This morning, at 8:00 am, it was under a clear blue sky that the 10,528 competitors of this 14th edition of the French Riviera Marathon Nice-Cannes set off from the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, 500 meters from the Hyatt Regency Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice to reach Cannes and its famous Croisette, in front of one of its famous 5-star hotels: the Martinez by Hyatt hotel.
What a pleasure to have run alongside more than 10,500 athletes during this 14th edition of the Nice-Cannes Marathon! A unique race with an exceptional route, a great sporting and human gathering that conveys a taste for effort, a sense of sharing and solidarity, health through sport, and the international promotion of our region. Not forgetting ecology and environmental protection, through actions to reduce its environmental impact, in line with the GREEN Deal policy. I am proud that the Department has been the title partner of this event for years. I would like to thank the many volunteers who worked before and during the race throughout the 42.195km, Pascal THIRIOT, President of Azur Sport Organisation, the towns along the route, and all those who contributed, alongside the Department, to the success of this international sporting event. I congratulate all the runners for their participation!” - Charles Ange GINÉSY, President of the French Riviera Department.
EVENT RECORD FOR THE ETHIOPIAN WOMAN ZENEBU FIKADU IN 2H28'15''
Long months of physical and mental preparation to give it all today and to be in the best shape, this is the state of mind in which each and everyone was in this morning as the long-awaited sounding of the saving shot was given by Charles Ange GINÉSY, President of the French Riviera Department and José COBOS, City Councillor of the Nice, Delegate for Sports Events and Hosting of International Sports Competitions.
As usual, the leading group led by the Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes started with a bang. Charles Ange GINÉSY, President of French Riviera Department, took part in the relay race with his elected colleagues wearing the colours of the French Riviera Department.
The three Kenyans John LANGAT, Vincent RONO and Japheth KOSGEI took the lead until km 30 with a pace of 2h08’30’’. It is only at km 32 that the race becomes more tactical. Vincent RONO speeds up on the exit of Juan-les-Pins in front of KOSGEI and LANGAT who seems to be in more difficulty. Finally, at the km 37, KOSGEI broke down and takes the marathon wall. RONO and LANGAT continue the race neck-and-neck, neither of them wanting to give way to the other. It was 2 kilometres before the finish line that LANGAT took the lead to win in 2h10’25’’'. Rono took the second step of the podium in 2h10’40’’ followed by KOSGEI in 2h13’39’’. The first Frenchman and Maralpin, Lucas GEHIN finished in 6th place overall in 2h30’06’’.
In the women's race, the two favourites, Ethiopian Zenebu FIKADU and Kenyan Sharon JEMUTAI, ran together until the km 16 before FIKADU widened the gap and took first place, setting a new record for the event in 2h28’15’’ (editor's note: previous record: Radiya ROBA - ETH - in 2h30’37’’ in 2010) followed by Kenyan Sharon JEMUTAI in 2h34’12’’. There was a good fight for third place between the Swedish Hanna LINDHOLM and the French Aline COMBOULIVES. It is finally the Swedish woman who will take the third place in 2h39’57’’. Aline CAMBOULIVES finished in 5th place overall in 2h51’10’’.
14TH FRENCH RIVIERA MARATHON NICE-CANNES KEY NUMBERS
- 10,528 registered
- 5,395 marathon runners
- 1,861 20KM runners
- 1,380 2x21KM runners
- 1,892 relay marathon runners
- 26% international participants, so 66 nationalities represented
- 26% women on marathon distance
- 15% participants are coming from the French Riviera Department
