The French Riviera Marathon (French: Marathon Des Alpes-Maritimes) is a marathon held annually along the south east coast of France, between the cities of Nice and Cannes. The event was first held in 2008, when the race achieved its full capacity of 10,000 runners,[1] setting a new world record attendance for an event on its debut.[2] Although the race has only been competed since 2008, it trails only the Paris Marathon in terms of participation within France.[2][3] In 2013, it was listed as an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race for the first time,[4] a status it retained in 2014.[5]

French Riviera Marathon
DateNovember
LocationNice – Cannes
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Primary sponsorDépartement des Alpes-Maritimes
Established2008
Course recordsMen's: 2:07:25 (2018)
Ethiopia Abrha Milaw
Women's: 2:30:37 (2010)
Ethiopia Radiya Roba
Official siteFrench Riviera Marathon
Participants4,033 finishers (2021)
5,138 (2019)
5,027 (2018)

The race begins in the Albert I Garden in Nice, and then progresses along the French Riviera, visiting Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Villeneuve-Loubet, Antibes, Juan-les-Pins and Golfe-Juan before arriving in Cannes and finishing on the Promenade de la Croisette, in front of the Carlton Cannes hotel.[6] In addition to the full marathon, a "2 x 21.1 km" relay race was added in 2013,[7] in which runners can race in pairs, with one person running the first half of the race, and then the other running the second half of the race.[8] A six-person relay race is also run, with each leg of the race varying between 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) and 3 kilometres (1.9 miles).[9]

In the men's races, Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes have won every race, with each nation claiming three victories. The course record is held by Lucas Kanda, who completed the race in 2:08:40 in 2011.[10] Ethiopian runners have also been successful in the women's races, winning on all but one occasion. The first race was won by a Russian, Oksana Kuzmicheva.[11] The women's course record holder is Radiya Roba, who finished in 2:30:37 in 2010.[12]

Results

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French Riviera Marathon results
Year Athlete Nationality Time
(h:m:s)
Athlete Nationality Time
(h:m:s)
Refs
Male Female
2021 Enock Onchari   Kenya 2:11:21 Claire Amann   France 2:56:24
2019 Alemu Gemechu   Ethiopia 2:10:57 Alemitu Lema   Ethiopia 2:37:44
2018 Abrha Milaw   Ethiopia 2:07:25 Nurit Shimels   Ethiopia 2:31:54
2017 Dejene Kelkilew   Ethiopia 2:12:09 Tejitu Siyum   Ethiopia 2:33:21
2016 Elisha Kipchirchir   Kenya 2:10:45 Konjit Tilahun   Ethiopia 2:37:56
2015 Barnabas Kiptum   Kenya 2:10:44 Rose Jepchumba   Kenya 2:36:02
2014 Shume Hailu   Ethiopia 2:09:27 Rose Jepchumba   Kenya 2:33:52
2013 Abdisa Sori   Ethiopia 2:13:58 Salina Kosgei   Ethiopia 2:41:34 [7]
2012 Eliud Magut   Kenya 2:10:32 Aregu Lechisa   Ethiopia 2:31:57 [13]
2011 Lucas Kanda   Kenya 2:08:40 Teamo Shumye   Ethiopia 2:30:53 [10]
2010 Tsegaye Botoru   Ethiopia 2:10:27 Radiya Roba   Ethiopia 2:30:37 [12]
2009 Adelo Roba   Ethiopia 2:10:17 Merima Mohammed   Ethiopia 2:33:56 [14]
2008 Jacob Kitur   Kenya 2:11:12 Oksana Kuzmicheva   Russia 2:37:10 [11]

References

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  1. ^ "News 2008". Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b "French Riviera Marathon: a chic race". Flying Blue Running. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Marathon Des Alpes Maritimes Results". Run Infinity. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Calendar: 2013". International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Calendar: 2014". IAAF. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Marathon Des Alpes-Maritimes, The French Riviera Marathon 2013/2014 (page 1)". Adventure Marathon. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  7. ^ a b "10 November 2013: Marathon des Alpes Maritimes Nice-Cannes, France". AIMS. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  8. ^ "2x21.1 km". Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  9. ^ "Relay Marathon Caisse d'Epargne des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes". Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  10. ^ a b "20 November 2011: Marathon des Alpes Maritimes Nice-Cannes, France". AIMS. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  11. ^ a b "9 November 2008: Marathon des Alpes Maritimes Nice-Cannes, France". AIMS. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  12. ^ a b "14 November 2010: Marathon des Alpes Maritimes Nice-Cannes, France". AIMS. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  13. ^ "4 November 2012: Marathon des Alpes Maritimes Nice-Cannes, France". AIMS. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  14. ^ "8 November 2009: Marathon des Alpes Maritimes Nice-Cannes, France". AIMS. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2014.