Nice Levens-Nice 50K

Race strategy

Run the downhill at race pace, but focus on the climb.

• 1041m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• The finish is runnable. Save your legs to run it all the way.
• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 18.9km, then run your race pace.
• Start · 0.0km–2.2km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 2.2km–18.9km · 7.4km of runnable trail, high point 847m, descent of 1041m averaging 9%. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.
• Work · 18.9km–32.2km · Plus 1 more climb and 1 descent. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace.
• Home · 32.2km–38.3km · 6.1km of runnable trail. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.

Course

The course climbs 1387m+. With 36m/km of climbing, this is a rolling, mostly runnable course. By gradient, 29% of the distance is uphill, 42% downhill and 28% flat. The longest climb runs 6.3km at an average 7.4% grade (466m of vertical). The longest descent runs 11.5km at an average 9.0% grade (1041m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 31.5% over 0.2km. The steepest descent drops at 31.5% over 0.4km. Surface: 54% trail and 41% road. Flat-equivalent effort: 51.4 FlatKM.

Summits

The course also passes close to Mont Leuze (577m) and Mont Vinaigrier (371m).

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 2.9km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 28 of 100), with 66% of the load in the first half: 1 descent deserves a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 18.9km, then run your race pace.
• #1 · 7.4–18.9 km · 1041 m D−, -9.0% · 19.4 km ahead → control
• 25.2–32.2 km · 467 m D−, -6.7% · 6.1 km ahead → your pace

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 13°C to 20°C, with around 14°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 29%. Heavy rain of 10.0mm or more falls on about 8% of days around this date.

Results

666 finishers completed the 2026 edition. Men's winner: Joris Ougier (France) in 3:12:34. Women's winner: Manon Gaydon (France) in 4:21:38.