Parcours is French for “course.” It is the detailed route or trajectory of a race. In cycling, running, or multisports, the parcours entails where the race begins and finishes, the turns, hills, downhills, and the ground type.
Knowing the course, consisting of length, elevation, tough spots, and off-course conditions enables athletes to determine their speed, their equipment, and their food consumption. Tough practice (practice in person or GPS driven practice) enables participants to anticipate key parts of the course, manage their effort, and pick out potential hazards. Organizers release course maps and profiles to enable competitors to adapt their practice to suit the demands of the course and prepare.
