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CÔTE D’AZUR FRANCE, a change of scenery

FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST TO THE PEAKS OF THE MERCANTOUR, CÔTE D’AZUR FRANCE IS THE PERFECT PLAYGROUND

FOR ATHLETES AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS.

inspire#CotedAzurFrance

IIIII Côte d’AzurCôte d’Azur

welcome

A n impressive marketing and communication strategy has made sport a real springboard for tourism, enhancing the image of CÔTE D’AZUR FRANCE as a destination like no other. The region offers an outstanding playground ranging from the shores of the Mediterranean and its celebrated promenades and promontories—La Croisette,

La Promenade des Anglais, Cap d’Antibes, Cap Martin and Cap Ferrat—to the peaks of the Mercantour national park, awash with majestic vistas and unspoiled natural surroundings for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Despite the challenges of the current climate, our local authorities have continued to invest in the sporting calendar, ensuring a first-class array of events and activities from sea to summit. The Riviera is set to host three stages of the Tour de France, Ironman France, the Nice-Cannes Marathon and the Ultra-Trail Côte d’Azur Mercantour (UTCAM), along with regattas, golf tournaments and horse-riding competitions, not to mention a busy ski season starting in December. Whether you would like to take part or simply spectate, book your stay in CÔTE D’AZUR FRANCE now and discover everything our region has to offer from the Mediterranean Sea to the mountains.  All of our sports events proactively protect and promote the natural environment as part of the Green Deal pledge embraced by the Alpes-Maritimes department. Welcome to CÔTE D’AZUR FRANCE. Your well-being is our own!

Dossier réalisé par AMAURY MEDIA pour CÔTE D’AZUR FRANCE

Conception - Rédaction AB Presse www.abpresse.fr

Direction artistique Céleste Martinez

Couverture ©CRT Côte d’Azur France/Isabelle FABRE

PublicitéAMAURY MEDIA 40-42 quai du Point du Jour, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt Tél. : 01-40-93-20-20

Crédits photos CÔTE D’AZUR FRANCE et partenaires (sauf mention)

CÔTE D’AZUR FRANCE, spotlight on sport

summary

Charles Ange GinésyChairmanAlpes-Maritimes Departmental Council

golf/water sports

T he new-and-improved version of the Côte d’Azur golf pass launched in 2018 allows players to quickly book a tee on

the most beautiful courses of the Alpes-Maritimes, Var and Provence via their computer or mobile device. Pay green fees for two to four people at a time

on partner courses and enjoy preferential rates. Booking options include the highly exclusive Terre Blanche and Royal Mougins courses. There are also plenty of options beyond the nineteenth hole, including accommodation, restaurants and things to see and do near your chosen courses, all at provencecotedazurgolf.com.

MOURATOGLOU TENNIS ACADEMYThe elite training centre set up by Serena Williams’ trainer Patrick Mouratoglou offers tennis camps and tennis & school programmes for budding champions. mouratoglou.com

AT FULL SAILThe Antibes, Saint-Tropez and Cannes regattas attract the finest in modern and traditional yachting. The area is home to well-known skippers like Alexia Barrier, who qualified for the Vendée Globe in 2020.

Land, sea and sunThe time-honoured pursuits of the French Riviera continue to thrive in 2020, offering everything from golf and tennis to sailing, SUP, scuba and freediving.

Golf: 35 courses at your fingertips

Freediving, snorkelling a n d s t a n d u p paddleboarding (SUP) are just a few of the ways you can savour the sea. The Villefranche-

sur-Mer harbour is a hub for freedivers and is the site of numerous records. The Lérins Islands and coastline between Cap d’Antibes and the Cap Roux nature reserve provide plenty of spots for snorkelling. The

mouth of the Siagne river is a good way to explore inland on a paddleboard. Île d’Or off the coast of Saint-Raphaël is ideal for SUP and diving, and is home to underwater residents including barracuda, moray eel, grouper, sea urchin, octopus and spiny lobster. Seasoned divers can explore the Sagona, a shipwreck 40 metres below the surface between the islands of Port-Cros and Porquerolles.

