Nice International Half Marathon 2026: Florian Caro and Inès Hamoudi on top as participation hits a record 19,150 runners

With 19,150 participants across all races, the 34th edition of the Nice International Half Marathon reached a new milestone this Sunday, April 19. Along the iconic Promenade des Anglais, France’s Florian Caro (1:04:08) and fellow French runner Inès Hamoudi (1:11:11) set the pace over 21.1 km, in a weekend defined by deep fields, personal bests in the 10K, and a steadily rising share of women in the field.

From the early hours of the morning, Nice stepped into another dimension. A total of 19,150 entries marked a new all-time record for the event: 9,000 runners in the half marathon, 7,500 in the 10K, 2,000 in the 5K, and 650 in the family relay. Growth was clear, with 17% of participants coming from abroad, mainly across Europe.

Beyond sheer numbers, another trend stood out: the evolving composition of the field. Women made up 44% of the half marathon entrants, up from 33% in 2023. In the 10K, parity was nearly achieved at 49%. A steady shift, now firmly anchored in the Nice running scene.

Florian Caro strikes at the perfect moment

With no Kenyan elite runners on the start line this year, the men’s race looked wide open—and ultimately turned into an all-French duel. Long tucked behind Raphaël Montoya, Florian Caro made his move at the right time. At the 13-kilometer mark, he surged, broke away, and never looked back. The runner from Brittany crossed the line in 1:04:08, delivering a controlled performance from start to finish. Montoya, the 2025 French 10K champion, finished second in 1:05:19, marking his third consecutive runner-up finish in Nice. Bastien Schulz completed the podium in 1:07:42.

A high-level trio in the women’s race

In the women’s field, the hierarchy held firm. Inès Hamoudi set a steady pace to claim victory in 1:11:11, securing a new personal best. Her race was built on consistency, with no real drop in intensity. Behind her, the gaps remained tight. Mathilde Sénéchal finished second in 1:11:38, just ahead of Célia Tabet (1:12:43), who also improved her personal best. A dense podium where rhythm and consistency proved more decisive than sudden surges.

The 10K: a hunting ground for personal bests

Scheduled at midday to spread out the day’s races, the 10K delivered a very different scenario—faster, sharper, more explosive. In the men’s race, Léo Starck took the win in 29:09 after a tight battle with Benjamin Choquert (29:14) and Valentin André (29:39). On the women’s side, France’s Alessia Zarbo confirmed her form with a 32:08 victory in a race where all three podium finishers set new personal bests. Ivana Kuriackova (34:37) and Dihya Nasri (37:06) rounded out an improving top three.

5K: short distance, full intensity

Mid-morning, the 5K brought a fast and unpredictable race. Laurens Vanderlinden claimed victory in 15:03 after a tight finish with Timothé Lambert, who posted the same time. In the women’s race, Anne-Sophie De Longevialle took the win in 17:20, ahead of Charlotte Maurin (17:40) and Hanane Hili (18:04).

Nice keeps growing, quietly

The event also maintained its charitable dimension. Each race bib included a €1 donation to the Alpes-Maritimes Food Bank, raising a total of €20,015 this year. With 450 volunteers mobilized and staggered start times (8:00 a.m. for the half marathon, 11:00 a.m. for the 5K, 12:00 p.m. for the 10K), the organization successfully handled record participation while preserving smooth race conditions. Nice continues to grow without losing its balance: more runners, deeper fields, an evolving peloton, and consistently strong performances. The trajectory is clear—and as the 35th edition approaches, one thing is certain: the bar will need to be raised once again.

✔ Results of the 2026 Nice International Half Marathon