Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB.
The Nice 100M is a point-to-point ultra from high mountains to the Mediterranean: 164 kilometres from Auron at 1,593 metres to the Promenade des Anglais at sea level, with 8,547 metres of climbing and over 10,000 of descent. Only six percent of the course is flat; a quarter of it is steep uphill and almost a third steep downhill.
No date has been announced for the next edition yet. The course, elevation and route profile are from the most recent edition.
Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The gun goes on Friday at 13:00 in Auron, in the Mercantour, at 1,593 metres. Eight kilometres in, the hardest climb of the race begins: 6.3 kilometres averaging almost 21 percent for 1,306 metres of gain, hors catégorie, topping out at the course high point of 2,624 metres by kilometre 30. The course then sheds around 1,900 metres by kilometre 46.
What follows never settles: 3.2 kilometres at 13 percent from kilometre 52, 4.6 at 12 percent from kilometre 62, 4.9 at 13 percent from kilometre 73, and from kilometre 85 a second hors catégorie climb of 4.7 kilometres at 18 percent for 838 metres. A third HC climb waits from kilometre 120: 5.2 kilometres at 17 percent for 889 metres. Only after the final climb from kilometre 147 does the course tip decisively towards the sea, with close to 2,760 metres of climbing still remaining beyond the last categorised ascent.
The route leaves the high Mercantour by way of Venanson and the Baisse de la Combe and ends in the centre of Nice. Net, the course loses 1,581 metres – but the descents are the real problem: it falls almost 2,000 metres more than it climbs, and over thirty percent of the distance is steep downhill. The cut-off is 50 hours, the race is part of the UTMB World Series, and 2026 is its fifth edition.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 8.4 | 6.3 km | 20.8 % | 39.2 % | +1,306 m | HC |
| km 24.9 | 4.5 km | 10.4 % | 19.9 % | +470 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 52.4 | 3.2 km | 13.1 % | 36.9 % | +419 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 62.5 | 4.6 km | 12 % | 35.7 % | +547 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 73.1 | 4.9 km | 13.2 % | 25.7 % | +642 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 85.4 | 4.7 km | 18 % | 57.3 % | +838 m | HC |
| km 120.1 | 5.2 km | 17.2 % | 48.6 % | +889 m | HC |
| km 146.7 | 5k | 9.7 % | 29.3 % | +483 m | Cat. 2 |
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.
How to pace Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB.
Start under control
The first climb at kilometre 8 is the steepest ramp of the race and arrives before anything else has happened. 1,306 metres at an average of 21 percent is a walk for everyone but the fastest – walk it, with poles, at a rate you could still describe after forty hours. Run it and your race is over by kilometre 30.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided on the three HC and category-1 climbs in the second half: kilometre 85 at 18 percent, kilometre 120 at 17 percent and the last long drag from kilometre 147. They fall in the night or on the second day, and they decide finishing versus stopping rather than time. Plan fuelling, lighting and your sleep strategy explicitly around those three points.
Spend what is left
The real trap, though, is the descending. Over 10,000 metres of descent, 31 percent of the distance in steep downhill, wrecks quadriceps long before endurance fails. Brake more in the first half than feels necessary: the price of a fast descent at kilometre 40 falls due at kilometre 130, when every downhill step hurts and the route to the sea is nothing but downhill.
Training plan for Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect 25 to 50 hours; the cut-off is 50. The demand is a multi-day mountain ultra with a strongly eccentric bias: eight categorised climbs, over 10,000 metres of descent, and effectively no flat section on which running recovers from the terrain.
Train race pace
The most important training content is downhill strength. The course loses 1,581 metres more than it gains, with steep descent on almost a third of the distance – an eccentric load you only tolerate by training for it. Build long descents in deliberately over months, short and controlled at first, later 1,000 to 2,000 metres of descending in one session, and always after several hours of prior load.
Rehearse the course
Alongside that you need efficient uphill walking. Gradients averaging over 21 percent, as on the opening climb, are walked and not run: practise fast walking with poles for 45 to 90 minutes unbroken, carrying a pack, until it is more efficient than running. Add night running with a head torch and at least one session over 12 hours to test fuelling, clothing and your head.
Arrive fresh
On conditions: the start sits at 1,593 metres in late September, the high point at 2,624 and the finish at sea level. That means cold and possible wet in the Mercantour, one or two nights out, and Mediterranean warmth over the closing kilometres. Plan a clothing system that covers both ends, and rehearse the full mandatory kit on a long mountain session.
Courses
Download the Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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Everything about Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB.
How long is Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB?
Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB is 165 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB have?
Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB has around 8,547 m of elevation gain over 165 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB?
Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB is classified as Mountainous, averaging 51.8 vertical metres per kilometre. 6% of the route is flat, 19% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 25% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB have?
The hardest climb of Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB starts at kilometre 8.4, runs for 6.3 km at an average of 20.8% and gains 1,306 metres. Cycling-convention rating: HC. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB a loop course?
No, Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB course?
Yes. The Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB 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.
How should I prepare for Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB?
Preparation for Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB should account for 165 km, 8,547 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB?
The pacing strategy for Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB should reflect 165 km, 8,547 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB next take place?
No date has been announced for the next edition yet. The most recent one was held on September 26, 2026.
Where does Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB take place?
Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB takes place in Nice, France.
Which distances does Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB offer?
Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB offers 4 distances — Nice 100M: 165 km; Nice 100K: 109 km; Nice 50K: 50 km; Nice 20K: 23 km.
How do I register for Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB?
Registration runs through the organiser: nice.utmb.world. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
