New illuminated night ski touring race joins Les 3 Vallées calendar

A new ski touring race named the Belleville Light Tour is planned for the 2026/27 winter season in the Les 3 Vallées ski area. Organised by the Club des Sports des Menuires, the night race takes place in two legs, one at Les Menuires and the other at Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, on a fully illuminated route.

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A new two-leg format

The Belleville Light Tour comprises two separate dates, each held in one of the two villages. The Club des Sports des Menuires, which organises the event, designed the race as an addition to Les 3 Vallées' sporting calendar. The chosen format, described as “American-style”, gives the race a dynamic, fast-paced structure for both participants and spectators.

A dramatic night-time route

The route alternates climbs, descents, carries and skin changes, in a sequence that echoes the ski touring events held at the Milano Cortina Olympic Games in February 2026. The race can be run individually or as a relay, a dual format that multiplies the highlights for the crowds massed along the route.

The entire route is illuminated, one of the race's distinctive features. Each participant wears a headtorch and LED light sticks fixed to their back, making their progress visible in the dark. Spectators can follow the action up close from viewing points set up along the route.

Open to all

The Belleville Light Tour is designed to be accessible to experienced skiers and beginners alike. A dedicated stand is set up before the start to help less experienced participants fit and remove their skins, a technical move repeated throughout the route.

The event ends in a convivial Savoyard atmosphere, with a shared tartiflette for participants and organisers.

Key points

  1. A new night-time ski touring race, held in two separate legs (at Les Menuires and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville), is planned for the 2026/27 winter season.
  2. The race is organised by the Club des Sports des Menuires, the local body in charge of the sporting event.
  3. The fully illuminated route combines climbs, descents, carries and skin changes, in a dynamic format described as “American-style”.
  4. The race can be run individually or as a relay, a format similar to the ski touring events at the Milano Cortina Olympic Games in February 2026.
  5. A stand offering help with fitting and removing skins is set up to assist beginners before the start.