Water sports: swim, snorkel or paddle

“I was born in Grasse and did all my schooling on the Côte d’Azur before joining the Antibes academy. Saint Donat is my favourite course. I’ve always played there. Becoming an ambassador was a natural step for me.

Romain Langasque (professional golfer, PGA European Tour)

“I swim in the sea every day, in summer and in winter, without a wetsuit. More and more people are freediving because it is the simplest, purest way to reconnect with the elements, much like hiking in the mountains.”

Guillaume Néry (multiple freediving world record holder)

Golf/water sports IIILAND, SEA AND SUN

Cycling IVA FREEWHEELIN’ SUMMER

Running VIFROM PROMONTORIES TO PEAKS

Event calendar VII

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• Physical distancing rules: 2 metres for sports activities and 1 metre when not moving.• Groups: limited to 10 people in the same place at

the golf course. • Locker rooms: individual lockers may be accessed

via common areas, limited to 10 people at a time. • Carts and equipment may be rented if cleaned after

use. The club will be responsible for cleaning. • Players may remove flags and stakes, and use bunker

rakes, but must wash hands BEFORE doing so. Players are therefore advised to carry a bottle of hand sanitizer. • Players may not exchange scorecards.• Masks must be worn in indoor areas when physical

distancing is not possible. These measures may be adapted locally accord-ing to individual club capacities.

Safe golfing

David LisnardChairmanRegional Tourist BoardCÔTE d’AZUR FRANCEMayor of Cannes

VIV Côte d’AzurCôte d’Azur

MTB challenge—are a must for those keen to take things up a notch. Some areas also have lifts to get bikes to the top in no time, leaving you to simply choose a descent you can handle… Other spots around Mont Chauve, Peille and Blausasc are more demanding but are popular with local riders. All areas are open to e-bikes, giving riders an easier way to explore this amazing region.

Gravel: heading into the hinterland Gravel bikes are the latest addition to the cycling family, combining the best of road and mountain biking. They are also the perfect way to segue from tarmac to trail and explore the hinterland behind Nice. If you’d like to discover the sport, the Gravel Trophy (October 3-4) is a good place to start: a sporting and cultural adventure with three challenges to choose from. The different trails run from Valberg to Vence, offering a two-day route with a bivouac at base camp to enjoy the Barbe’Cute Party. The event also has a separate ranking for e-bikes. Participants must use dropbars and no suspension.

Triathlon: no better place to transition Cannes and Nice host high-profile international triathlons and provide the perfect setting for all three disciplines, with sheltered bays, hilly hinterland and flat coastline. The Cannes event starts from Bijou Beach before heading into the back country and ending with a run along La Croisette. For endurance enthusiasts, there is the Nice Ironman on October 11, when swimmers start on Centenaire Beach then embark on a 180km ride over the hills of the Préalpes d’Azur Regional Park and end with a marathon along the Promenade des Anglais seafront. The Ironman 70.3 Nice (September 13) rounds out a fabulous Ironman programme. Three “Trigames” events take place in Cagnes-sur-Mer (August 30), home to the French L-distance championships, La Seyne-sur-Mer (September 20) and Mandelieu-la Napoule (October 18)

cycling

Road: the Mercantour climbs await The world of cycling has come to know the mountains of the Mercantour through high-profile races like the Tour

de France, as well as the Classic and Granfondo events (see calendar). Valberg provides all the infrastructure needed to accommodate visitors. Climbs like the

Col du Turini, Col Saint-Martin and Col de la Couillole (hors catégorie) add a little spice to mountain outings, while the Cime de la Bonette (2,802m) is a must for anyone with a penchant for polka dots...

