The organization is by your side to make your participation a success. You will find in this section the precise answers to the most frequently asked questions by our runners. A question remains? Do not hesitate to contact us.
General and Tests
What is the nature of the event El 1258?
The event El 1258 is a sports event organized by the association Horos in collaboration with the association Objectif D+ (affiliated to the French Federation of Hiking) and several municipalities involved in the project. It is composed of four competitive events that take place in the mountains of the Eastern Pyrenees, Ariège and Aude. The event takes place around the former border between France and Catalonia, established between 1258 (treaty of Corbeil) and 1659 (treaty of the Pyrenees).
When will the 2026 edition of El 1258 be held?
The 2026 edition of the event will take place from 26 to 30 August 2026.
What are the four proposed tests and their specificities?
The four events are:
1. Maratrail: Individual trail race of approximately 42 KM and 2,700 D+, fully marked, with timing and classification at the finish.
2. Ultra-Trail: Individual ultra-trail race of 226 KM and 8,000 D+, mostly unmarked after KM 42, with timing and ranking.
3. Ultra-Randonnée: Fast hiking event in an inseparable team of 2 or 3, over 226 KM and 8,000 D+ approximately. It does not give rise to an official ranking, but uses timing for a ‘finisher’ system.
4. Relay: Trail race in a 5-man relay team, over 226 KM and approximately 8,000 D+, with timing and team ranking
What is the maximum time allowed for each race?
Maratrail 42 KM 2 700 D+ 12 hours
Ultra-Trail 226 KM 8,000 D+ 72 hours
Relay 226 KM 8,000 D+ 72 hours
Ultra-Randonnée 226 KM 8 000 D+ 96 heures
Où et quand ont lieu les remises des prix ?
La remise des prix du Maratrail aura lieu le jeudi 27 août à 18h00 à Formiguères. Les remises des prix pour l’Ultra-Trail (15h15), le Relais (15h30) et l’Ultra-Randonnée (15h45) auront lieu le dimanche 30 août à Salses-le-Château.
Registration and Conditions of Participation
When and how can I register?
Registrations are listed for sale on the website https://pyreneeschrono.fr on 1 December 2025 at 12:00 (CET time, Barcelona and Paris) via direct purchase. They can be carried out until Sunday, August 16, 2026 or until the availability of places is exhausted.
What are the experience requirements for Ultra-Trail?
To register for the Ultra-Trail, participants must have recent experience in an ultra distance race. It is necessary to have a valid UTMB® Index in categories 100K or 100M or to have obtained a minimum of 4 ITRA points on a race within the last 3 years.
Is a medical certificate mandatory for the Ultra-Randonnée?
Yes, to validate their registration for the Ultra-Randonnée, each participant must submit a specific medical certificate dating back less than a year (compared to August 26, 2026), to be submitted before June 30, 2026.
What are the registration fees (bib price) for the events?
The price of the bib includes 20% VAT and a Horos membership fee.
Maratrail 75 €
Ultra-Trail 250 €
Ultra-Randonnée (team of 2) 490 € (460 € if mixed team)
Ultra-Randonnée (team of 3) 735 € (700 € if mixed team)
Relay (team of 5) 490 € (460 € if mixed team)
What is the FFRandonnée Discovery Pass and its cost?
Participants who do not hold a valid FFRandement license must necessarily subscribe to a ‘FFRandement Discovery Pass’ to participate in the maintenance and marking of paths.
For the Maratrail, it is the ‘1-Day Discovery Pass’ for an amount of €2.5/person.
For the Ultra-Trail, the Ultra-Randonnée and the Relais, it is the ‘8-day Discovery Pass’ for an amount of €4.0/person.
What provisions are made in case of pregnancy?
The organization has implemented a policy encouraging women’s participation, offering:
To pregnant participants: a full refund (except additional service fees and purchases) and priority access valid for up to 5 years.
For participants whose partner is pregnant (or who adopt/procreate by surrogate): a full refund (except additional service fees and purchases) and priority access valid for up to 2 years.
