Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K or Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison) — which comes out ahead?

Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison) has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and conditions.

Route comparison snapshot

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
6.3%
flat grade share
20.1%
lower ascent
256 m
climbing density
32.0 m/km
net elevation
1 m
maximum grade
16.5%

Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.4% Favoured
flat grade share
44.8% Favoured
lower ascent
104 m
climbing density
13.0 m/km
net elevation
-1 m
maximum grade
14.5%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricVar Verdon Trail Canyon 8KCrazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Flat grade share20.1%44.8%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)6.3%1.4%
Uphill share42.7%27.2%
Steep-up share18.0%5.2%
Downhill share37.2%28.0%
Total ascent (m)256 m104 m
Climbing density (m/km)32.0 m/km13.0 m/km
Longest climb length (m)1,320 m540 m
Longest climb gain (m)134 m29 m
Longest climb average grade10.2%5.3%
Total descent (m)255 m105 m
Net elevation (m)1 m-1 m
Max absolute grade16.5%14.5%
Start elevation (m)783 m270 m
Finish elevation (m)784 m269 m
Scenic score100/10063/100
Conditions71/10083/100

Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.

Race facts that change the decision

Race facts comparison
FactVar Verdon Trail Canyon 8KCrazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-06 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-24 (legacy event-level date).

LocationAiguines, FranceMadison, Wisconsin
Actual distance8 km8 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
SurfaceTechnical mountain trail: rocky terrain, scree slopes, roots, forest paths and secured handhold/chain passages in the Cirque de Vaumale; very little grassy or runnable flat ground on the longer coursesUnavailable
Elevation characterRollingRolling
TerrainTrailRoad
SceneryLakeside, Countryside, Canyon, Mountain, Forest, RiversideCity, Parkland, Countryside, Waterfront, Lakeside
AtmosphereWilderness, Scenic Tour, DestinationCommunity, Festival
TechnicalityUnavailableNon Technical
Total ascent256 m104 m
Climbing density32.0 m/km13.0 m/km
Total descent255 m105 m
Net elevation1 m-1 m
Max absolute grade16.5%14.5%
Flat grade share20.1%44.8%
GAP factor6.3%1.4%
CutoffUnavailable2:00:00
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-06 (legacy event-level date).

Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-24 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Aiguines, France
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Madison, Wisconsin

Actual distance

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
8 km
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
8 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Held
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Held
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Held

Surface

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Technical mountain trail: rocky terrain, scree slopes, roots, forest paths and secured handhold/chain passages in the Cirque de Vaumale; very little grassy or runnable flat ground on the longer courses
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Unavailable

Elevation character

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Rolling
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Rolling

Terrain

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Trail
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Road

Scenery

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Lakeside, Countryside, Canyon, Mountain, Forest, Riverside
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
City, Parkland, Countryside, Waterfront, Lakeside

Atmosphere

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Community, Festival

Technicality

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Unavailable
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Non Technical

Total ascent

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
256 m
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
104 m

Climbing density

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
32.0 m/km
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
13.0 m/km

Total descent

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
255 m
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
105 m

Net elevation

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
1 m
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
-1 m

Max absolute grade

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
16.5%
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
14.5%

Flat grade share

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
20.1%
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
44.8%

GAP factor

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
6.3%
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
1.4%

Cutoff

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Unavailable
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
2:00:00

Entry model

Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K
Open
Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)
Open

Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.

Common questions

Which is flatter, Var Verdon Trail Canyon 8K or Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison)?

Crazylegs Classic 8K (Madison) has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.

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How figures are calculated →