Tor des Géants Finish Time Predictor

Tor des Géants (TOR330) covers 336.5 km with around 26,182 m of elevation gain, starting in Courmayeur, Valle d'Aosta, Italy. The overall cutoff is 150 hours.

Crew access is allowed at La Thuile (19 km), Valgrisenche (life base) (48.5 km), Eaux Rousses (78.3 km), Cogne (life base) (104 km), Donnas (life base) (149.8 km), Rifugio della Barma (175.6 km), Niel (190.5 km), Gressoney (life base) (203.8 km), Champoluc (220.8 km), Valtournenche (life base) (237.5 km), Oyace (274.7 km), Ollomont (life base) (286.5 km) and Bosses (307.8 km). Drop bags are available at Valgrisenche (life base), Cogne (life base), Donnas (life base), Gressoney (life base), Valtournenche (life base) and Ollomont (life base).

Checkpoint data approximate - verify against the current official race guide at torxtrail.com before your race.

The classic Riegel formula (T2 = T1 × (D2/D1)^1.06) was derived from road race data. It assumes distance is the only factor in fatigue - ignoring elevation, terrain friction, and ultra-specific physiological degradation. For mountain trail races, these factors dominate.

ITRA km-effort normalises trail races by effort rather than distance. A 50km race with 3,000m of gain has a km-effort of 80 - equivalent in effort to an 80km flat race. Our version also accounts for descent cost (loss_m / 150), because steep descents cause significant eccentric muscle damage (Minetti, 2002) that isn't free.

Ultra fatigue: Millet et al. (2011) documented progressive neuromuscular degradation in ultra-marathons - central fatigue, GI distress, and eccentric muscle damage compound over time. The fatigue exponent in our prediction scales from 1.06 (≤marathon) to 1.15 (>100km), producing increasingly conservative predictions as distance grows. The stepped exponents beyond marathon distance are TrailMath heuristics, not published constants - they represent a conservative extrapolation of Millet's qualitative findings, not empirically derived values.

Terrain multipliers are practical heuristics, not peer-reviewed constants. Technical trail is approximately 1.30× slower than road pace for the same flat effort - accounting for footplacement, rocks, roots, and lateral stability demands. These multipliers are applied relative to your known race's terrain, so comparing trail-to-trail or road-to-road eliminates the terrain effect and leaves only effort differences.

How to use this: Choose a known result you're proud of and that reflects your current fitness. A race from 6 months ago still works if your training hasn't changed significantly. The prediction gives a range - aim for somewhere between optimistic and conservative based on your training specificity for the target race.

ITRA. km-effort formula. International Trail Running Association. Riegel PS. (1977). Athletic records and human endurance. American Scientist. Millet GY et al. (2011). Neuromuscular consequences of an extreme mountain ultra-marathon. PLoS ONE. Minetti AE et al. (2002). J Appl Physiol. 93(3):1039-46.