L’Atlantic Trail is a new trail race in Loire-Atlantique, connecting Rezé with Pornic on the Atlantic coast. It offers distances from 10 km up to an 80 km main race, providing a venue for both shorter-distance trail runners and long-course participants. Approximately 2,500 runners are anticipated for its inaugural edition, with world trail running champion Erik Clavery serving as the official patron.
The main race begins in Rezé at 4 AM, heading towards Pornic in semi-darkness, with the finish scheduled for sunrise by the coast. The concept is inspired by the former Rezé-Pornic pedestrian event, a 58 km night route that operated from the late 1980s to the early 2000s before ceasing for administrative reasons. The renewed event maintains the city-to-coast route and night-running atmosphere, while introducing a broader range of distances and a focus on environmental responsibility and accessibility.