Participants run on the beaches of the Opal Coast - Trail Opal Coast

  • The biggest race in Hauts-de-France, the Côte d'Opale trail should take place on September 12 and 13.
  • Even if the sanitary context forced the organizers to modify several things on the course.

For many trail runners, it is a real relief. While its 2020 edition was seriously threatened due to the Covid crisis, the Côte d'Opale trail should take place on September 12 and 13. Unless there is a second wave of the epidemic, the largest trail in the North of France with its 7,000 runners (3,500 per day) and its 300,000 euros budget, will be one of the few sporting events that will be successful in a completely upset 2020 sports calendar.

“Many people thanked us when we announced the news on social media. It is a relief and it is important because people need to cheer up a bit right now. We had no visibility for a long time before working on a modular project for the race to take place. The fact that we were positioned in September on the calendar helped us, ”says Franck Viandier, founder and organizer of the Côte d'Opale trail.

No more departure on Wissant beach

A bet in the process of being successful even if this 14th edition will not be like any other. Due to the new health rules, many changes will take place on the course. Starting with the places of departure and arrival.

Installed for more than ten years in the heart of the village of Wissant, the race will leave the seaside resort to take up its new quarters at the Ferme de l'Horloge, a country golf course located in the town of Tardinghen. 'arrival almost 30 times larger than the place of Wissant which was often crowded. This immense site will serve as a welcome, departure and arrival base, ”explains Franck Viandier.

Back to basics

Also ended the big start on the beach with all the runners. “There will be wave starting systems. We will start 150 runners every ten minutes. There will be no agglutination or departure on the beach even if the traileurs will run on it after a few kilometers ”, continues the organizer.

As for supplies, if we can still refresh ourselves, there is no question of finding something to eat there to avoid regrouping. “It's a bit of a new event that will mix new things but also autonomy that will confront trail runners with nature. This is also why we called it Spirit Edition, ”says Viandier. A return to the sources which should delight the purists for this 2020 vintage really like no other.

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  • Covid 19
  • Deconfinement
  • Coronavirus
  • Race
  • Nature
  • Lille
  • Trail