Races
Nice Côte d'Azur
One hundred fifty-nine kilometers from Nice into the Mercantour. Two nights. Mediterranean start. Alpine cols finish.
99 mi+1,971 ft-1,896 ft48 hours1,509 ft to 1,585 fttech 5/10Checkpoints per race bookMercantourmulti-dayWSER qualifierSeptember
Distance99 mi
Gain+1,971 ft
Loss-1,896 ft
Altitude1,509 ft to 1,585 ft
Technicality5/10
Air45°F to 85°F
- Start1,509 ft
- High1,585 ft
- Low1,509 ft
- Finish1,585 ft
Geometryderived
Steepest drop72 ft-0.5% over 2.8 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. +1,971 ft gain and -1,896 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 1,585 ft. Low near 1,509 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 1,971 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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