Trail des Pyramides Noires

An 11th edition under the heat

The 2026 edition of the Trail des Pyramides Noires took place on May 8 and 9 under demanding conditions, marked by significant heat on most of the courses. With 2,141 runners actually at the start out of 2,501 registered, the event confirms its status as the largest trail in Northern France and the regional network of its starts (Auchel, Noeux-les-Mines, Liévin, Oignies), all oriented towards a common finish at the 9-9bis site.

The 123 km ultra: a 4-second finish

The 123 km race, which started from Auchel on Friday, May 8 at 11 PM, delivered an epic finish: Xavier Chaussoy won in 12 h 26'14", beating Ricky Hannecart by only 4 seconds. Victorien Renault completed the podium in 13 h 37'. On the women's side, Céline Dubreux won the event in 17 h 53', ahead of Audrey Albicocco (18 h 35') and Aurélie Pottiez (18 h 43'). Only 16 women were at the start of the 123 km, 9 of whom reached the 9-9bis.

Five other timed formats

In the 70 km race (start Noeux-les-Mines, 13 slag heaps, 1,000 m D+), 225 runners finished, with Mathieu Buirette winning ahead of Fabrice Grindel and Clément Proot. The 46 km race (start Liévin, 9 slag heaps, 550 m D+) gathered 359 finishers, with Madani Iadadaine as the winner, followed by Pierre Maleszka and Etienne Lery. The 23 km race saw 557 finishers, dominated by Valentin Visez, Joaquim Crespo, and Maxime Delcourt. Finally, the 10 km race (2 slag heaps, 100 m D+) brought together 571 finishers, with Léo Himmesoete on the top step, ahead of Tommy Dewitte and Mathieu Demuynck.

Relays and hiking

The event also offered relay formats (4 teams on 115/123 km, 11 on 70 km, 8 on 46 km) as well as a 23 km Nordic walking event, which gathered 178 walkers on the same route as the discovery trail. The overall distribution of participants was 64% men and 36% women.

An inclusive event

Muriel Hurtis, former European athletics champion, participated as godmother of the “accessible to all” project led by the Mission Bassin Minier, highlighting the solidarity and inclusive dimension of the weekend.

Friday, May 8, 2026

• 11:00 PM — Start of 123 km from Auchel (23 slag heaps, 1,800 m D+)

Saturday, May 9, 2026

• 7:00 AM — Start of 70 km from Noeux-les-Mines (13 slag heaps, 1,000 m D+)
• 9:00 AM — Start of 46 km from Liévin (9 slag heaps, 550 m D+)
• 10:30 AM — Start of 23 km from the 9-9bis site (4 slag heaps, 300 m D+)
• 11:00 AM — Start of 23 km Nordic walking (same route as the discovery trail)
• 4:00 PM — Start of 10 km from the 9-9bis site (2 slag heaps, 100 m D+)
• Trail des Galibots (1.5 km children's race) during the day

All finishes were judged at the 9-9bis site in Oignies. Relay formats (115/123 km, 70 km, 46 km) followed the same schedules as the corresponding individual races.

• 2,141 runners at the start for 2,501 registered, across six timed formats and one hike.
• 123 km Ultra won by Xavier Chaussoy in 12 h 26'14", with only a 4-second gap over the 2nd place (Ricky Hannecart).
• Céline Dubreux victorious in the women's 123 km in 17 h 53'.
• Muriel Hurtis, former European athletics champion, godmother of the inclusive project “accessible to all”.
• Four starting towns (Auchel, Noeux-les-Mines, Liévin, Oignies) for a common finish at 9-9bis, a UNESCO heritage site.

Access to the 9-9bis site

The Trail des Pyramides Noires starts and finishes at the 9-9bis site, Chemin du Tordoir, 62590 Oignies. This historic site, where coal was discovered in 1842, is easily accessible from the major cities in the region.

• By car: From Lille (30 min), take the A1 exit 17 Carvin then follow signs for Oignies via the D39. From Lens (15 min), take the D39 towards Oignies. From Arras (30 min), take the A26 then A21 towards Lens and D39. Marked parking lots are available near the site on race day. It is recommended to arrive early as spaces fill up quickly.
• By train: Oignies station on the TER Lens-Lille-Flandres line, then a 15-minute walk to the 9-9bis site following the signs. Lens station (TGV to Paris in 1h10) also allows you to reach Oignies by TER connection.
• By carpooling: A carpooling system is usually offered by the organization on the official website.

Registration and bibs

Registration is exclusively online on the Adeorun platform: trail-des-pyramides-noires.adeorun.com. Places are limited and registration usually opens in December for the following May edition. It is advisable to register quickly as some distances sell out within weeks. Bib collection takes place the day before the race (Friday afternoon) and on the morning of the race at the 9-9bis site. A medical certificate of non-contraindication to competitive running, less than a year old, or a valid FFA/FFTRI license is mandatory for all distances.

Indicative prices

• 10 km: approximately €15
• 23 km trail or Nordic walk: approximately €25
• 46 km: approximately €40
• 70 km: approximately €55
• 115 km: approximately €80
• Trail des Galibots (1.5 km children): free

Refreshments and catering

Solid and liquid refreshments are available along the routes at regular intervals. The start/finish village at 9-9bis offers full catering, a refreshment bar, and a relaxation area for runners and companions. Showers are available on site after the race.

Mandatory equipment

Minimum equipment is mandatory depending on the distance: reusable cup or water bottle, charged mobile phone, survival blanket for long distances. The complete list is provided upon registration.

Contact

Official website: traildespyramidesnoires.com

Facebook: Trail des Pyramides Noires