Races
Nice Côte d'Azur
One hundred fifty-nine kilometers from Nice into the Mercantour. Two nights. Mediterranean start. Alpine cols finish.
99 mi+45,003 ft-50,210 ft48 hours0 ft to 8,891 fttech 5/106 stationsMercantourmulti-dayWSER qualifierSeptember
Distance99 mi
Gain+45,003 ft
Loss-50,210 ft
Altitude0 ft to 8,891 ft
Technicality5/10
Air45°F to 85°F
- Start5,240 ft
- High8,883 ft
- Low16 ft
- Finish33 ft
- Nice at mile 0.0
- Nice Côte d'Azur mile 20 at mile 20, cutoff 9.600000000000001 hours
- Nice Côte d'Azur mile 40 at mile 40, cutoff 19.200000000000003 hours
- Nice Côte d'Azur mile 59 at mile 59, cutoff 28.799999999999997 hours
- Nice Côte d'Azur mile 79 at mile 79, cutoff 38.400000000000006 hours
- Finish France at mile 99, cutoff 48 hours
Geometrycourse math
Steepest drop3,855 ft-32.6% over 2.2 mi
Night miles45 misunset near 18:00 local
The cruxHigh Mercantour cols on the second night above 2,400 meters (near mile 64)
Course DNA
The Course
Nice Côte d'Azur runs 159 km through Nice, France. +45,003 ft gain and -50,210 ft loss. Surfaces skew 70% trail / 25% dirt road / 5% paved. High Mercantour cols on the second night above 2,400 meters. High point near 8,891 ft. Low near 0 ft. September temps run 45°F to 85°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 49.
The Work
Train for 45,003 feet of climbing across 159 km. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 48 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 64.
Kit
September in Nice, France: plan for 45°F to 85°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 48 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 25. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 70% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 49.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 25. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 49. High Mercantour cols on the second night above 2,400 meters near mile 64 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 33 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
Results
Nice Côte d'Azur finish lines.
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