Touring: EuroVelo 8 cycle routeThe French portion of the EuroVelo 8 cycle route spans close to 850km between the Pyrénées and the Alps. It meets the sea

at Mandelieu-la-Napoule and continues along an unbroken stretch of coast through Cannes, Nice and Menton. Special signs and route work now underway (40% cycle path and 60% low-traffic roads) will eventually link the Spanish port of Cadiz to Athens, Greece.

MTB: from the Esterel to the Alps via the Valmasque The Esterel range is known for its reddish rocks, sea views, enduro trails and the Roc d’Azur festival from October 7-11. The undulating trails of the Valmasque nature reserve near Antibes provide a wealth of forest trails. Meanwhile, the mountain resorts of Valberg, Auron, Isola 2000 and Colmiane—home to the Transvesubienne

Despite the disruption to this year’s calendar and the Tour de France postponement until late August, the Côte d’Azur remains an outstanding destination for cyclists, offering everything from MTB and gravel to road cycling and e-biking.

“My favourite spot is between Escarène and Berre-les-Alpes near Blausasc. The trails are beautiful, with rounded rocks that provide good traction, and nothing too extreme. I would recommend taking a guided e-bike tour from Grave-de-Peille station.”

Nicolas Vouilloz (MTB world champion)

“I arrived on the French Riviera in 2010 and never left because the region had everything I needed to train. I work with Yves Cordier (Ironman France organiser), who coached me to a second-place finish in the Nice Ironman.”

Jeanne Collonge (elite triathlete)

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A freewheelin’ summer

VIIVI Côte d’AzurCôte d’Azur

Coastal trail: the headland trilogyA run or stroll along the coastal path round Cap d’Antibes, Cap Ferrat and Cap Martin is a great way to combine sightseeing

and physical exercise. Cap d’Antibes can be explored via the Chemin du Calvaire, which leads to the Garoupe sanctuary, or the Tire-Poil trail, which winds by creeks and prestigious properties, some of which are open to the public, such as Villa Eilenroc, with its 11 hectares of gardens. Cap Ferrat is ringed by six kilometres of paths that offer a unique panoramic view of Villefranche harbour. They also provide access to sites such as the Ephrussi de Rothschild villa and museum, with its wonderful landscaped gardens. Not to be outdone, the 4.6km Cap Martin trail reveals the bay of Roquebrune on one side and Monaco on the other.

Mountains: Mercan’tour de forceThe Mercantour mountains are popular for winter resorts such as Isola 2000, Auron and Valberg, and are a breath of fresh air for holidaymakers in summer. The Grande Traversée du Mercantour stretches over 200km from Estenc to Menton, amassing 12,000m of vertical gain along the way. In the Vésubie Valley, trail runners can hone their skills at the official Station Trail®, while families can visit Vesùbia Mountain Park, a destination without peer in Europe, offering activities such as indoor canyoning

and climbing. In summertime, Valberg offers three trail-running events and plenty of hiking routes, such as the Planetary Trail: a journey through the solar system in which every metre travelled represents one million metres in space.

Outstanding races The crowning event on the trail running calendar is the Ultra Trail Côte d’Azur Mercantour (UTCAM), which takes place on September 3-5. The route wends its way from Levens to Saint-Martin-Vésubie, topping out at 2,526m as competitors crest Mont Archas. The event features relays and an array of distance options (130km, 70km, 45km and a vertical kilometre) to explore the region between Nice and the Mercantour. The Nice-Cannes Marathon (November 8) is not just a race. It is also an opportunity to see the sights, with 95% of the course along the seafront. From the start, on the Promenade des Anglais, the route stretches along the Baie des Anges to Fort Carré (the halfway mark). Runners then round the Cap

d’Antibes with its pine groves at 30km and into Golfe-Juan for the final 12km to Cannes and the well-known Croisette promenade.

running

From promontories to peaksHikers and runners can explore 6,000km of marked trails linking sea to summits.

“I fell in love with the French Riviera when I was 18 and made it my home. It’s an outstanding region because it is so diverse. I run all over the world but when I land in Nice, I tell myself I’m really lucky. My fondest memory is winning the UTCAM in 2018.”

