Cycling & running events in Lausanne, 2026

Lausanne Training Notes

Running: Locals run the lake first, because the Lakeside Loop gives you about 11 km of car-free, very flat tempo ground. Ouchy to Lutry works for easy Z2, and the 10 km round trip passes quickly when the talk is good. Belmont-sur-Lausanne to Grandvaux turns the day uphill, and Pont du Chailly to Belmont gives that steady climb where running at tempo still hits the lungs. ESN Lausanne Running Club meets Tuesday night at 18:30 by the UNIL-EPFL Sport Centre and splits into pace groups. Lausanne Marathon, 20 km de Lausanne, Urban Trail Lausanne, Christmas Run, and LG Trail keep the race calendar honest.

Cycling: Locals ride Lavaux when they want views, climbing, and that proper post-ride buzz. The city centre hills feel brutal, but every climb gives you a fun part on the way down. Lausanne Gravel handles after-work spins, bike-packing trips, ultra racing chat, and long Alps days. La Patrouille CC sits in Pully, and Vevey Cycling Club gives another solid club option nearby. The city covers 1 km with 1,122 m of elevation. Cyclotour du Léman, Triathlon Lausanne, and Journée Lausannoise du Vélo make easy anchor events.

Season: Spring and autumn suit Lausanne best, because the lake paths stay lively and the hills look sharp with flowers or leaves. May can be wet, so locals keep the schedule flexible and take the dry windows for intervals, base miles, or a quick crit-style loop. Summer gives long evenings by Lac Léman, and Triathlon Lausanne lands in August. Winter changes the rhythm more than the ambition. Runners add headlamps for dark social runs, and Christmas Run keeps December moving. Cyclists stay closer to the lake, use the flatter shore, or take the hills when the road is clear.