When Katie Schide broke Courtney Dauwalter’s course record at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc last month, the trail running world immediately started wondering: when will the ultra-trail GOAT be back?

Well, folks, we only had to wait a month for our probable answer.

On October 4, Dauwalter will toe the line at the Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB 100-miler, where she’ll have a chance to earn an automatic qualifier into next year’s 107-mile big dance around the Mont Blanc massif. And then maybe, just maybe, we’ll see the battle we’ve all been waiting for: another head-to-head showdown of Schide and Dauwalter, two of the greatest the sport has ever seen. The last time the two competed together, at the 2023 Western States 100, Dauwalter and Schide went 1-2 in the fastest and second fastest women’s times in the race’s history.

“It’s race week! Headed to @nicecotedazurbyutmb to explore 100 miles of new-to-us trails and see what’s left in the tank for the 2024 race season,” Dauwalter announced on September 30.

The 39-year-old from Leadville, Colorado, has been virtually unbeatable since 2017. After a historic 2023 campaign that included wins at the Western States 100, Hardrock 100, and UTMB over the span of two months, she opted not to run UTMB this year. Instead, she defended her Transgrancanaria 126K title in a decisive wire-to-wire win in late February and won the Mount Fuji 100-miler for the second time on April 27, placing third overall. She also earned a third straight win—in a course record time—at the Hardrock 100 on July 12-13 in Silverton, Colorado.

The three-time UTMB winner headlines a record-setting field of 6,000 from 77 countries competing across four race distances in the French Riviera. We’ll also see 2024 men’s UTMB champ Vincent Bouillard in the 20K, and a loaded men’s 50K that includes 2023 world champion and CCC winner Jon Albon.

Here’s everything you need to know about Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB.

The Mediterranean’s Biggest Trail Running Event

Nice has gained attention recently beyond people from all over the world flocking to the rocky shores to swim with tropical fish in the azure blue waters. The ancient city is quickly becoming an endurance sports mecca. For the past two years, the iconic Promenade des Anglais framing the Mediterranean Sea to one side and the medieval streets of Nice to the other has served as the finish line to the men’s (2023) and womens’ (2024) Ironman World Championship. Just last weekend, Germany’s Laura Philipp ran a 2:44:59 marathon back-and-forth along the palm-tree lined boulevard after swimming 2.4 miles in the sea and biking 112 miles through the Maritime Alps to capture the Ironman World Championship title.

In July, cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar captured his third Tour de France victory here as Nice served as the Grand Tour’s finale while the Olympics took over the traditional finish line on the cobbled streets of Paris. Come to Nice on any given day, and you’re bound to run into the likes of American cycling stars Neilson Powless and Matteo Jorgenson, both of whom call Nice home thanks to its abundance of steep mountain roads rising straight out of the sea to Mercantour National Park and north through Monaco and into Italy.

In its third year, Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB has quickly gained prominence as the biggest trail running event in this special region that packs everything from dramatic alpine landscapes to seaside trails winding past ancient battlements. It’s here that American Jim Walmsley earned another berth into the 2024 UTMB and a Golden Ticket into the 2024 Western States 100 by winning the 115K race just a month after winning the 2023 edition of UTMB.

Nice Côte d’Azur will not serve as a Western States Golden Ticket race for 2025. But as a UTMB World Series event, the top three women and men in the 100-mile, 100K, and 50K races will earn automatic entries into the finals at UTMB Mont-Blanc next summer. All finishers will also earn the Running Stones requisite to enter to the UTMB Mont-Blanc lottery.

RELATED: So You Want to Run UTMB? Here’s How to Qualify.

Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB Course

Across four race distances—100 miles, 100K, 50K, and 20K—Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB showcases the jaw-dropping diversity of the French Riviera. From Mercantour National Park, a renowned biodiversity hotspot filled with alpine lakes and soaring mountains and valleys, to technical coastline trails with sweeping views of the sea, these races pack a gorgeous yet sneaky punch in paradise.

100-Miler

The point-to-point 98.7-mile race starts in the ski village of Auron in the Maritime Alps at 5,200-feet and ends at the sea. While it’s over 5,000 feet net downhill, the course still boasts about 27,000 feet of climbing. Runners quickly make their way to the highpoint on the course at over 8,700-feet. After winding through chestnut forests and tracing the Tinéee River, racers traverse the iconic ridges of the Mercantour massif. Four more mountains later, Mont Leuze, Mont Vinaigrier, Mont Alban, and Mont Boron, and down a final steep staircase and they’ll find themselves on the sea at the finish line on the Promenade des Anglais.

