France · Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Distance
120 km
Date
Entry fee
€160
€ / km
€1.33
The Ultra-Trail Cote d'Azur Mercantour (UTCAM) is a 120km UTMB Index mountain ultra starting and finishing in Saint Martin Vesubie, within the Mercantour National Park of the French Riviera hinterland. The course gains 7,800m D+ over 120km -- 65.0 m/km elevation density, above UTMB's 56.9 m/km -- with a 34-hour time limit and a 5:00 AM start on July 4. Founded in 2022, the UTCAM is a UTMB Index 100M race requiring qualification through a race-specific points system (80 points from a qualifying race completed between January 2023 and June 2026).
The course leaves almost no room to recover: 44.1% uphill, 14.0% flat, 41.9% downhill, with 14.8 km of ascending at 20%+ gradient across the full 120km. The race's defining sequence arrives in the final third: two back-to-back major climbs at km 79.68 (1,208m over 10.8 km, 11.2% avg) and km 94.53 (925m over 5.0 km, 18.5% avg), followed by the final descent -- 1,366m over 7.0 km at -19.5% average gradient into the finish. The -19.5% average on the closing descent is UPPER-tier extreme, arriving on legs that have already covered 113km and two major climbs.
Nice-Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE) is 63 minutes from the start. For international runners, the combination of Riviera access, Mercantour wilderness, and UTMB-surpassing elevation density makes UTCAM one of the most technically demanding and logistically accessible 120km races in Europe.
Total Meters
7,800m
D+/KM
65.0m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
14.7%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-15.5%
| 2–5% | 9.7 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 12.0 km | |
| 10–15% | 10.4 km | |
| 15–20% | 6.3 km | |
| 20%+ | 14.8 km |
| 44.1% | Uphill |
|---|---|
| 14.0% | Flat |
| 41.9% | Downhill |
| 1 | 10.8 km · 1,208 m gain starts km 80 · avg 11.2% · max 46.1% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 5.0 km · 925 m gain starts km 95 · avg 18.5% · max 45.5% |
| 3 | 6.9 km · 795 m gain starts km 0 · avg 11.5% · max 50.1% |
| 1 | 7.0 km · 1,366 m drop starts km 113 · avg -19.5% · max -66.3% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 13.4 km · 1,214 m drop starts km 58 · avg -9.0% · max -72.7% |
| 3 | 8.6 km · 1,191 m drop starts km 25 · avg -14.0% · max -60.0% |
The Ultra-Trail Cote d'Azur Mercantour (UTCAM) is a 120km UTMB Index mountain ultra based in Saint Martin Vesubie, within the Mercantour National Park, Alpes-Maritimes, France. Founded in 2022 as the successor to Mercantour Ultra, it gains 7,800m D+ with a 34-hour time limit. The race is a UTMB Index 100M event. The full event weekend includes multiple distances -- 120km, 75km, 50km, 30km, 15km and others -- drawing approximately 3,143 runners across all formats.
Among the most demanding 120km races in Europe by measurable gradient data. The course carries 65.0 m/km elevation density -- above UTMB's 56.9 m/km -- with 14.7% average uphill gradient, -15.46% average downhill gradient (UPPER tier), and only 14.0% flat terrain. 14.82km of the route is at 20%+ uphill gradient -- near-vertical ascending for over 12% of the total distance. The race's decisive sequence arrives in the final 40km: back-to-back climbs of 1,208m and 925m between km 79 and km 100, followed by a 1,366m descent at -19.54% average gradient into the finish.
UTCAM uses a race-specific qualification system, separate from standard ITRA or UTMB Running Stones. For the 120km, runners must have completed a qualifying race earning 80 UTCAM qualification points between January 1, 2023, and June 17, 2026. Confirm current eligibility requirements at utcam06.com before registering, as the point window and requirements may update for future editions.
The 2026 edition runs July 3-5, with the 120km starting at 5:00 AM on July 4 from Saint Martin Vesubie. Entry is 173 EUR standard (Airtable reference); the June 2026 rate was 180 EUR, rising to 200 EUR on-site. Registration is through Klikego (klikego.com); a small platform fee applies. The race does not sell out. Monitor utcam06.com for 2027 registration opening dates and fee schedules.
Nice-Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE) is approximately 63 minutes from Saint Martin Vesubie by car -- exceptional access for a deep-mountain race. Public transport to Nice is excellent; connections into the Mercantour valley require a car, taxi, or race shuttle. Official race shuttles from the Nice area run during the event weekend -- check utcam06.com for shuttle schedules. Accommodation in Saint Martin Vesubie and surrounding mountain villages is very limited; book early and consider Nice or Menton as a larger base.
Nearest airport
Nice (NCE)
Notes
Start: ~20–60 min to Nice + ~1–2 hrs to Mercantour start areas (route-dependent) / Public transport: good to Nice; limited into Mercantour—race shuttles common / Accommodation: strong in Nice; limited in mountain villages—book early
Ibiza Trail Maratón 48 km
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