50K winner Kim Screiber from 2025. Photo : © UTMB® Mateo Sgambato
Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB returns this weekend with five races connecting the mountains above the French Riviera with a finish on the Promenade des Anglais. While the 168-kilometre race remains the headline distance, the strongest competition may come much closer to the Mediterranean.
A stacked men’s 50K
The Èze–Nice 50K has attracted an unusually deep men’s field, led by Anton Gustafsson and Adrien Briffod. Both enter with a UTMB Index of 915, narrowly ahead of Maximilien Drion at 913.
Alex García Carrillo and reigning French short-trail champion Pierre Galbourdin complete a group of five runners carrying an index above 900. Lorenzo Beltrami, Johannes Nussbaumer and Maxime Pellouchoud add further depth to a race with no obvious favourite.
The 50-kilometre course starts at Col d’Èze and contains 2,000 metres of elevation gain. After reaching its highest point at Cime de Cabanelle, the route heads towards the Mediterranean before finishing in central Nice.
Leading men:
Anton Gustafsson – 915
Adrien Briffod – 915
Maximilien Drion – 913
Alex García Carrillo – 908
Pierre Galbourdin – 907
Kolbeinsdottir leads an open women’s race
Andrea Kolbeinsdottir has the highest index in the women’s 50K field at 778, but the numbers suggest a close contest. Julia Font Gómez, former world mountain-running champion Alice Gaggi and Agnes Josefsson are all separated by only five index points.
Cécile Jarousseau is another strong contender on a course where speed, technical ability and late-race legs should all matter.
Leading women:
Andrea Kolbeinsdottir – 778
Julia Font Gómez – 764
Alice Gaggi – 762
Agnes Josefsson – 759
Cécile Jarousseau – 752
Photo : ©UTMB® Paul Brechu
Matt heads the 100K field
Dominik Matt starts as the highest-ranked runner in the 113-kilometre race, which carries approximately 5,400 metres of elevation gain. Genís Porqueras and Alessandro Affolati both arrive with an index of 858, while Juuso Simpanen is another likely podium contender.
Beliana Hilbert leads the women’s field ahead of Eva Lorusso, Nolwen Chauvel and Lisa Gremaud.
An unpredictable 100M
The 168-kilometre flagship race begins in Auron and climbs almost 8,900 metres before reaching the coast. Dylan Dame holds the highest index among the leading men currently shown on the start list, closely followed by Mathieu Delomier and Ivan Schweckler.
Martina Klancnik Potrc leads the women’s list ahead of Pauline Carre and Myvanwy Hanna.
Neither 100M field contains an overwhelming favourite, leaving the longest race unusually open. On a course stretching from elevations above 2,600 metres to sea level, conservative pacing and the ability to manage major changes in terrain and temperature may prove more important than rankings.
The 100M starts Friday, September 25 at 13:00. The 50K and 100K races follow on Saturday, with the highly anticipated Èze–Nice 50K beginning at 07:30.
