Odyssée du Tue Vaques 2026

The Odyssée du Tue-Vaques is a trail race in Manche, held annually since 2003 by AS Tourlaville Athlétisme. Its name originates from the former “Tue-Vaques” train that used the Fermanville viaduct. The race route now crosses this same viaduct, connecting the event to local transport history. The primary event, the Grand Tue-Vaques, covers 30 km and is certified by the French Athletics Federation, allowing competitive runners to qualify for the national championships' short trail race. Patrick Jannet and Charly Vassal established the race under AS Tourlaville Athlétisme, marking it as Manche's first organized trail race. It attracted 260 participants by its second year and later grew to fields of approximately 500 to 700 runners. The event has offered various distances, including a 28 km course through Carneville and Maupertus and a 15 km race around Carneville, catering to both dedicated trail runners and those seeking a shorter local competition.