Ultra Trail Metropole Nice

Course

The course climbs 8549 m+. With 51 m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 43% of the distance is uphill, 46% downhill and 11% flat. The longest climb runs 6.2 km at an average 20.7% grade (1291 m of vertical). The longest descent runs 5.4 km at 23.7% (1288 m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 54.4% over 0.4 km. The steepest descent drops at 56.2% over 0.2 km. Surface: 72% trail, 19% road, and 5% smooth. Flat-equivalent effort: 258.4 FlatKM.

Summits

The highest summit on the course is Mont Férion (1412 m), 124 km from the start. The course also passes close to Cime de la Vallette (2701 m) and Cime de la Combe (1943 m).

Poles

Trekking poles are strongly recommended: about 26.0 km of the course is steep enough for them to pay off.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is high (index 82 of 100), with 52% of the load in the first half: 8 critical descents, the last of them run on already damaged legs. Downhill-specific preparation and a controlled early pace pay off here.

• Control on the marked descents until km 81, target pace until km 130, free after that. Short descents not listed: target pace.
• #2 · 4.3–8.1 km · 679 m D−, -18.0% · 95% of the race ahead → control
• #4 · 18.5–23.8 km · 589 m D−, -11.0% · 85% of the race ahead → control
• #1 · 28.9–36.5 km · 1769 m D−, -23.4% · 78% of the race ahead → control
• #5 · 41.5–49.7 km · 945 m D−, -11.4% · 69% of the race ahead → control
• #3 · 54.9–61.4 km · 874 m D−, -13.4% · 62% of the race ahead → control
• #7 · 77.6–81.1 km · 580 m D−, -16.5% · 50% of the race ahead → control
• #8 · 89.2–97.3 km · 734 m D−, -9.0% · 40% of the race ahead → target pace
• #6 · 102.7–115.6 km · 1372 m D−, -10.6% · 29% of the race ahead → target pace
• 150.2–153.2 km · 253 m D−, -8.2% · 6% of the race ahead → even, let go at the end
• Plus 3 more notable descents not listed: target pace.

Weather

Historically on race day, start temperatures range from 11°C to 21°C, around 7°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 30%. Heavy rain of 10.0 mm or more falls on about 6% of days around this date.