Nice SJCF-Nice 20K

Race strategy

Run the climb at race pace, build your speed on the downhill, and go all out at the finish.

• Start easy and control your HR up to the aid station at 11.1km.
• Hold your race pace up to 16.8km, but stay in control.
• The finish is runnable. Save your legs to run it all the way.
• Ease into the early runnable section, then run your race pace.
• Start · 0.0km–2.0km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 2.0km–10.7km · Climb of 382m, high point 385m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.
• Work · 10.7km–16.8km · Plus 1 more descent. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort.
• Home · 16.8km–23.4km · 6.6km of runnable trail. Build to the finish: leave whatever you have left out on the course. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.

Course

By gradient, 35% of the distance is uphill, 30% downhill and 34% flat. The longest climb runs 3.0km at an average 12.8% grade (382m of vertical). The longest descent runs 6.1km at an average 8.1% grade (491m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 28.2% over 0.4km. The steepest descent drops at 33.0% over 0.4km. Surface: 69% road, 18% smooth, and 10% trail. Flat-equivalent effort: 30.2 FlatKM.

Summits

The course also passes close to Mont Vinaigrier (371m).

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 1.0km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is low (index 11 of 100): a few descents worth noting, none of them decisive.

• 10.7–16.8 km · 491 m D−, -8.1% · 6.6 km ahead → your pace

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 19°C to 23°C, with around 19°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 27%.

Results

1,209 finishers completed the 2025 edition. Men's winner: Alexandre Meyleu (France) in 1:41:33. Women's winner: Caroline Balduhn (Germany) in 2:06:53.