Sébastien Camus (UTCAM winner) ©

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Book now

Quick-click reservation Designed to provide a marketplace in which each service provider lists the latest special offers, this website gives users quick-click access to information, bookings and payment for outdoor activities (in French) cotedazurfrance.fr/achetez-vos-activites

Package deals To watch or take part in some 40 sporting events held every year on the French Riviera, visit cotedazur-sejours.com: a one-stop shop for accommodation, registration, tickets, hospitality and more. You can also find a list of “athlete friendly” hotels (in French) on cotedazurfrance.fr/a-faire/activites-sportives

Active recovery The Thalazur spas in Bandol and Antibes offer seawater therapy programmes with a number of different opportunities to promote recovery, including three-day stays combining relaxation, revitalization and spa treatment. Details available (in French) at thalazur.fr

Vesubia Mountain Park Just an hour from Nice Airport, Europe’s first indoor mountain centre offers canyoning, caving, climbing, vertical challenges and a swimming pool (and spa), under the supervision of French outdoor sports association UCPA. A unique attraction on the French Riviera with 3,000 m2 of facilities in the heart of Saint-Martin-Vésubie village. Details available (in French) at vesubia-mountain-park.fr

AUGUST 14: RACE ACROSS FRANCE Mandelieu-la-Napoule raceacrossfrance.cc 29: TOUR DE FRANCE – GRAND DEPART NICE letour.fr 30: TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 2, NICE HAUT PAYS 30: TRIGAMES CAGNES-SUR-MER trigames.fr

SEPTEMBER 3-5: ULTRA TRAIL CÔTE D’AZUR MERCANTOUR

utcam06.com 6: ETAPE DU TOURLetapedutourdefrance.com13: IRONMAN NICE 70.3 ironman.com 16-20: LES VOILES D’ANTIBES voilesdantibes.com

9-20: LA TRANSVESUBIENNE – La Colmiane – Nice ucc-sportevent.com/transvesubienne 20: CANNES HALF – MARATHON semi-cannes.com 21-26: REGATES ROYALES – Cannes regatesroyales.com

OCTOBER NEW 3-4: GRAVEL TROPHY – Valberg-Vence graveltrophy.com 7-11: ROC D’AZUR – Roquebrune-sur-Argens rocazur.com 11: IRONMAN NICE

ironman.com 4: TRANSVWEST – MTB – Théoule sur mer ucc-sportevent.com 17-18: SWIMRUN CANNES OTILLO otilloswimrun.com

18: TRIGAMES MANDELIEU-LA-NAPOULE trigames.fr 25: SEMI-MARATHON NICE semi-nice.fr nicesemimarathon.com 25: SWIMRUN CÔTE D’AZUR – Beaulieu-sur-Mer – St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat – Villefranche-sur-Mer swimruncotedazur.fr

NOVEMBER 8: MARATHON DES ALPES-MARITIMES – Nice-Cannes

marathon06.com

Programme for information purposes only and subject to change. All events listed on COTEDAZURFRANCE.FR#CotedAzurFrance @visitcotedazur

EVENT CALENDAR

130 KMD+ 8700 M

70 KMD + 5000 M

45 KMD+ 3400 M

KM VERTICALD+ 1 160 M

DU 3 AU 5 SEPTEMBRE 2020

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PMS BLACK PMS 186C PMS PMS PMS PMS

DIMANCHE 11 OCTOBRE

A CHANGE OF SCENERY

inspire#CotedAzurFrance Enjoy our amazing region, with its wealth of outdoor attractions from sea to summit. Relax, recharge and reconnect. Our tourism professionals will be on hand to help and ensure your stay is safe, inclusive and above all memorable. Come and do what you enjoy!

Special distancing measures • Bib pick-up times based on race

number, with distancing rules, masks and hand sanitizers.• Larger corral and wave start.• Aid stations with hand

sanitizers, masks for volunteers and individual servings.

UTCAM