Logistics of the Runners
Où puis-je retirer mon dossard ?
Coureurs du Maratrail et du Relais : retrait la veille de la course à la station de ski de Formiguères.
Coureurs de l’Ultra-Trail et de l’Ultra-Randonnée : retrait la veille de la course à la zone d’arrivée à Salses-le-Château.
Is the transport to the departure included?
Yes, the cost of the public transport shuttle to the starting point at the Col de Puymorens is included in the registration fee for participants of all events
Ultra-Randonnée Salses-le-Château Wednesday, August 26 at 7:00
Maratrail Formiguères Thursday 27 August at 7:00
Ultra-Trail – Relais Salses-le-Château Thursday, August 27 at 7:00
What is the "Life bags" system and how does it work for Ultra-Trail and Ultra-Hiking?
Ultra-Trail and Ultra-Randonnée participants receive two bags of 30 litres each to drop off near the start.
A bag is transferred to the life bases of Formiguères, then Bélesta, then upon arrival at Salses-le-Château.
The other bag is transferred to the life bases of Mosset, then Vingrau, then upon arrival at Salses-le-Château. The runners must collect their bags at the finish no later than 2 hours after the end of the events. Attention: the walking sticks cannot be transported in these bags.
Assistance and Companions
What is the El 1258 Crew Pass for companions?
It is a paid system set up to allow accompanying persons in the Ultra-Trail, Relay and Ultra-Randonnée events to follow their runner throughout the event. The Crew Pass allows accompanying persons to board the shuttle towards the start and to go to the following bases lives after the passage of their runner. No Pass will be sold on site; they must be reserved in advance.
Where can companions travel with the Pass Crew?
The companions can wait for their runner and rest in the Base-Camps located at Formiguères, Mosset, Bélesta, Vingrau, and Salses-le-Château. Once the runner passes, the companions must leave the base life to go to the next one using inter-base life shuttles.
Is personal assistance allowed on the course?
Personal assistance is strictly prohibited on the Maratrail and on the first 42 km section of other races. For the Ultra-Trail, the Ultra-Randonnée and the Relais, personal assistance is tolerated exclusively on the bases life (Formiguères, Mosset, Bélesta, Vingrau). This assistance must be provided by a single person, without specific equipment other than a bag with a maximum volume of 30 liters. A runner who agrees to be accompanied outside the authorized areas contravenes the principle of semi-autonomy and is liable to a penalty of 15 minutes
Rules of Racing and Safety
What do the principles of Semi-Self-Reliance and Semi-Self-Sufficiency imply?
Semi-autonomy (Maratrail and first Ultra/Relay/Ultra-Hiking section): Ability to be autonomous (equipment, power supply, safety) between two refueling points. The organization only provides water or energy drink to fill the containers.
Semi-Sentierty (Ultra/Relais/Ultra-Randonnée after Formiguères): Ability to be autonomous between two living bases (Formiguères, Mosset, Bélesta, Vingrau), where the participants have sleeping accommodations, meals and their weight-saving bag. Between two life bases, the runner must be able to last up to 20 hours without a life base and up to 5 hours without a water refueling point.
What are the penalties for significant violations of the rules?
The race officials and the Race Committee may apply penalties or disqualification:
Immediate disqualification: Absence of essential mandatory safety equipment (waterproof jacket, minimum water volume of 1.5L, SMARTPHONE mobile phone, thermal bivouac bag, lamp).
Penalty of 15 minutes: SMARTPHONE off or in airplane mode, Accompaniment on the course outside tolerance zones, or Visible bib defect.
One-hour penalty: Littering, or Assistance outside authorized areas or by more than one person.
Disqualification: Team disassociation (distance between members > 100 meters) in the Ultra-Randonnée, Refusal of a mandatory equipment check, or Non-assistance to a person in difficulty.
What if a runner needs advanced medical assistance?
As soon as the health condition of a runner justifies treatment by means of an intravenous infusion, this one will be compulsorily put off (disqualified).