4,000 competitors inaugurate a new classic at the first Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB

The first ever Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB saw more than 4,000 registered runners from 80 nations enjoy new classic courses, that allowed them to discover the French Riviera, Mercantour Massif and Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, with starts in the Alps and finishes on the City of Nice’s iconic waterfront, in challenging conditions that tested elite and amateur athletes alike.

The 100-mile queen race saw the competitors start high in the Alps, at the ski resort of Auron on the edge of the Mercantour National Park, before making their way, via a technical route with 8,700 meters of elevation, to the coast.

The 100K course began a little closer to Nice at the stunning mountain village of Roubion, while the athletes taking on the 50K challenge enjoyed a classic coastal route to Nice starting from Menton, close to the Italian border. The 20K course rounded off the weekend with a picturesque route from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Nice ending, like the longer distances, on the world famous Promenade des Anglais.

On the longer courses the runners had to contend not just with rocky paths, but fog and rain but this did not deter them, nor spoil their enjoyment on a weekend that has already established itself as a major trail-running event of the European season.

Ryan Baumann, race director of Wildstrubel by UTMB – another new UTMB World Series event that was staged in Switzerland earlier this month – loved the 100K course for which, as a finisher, he was awarded three Running Stones.

“I really liked it despite the rain, you could really enjoy the trails in the cliffs,” he said at the finish after winning the 45-49M category. “And what a finish on the shore of the sea! In Switzerland we have long descents… here there were many technical descents with the rocks, but I felt better going downhill, so it was nice.”

Another athlete who enthused about the setting was the top Dutch runner Ragna Debats, the winner in the female category of the 100-mile race, who was the eighth finisher overall.

“This race is very cool,” she said afterwards. “I really liked to go from the mountains and through the different landscapes towards the sea. The course was very technical – there was no rest - but I really enjoyed it. This is an amazing course.”

Among the finishers in the shortest 20K race was Eric Fournier, mayor of Chamonix – the home of UTMB – and he too came away enthusing about a new event that is here to stay. “It’s nice to see the diversity of landscape, with great organization as usual, and a finish in Nice which was magical with amazing views,” he said. “It’s a great discovery and a true pleasure to run along the sea, with a spectacular contrast in the scenery with the mountains as the backdrop, so I’m glad to have taken part in this first edition.”

Alongside 43-year-old Debats, whose victory was her second in a 100-mile event this season, following her win at Istria by UTMB in April, the big winner in Nice was the 22-year-old Frenchman Hugo Deck. He crossed the finish line just 42 seconds under the 24-hour mark. A former basketball player, this was Deck’s first full race at the mythical 100-mile distance.

“This course was incredibly challenging,” said Deck with a big smile after finishing well ahead of second-placed fellow Frenchman Jérémie Marin. “Last night, in the fog, we could barely see the ground in front of us. But you find your way on the course and mainly the rocks! But it was 165km that is close to my heart,” added the runner from the Var department just west of Nice, “so I am delighted to have won today.”

Watching Deck as he finished was Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis. He said: "Being one of the most prestigious races in the world is a big source of pride for Nice and the Metropolis. And I'm proud to welcome a local runner (Deck), form the Var region who honors this race today. It is such a happy day!"

In the 100K race, the female winner was the German runner, Ida-Sophie Hegemann. “The race was amazing,” said a delighted Hegemann afterwards. “It was super-demanding, particularly in descent. I think I never did such a hard race, but I enjoyed it so much.” She was delighted to win her entry to the CCC for 2023 after injury forced her to retire this year. “This year I broke my nose, but I want to come back and I hope to do a podium.” Norway’s Tobias Dahl Fenre won the men’s 100K race, crossing the line less than three minutes ahead of his fellow countryman Didrik Hermansen.

In the 50K division, the men’s race was won by the Chinese runner Tao Luo, who finished well ahead of the Icelandic competitor Porbergur Jonsson in second place. In the women’s race Marie Perrier from Mauritius cruised to a convincing victory in six hours 42 minutes, crossing the line 48 minutes behind Luo’s time. Like the other finishers in the top-three, this ensures her automatic qualification for the 2023 OCC at the UTMB World Series Finals at Chamonix.

“I ran the OCC last year and it’s a race close to my heart,” said Perrier. “It’s nice to have won my qualification and to have the choice to go. That was also a reason why I am here today, taking my revenge after my absence in Chamonix last month.”

Perrier found it tough going in the mountains in the rain in this event, which is supported by the City of Nice and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis. “But it was a nice race,” she added. “I enjoyed the course and it suited me well. I’m very happy with first place. I didn’t study the course; I just learnt the elevation gain and loss and cut it up into different phases. A big thank you to all the volunteers on the course because I know it’s not easy for them in the rain.”

In the 20K race, Algerian runner Adrien Chouchou won by the slimmest of margins, just 9 seconds ahead of Frenchman Vincent Viallefont, while Anais Sabrie beat Spainard Sandra Trujillo Armas to victory in the women’s race.

There are two events left in Europe this year for the UTMB World Series, with Transvulcania by UTMB in the Canary Islands up next from the 20-22 October, and Kullamannen by UTMB in Sweden 4 November. And for runners around the globe, there are still plenty of chances to collect Running Stones to enter the lottery for UTMB World Series Finals 2023, with events in Mexico, Thailand, two in Australia and a virtual event in Hong Kong still to come.

Full results from Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB available here.