided into four starting waves. Since then, the race has been held biennially: 2014, 2016, 2018, and then 2022 (following the 2020 pandemic postponement), 2024, and 2026. In 2018, it was rebranded as the Course Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau « en Aveyron » and entrusted its logistics to Eco Trail Organisation, now known as Outdoor Sports Experiences. In 2024, to mark the viaduct's 20th anniversary, organizers added a second 12.8 km course with a shuttle return, while high-wire artist Nathan Paulin performed on a slackline 343 meters above the runners. This 12.8 km route was not included in 2026.
The 23.7 km course
The race starts on the Boulevard de l'Ayrolle, near the wash house. The first five kilometers are flat, following the Tarn along the road to Peyre. Then comes the winding climb beneath the piers, using the old construction track once used to transport bridge deck components. Runners reach the viaduct at the ten-kilometer mark for a 4,920-meter round trip, hitting the highest point around km 12.5, exiting the motorway at km 15.7, and descending through the foothills of the Causse Rouge to the paths of the Parc de la Victoire. Three aid stations are located along the route, with a fourth waiting at the finish line. The time limit is 4 hours, with strict time barriers enforced along the way.
An inclusive yet regulated event
The race welcomes both elite athletes and casual runners. It is open to para-athletes, though wheelchairs are prohibited for safety reasons related to the course terrain; joëlettes (specialized all-terrain wheelchairs) have their own starting wave. Walkers are not permitted, as participants must maintain an average speed close to 6 km/h. Poles and backpacks are forbidden, though simple hydration bladders and running belts are allowed. Over 900 volunteers manage the event, and musical groups are stationed along the course.
Millau
A sub-prefecture of the Aveyron department located at the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers, Millau is a hub for outdoor sports: paragliding, rock climbing, canoeing, trail running, and hiking. The town and its viaduct are situated within the Grands Causses Regional Natural Park.
Where does it take place — Course du Viaduc
Course du Viaduc in brief
Other festivals near Millau
Festival-goer reviews
No review yet. Be the first!
No rating yet — be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Have you spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every suggestion is reviewed by our team before publication.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)