Lavy des Cimes - Viuz-la-Chiésaz 2026

Lavy des Cimes is a vertical kilometer trail race in Viuz-la-Chiésaz, a village in Haute-Savoie near Annecy. It is typically scheduled for late November or December, when the Semnoz area can be cold and snowy. The main race, the Funky Vertical, covers approximately 1,030 meters of climbing in just 4.6 km. It is a short race by distance but a demanding uphill effort from start to finish. A 1.9 km children’s trail offers a second, more accessible race on the same program. The main race begins on the town hall square in Viuz-la-Chiésaz at about 602 meters above sea level. It then directs runners into steep mountain running, making a vertical kilometer straightforward to grasp but challenging to complete. This is a test of strength and power rather than a typical trail run, with little opportunity to avoid the climb. The race was established in memory of a runner who cherished Semnoz, providing the event with a local narrative beyond its statistics. Though still a new race, it already taps into the broader European interest in short, steep mountain events.