© Nice International Half Marathon
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
Dorian VUILLET
Journalist
