100 km de Millau

A globally renowned architectural behemoth will dominate your journey… What a moment! The town of Millau has two privileges: to be overlooked by the Millau Viaduct and to host the mythical 100 km.

Every September, head to Occitanie, more precisely Aveyron, for two high-caliber courses: The Millau Marathon or the 100 km of Millau.

The comfortable temperature won’t be a luxury to get you there. The 100 km has an edge: passing under the Millau Viaduct less than 10 km from the finish. A moment to feast your eyes! This viaduct that brushes the Tarn valley rises to 343 m and measures 2460 m in length. It was conceived by French engineer Michel Virlogeux (Cocorico!) and sketched by English architect Lord Norman Foster 🇬🇧.

The two courses loop around Millau. The race is long, with climbs and descents of varying intensity; the 100 km route is more challenging at this level, with peaks above 600 meters of elevation. If you choose the 100 km, don’t forget your headlamp because some finish at night! The marathon, meanwhile, is much flatter, though it doesn’t pass under the viaduct. The race is, in any case, a feast for the eyes from start to finish: vast stretches of nature dominate. On certain sections, many cycling escorts are present to cheer you on or follow you to the finish! 🚴‍♀️

After your incredible effort, you can enjoy Millau, located about 70 km from Rodez and 100 km from Montpellier. Of course you’ll revisit the viaduct, nestled in the Parc Naturel Régional des Grands Causses. The Beffroi, also, 42 meters high, which overlooks the old town and offers from the top of its octagonal tower a splendid panoramic view of the city roofs.

In the historic center, the picturesque streets are worth discovering, such as Place du Maréchal Foch and its fountain. Are you a history buff? The Millau and Grands Causses Museum, which sits inside the Hôtel de Pégayrolles, brings together collections of paleontology, Prehistory, Gallo-Roman archaeology, and the Middle Ages, as well as a space dedicated to leather tanning and glove making, two crafts very specific to the town 🎞.