100K

Runners be warned, the 100K distance actually includes a bonus 7K for a total of 66.3 miles with 15,000 feet of climbing and 19,000 feet of descent. The race starts in Roubion, a small village built on the side of a cliff in the south of the Mercantour National Park, before quickly joining up with the final two-thirds of the 100-mile course.

50K

The 50K (which is actually a 54K, or 33.3 miles) starts at the mythical Col d’Eze at 1,610 feet and makes a big loop through the mountains above Monaco before finishing in Nice for a total of 6,000 feet of climbing and over 7,600 feet of descent. Starting from Grande Corniche Departmental Park, the 50K winds around the Fort de la Revère and climbs above La Turbie to the Cime de Cabanelle at nearly 3,600 feet. The race tops out at the Epaule de la Cime du Baudon at nearly 4,000 feet with panoramic views over the Mercantour, the French Riviera, and the Mediterranean. The descent takes runners to the hilltop villages of Peille and Peillon, then along an old irrigation canal, where racers will join the 100K and 100-mile courses over the final four mountains to the finish on the Promenade des Anglais.

20K

The 20K (actually 22K, or 13.8 miles) starts at the port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and makes a tour of the peninsula and back to Nice by way of coastal trails with one big climb up and over Plateau Saint Michel in the middle for a total of about 2,000 feet of climbing and descent. Like all four races, the 20K ends with tagging Mont Vinaigrier, Mont Alban, and Mont Boron and runners make their way down to the finish on the Promenade des Anglais.

Where to Eat

As the second largest city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, Nice offers a never-ending supply of delicious food ranging from Neapolitan-style pizza to fresh seafood. You’ll also find hole-in-the-wall bakeries, gelato on every corner, and an abundance of Indian food. Here are a few of our favorite places from recent travels to the city.

Bakery: Zielinska

4-6 Jules Gilly Street, 06000 Nice

Half a mile from the finish line you’ll find Zielinska tucked into an alley in Old Nice. This women-owned bakery uses ancient grains to conjure up otherworldly delicious breads, pastries, breakfast dishes, and lunch. Try a fruit brioche, the egg, bacon, and cheese breakfast sandwich, and some freshly squeezed orange juice. And say hi to Dominika Zielinska herself, who will be behind the counter dressed in a frock and a hand band just like the lady on the bakery’s equally charming logo.

Pizza: Acqua & Farina 

39 Rue de la Préfecture, 06300 Nice, France

Nice is both a thriving local town and a bustling tourist attraction. That means you’ll find watered-down restaurants geared towards tourists and local gems off the beaten path. If you’re seeking the latter, check out Acqua & Farina in the heart of Old Nice just off the Promenade des Anglais. The Neapolitan-style pizza comes thin, crispy, and adorned with top-shelf toppings. Be prepared to communicate with your server in French or pantomime.

Gelato

1 Rue Jules Gilly, 06300 Nice, France

It’s the Mediterranean, you’ll find multiple gelaterias on every corner. May we suggest you stop at one, or several. Right down the street from Acqua & Farina, Terre Adélice dishes up 100 percent organic gelato in all the classic flavors and plenty of exotic options.

Where to Go

While you’ll see a steady stream of runners, cyclists, walkers, and rollerbladers gliding up and down the Promenade des Anglais, go just a few steps away from the sea and you’ll find a hidden trove of hills and trails—many of which the 6,000 Nice Côte d’Azur competitors will tackle over the weekend.

Colline du Château 

Right next to the finish line you’ll find the Colline du Château (“Castle Hill”) overlooking the city. A relatively quick bop up a long flight of stairs cut into the hillside leads to a scenic panoramic overlook with views of the city, the sea, and the mountains sprawling into the distance. Watch racers here on their final climb before crossing the finish line below.

Mont Boron

Make it to the top of Mont Boron (720 feet) via the beautifully wooded trails on foot or on the road by bike or car and you’ll be rewarded with even more epic views and the imposing and well-preserved Fort du Mont Alban, a military installation constructed in the 16th century. Bonus: the races come right past here, so you can cheer on runners during their final climb before a fast descent to the finish line.

Monaco

Drool over 400-foot yachts, five-mast sailboats, and Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLarens galore in Monaco. It’s just a 35-minute train ride from Nice, a fun bike ride, or an epic run. Avoid crowds on the train by making your way back to Nice before 4 P.M.

How to Watch

The 100-mile, 100K, and 50K races will all be broadcast live for free on Outside TV:

Friday, October 4: 100-mile coverage begins at 11:30 A.M. and will run until 7 P.M. local time (5:30 A.M. to 1 P.M. ET).

Saturday, October 5: Catch the end of the 100-miler, along with the 100K and 50K from 7:15 A.M. to 9 P.M. local time (1:15 A.M. to 3 P.M. ET).

Miss the live action? No sweat. Catch the replays anytime on Outside TV.