
The 20 km Nice-Villeneuve-Loubet takes you from the Promenade des Anglais to Villeneuve-Loubet plage. The U-turn by Parc Marineland makes this flat coastal race a clear out-and-back effort, where even rhythm matters more than climbing strength.
The race starts at eight on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. It follows the coast through Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cros-de-Cagnes, past the Hippodrome towards Marina Baie des Anges. 95.5 percent is flat, for 36 metres of ascent.
At kilometre 20 the route turns beside Parc Marineland. The return finishes at Villeneuve-Loubet plage, by Parking des Maurettes opposite Marina Baie des Anges. The surface is paved coastal road. Refreshments and entertainment appear every two kilometres.
Early November can bring cool air and wind on the open coast. The finish is in Villeneuve-Loubet, not Cannes.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 27.6 | 0.5 km | 3.9 % | 6.5 % | +21 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
Control the opening on the coast. With 95.5 percent flat, steady effort wins, but the marathon wave and a tailwind can pull you too fast.
The race is decided around the turn at Parc Marineland. Do not sprint into it; re-establish effort immediately on the return.
The trap is the endless straight, so use the stations as checks and save acceleration for the finish.

Expect 1:15 to 2:30 of effort. This is predominantly aerobic, even running on paved roads. With 36 metres of ascent and no recorded climb, pace durability is decisive.
Run long sessions with blocks at 20 km pace and a fast finish.
Rehearse the outward leg, turn and return. Test clothing for the eight o’clock start, wind and cool November air.
Practise regular fuelling during two-hour runs.

Download the Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes is 42.2 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes has around 125 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes is classified as Flat, averaging 3 vertical metres per kilometre. 84% of the route is flat, 7% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
The hardest climb of Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes starts at kilometre 27.6, runs for 0.5 km at an average of 3.9% and gains 21 metres.
No, Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Yes. The Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
Preparation for Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes should account for 42.2 km, 125 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
The pacing strategy for Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes should reflect 42.2 km, 125 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes takes place on November 8, 2026.
Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes takes place in Nice, France.
Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes offers 4 distances — Marathon: 42.2 km; 2x21,1 km: 42.2 km (Marathon); Marathon Relais: 42.2 km; 20 km Nice-Villeneuve-Loubet: 20 km.
Registration runs through the organiser: marathon06.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.