France running round-up: Manon Gras wins Nice–Cannes and a local runner reaches the podium
By AthRecs Editorial · 2 min read
Manon Gras won the women's Nice–Cannes Marathon, Julien Gueydon reached the men's podium, and France had further representation beyond its own borders.
When Lemi Gerema took the men's title at Nice–Cannes, the podium told an international story. But France had its own winners and leading finishers to celebrate. Manon Gras won the women's marathon in 2:41:02, while Julien Gueydon of Nice finished third man in 2:24:58.
For a race running between two of the Riviera's most famous cities, those home performances mattered. Gueydon had also reached the men's podium in 2024, while Gras finished more than six minutes ahead of the next woman in 2026.
The French weekend also reached beyond the Mediterranean roads. French athletes appeared in the international Itálica cross-country field in Spain, offering another view of the variety of talent across disciplines.
A home victory for Gras and a podium for Gueydon
Gras won the women's Nice–Cannes Marathon in 2:41:02. Hanna Ottewil was second in 2:47:58 and Aline Camboulives third in 2:53:41, a podium worth recording in full rather than naming only the winner.
Gerema's 2:13:27 brought the men's win to Ethiopia. Abdisa Saketa followed in 2:18:37, with Gueydon the third-place finisher in 2:24:58. Gueydon repeated a podium appearance from 2024 and gave local supporters an athlete close to home to recognise.
The fastest men's finish was outside the event record of 2:07:25. That does not diminish what any of the day's champions achieved. Nor should the absence of a record be used to sideline the age-category winners once the official divisions are available.
French representation in the Itálica Cross
Alice Finot represented France in the women's international event at Cross Internacional de Itálica, finishing 13th in the organiser's classification in 33:36. She was racing in a different discipline from the Riviera marathoners, but belongs in a country-wide account of the weekend.
Her cross-country result, like the marathon finishes, should only be attached to a pre-existing AthRecs profile after identity and source verification. The report can credit a result without overriding an athlete's choice about profile visibility.
Sources: Official Itálica women's international results
Quick answers
Who won the women's Nice–Cannes Marathon in 2026?
French runner Manon Gras won in 2:41:02.
Which runner from Nice made the 2026 marathon podium?
Julien Gueydon finished third in the men's race in 2:24:58.