Nice–Cannes Marathon 2026: Gerema takes the win, Gras tops the women
By AthRecs Editorial · 3 min read
Lemi Gerema took the men's title along the Mediterranean. Manon Gras won the women's race, and Nice athlete Julien Gueydon made the men's podium — a result with particular meaning for local supporters.
Lemi Gerema won the Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice–Cannes in 2:13:27 on Sunday 8 November, completing the journey between two of the French Riviera's most recognisable coastal cities. The Ethiopian had established a clear lead before the finish in Cannes, leaving his rivals to race for the other podium places.
For local runners and spectators, the day brought two stories especially worth celebrating. Manon Gras won the women's marathon in 2:41:02, while Julien Gueydon, from Nice, placed third in the men's race in 2:24:58. Neither needed a course record to make the 18th edition memorable.
The race's long coast-hugging route finishes on the Croisette. The sea views are familiar to anyone who has followed the event, but the finishing times still belonged to the athletes who earned them — through training, racing and a competitive marathon morning.
Gerema wins; Gueydon returns to the podium
Gerema's 2:13:27 earned him a clear victory over compatriot Abdisa Saketa, who finished in 2:18:37. Julien Gueydon followed in 2:24:58. Returning to a podium he had also reached in 2024, Gueydon gave the home region a contender to acclaim.
The men's event record, Milaw Abrha's 2:07:25 from 2018, survived. For Gerema, winning an international marathon on this coastal course was nevertheless a significant achievement in itself.
Road running · 42.195 km
Nice–Cannes Marathon
Nice–Cannes Marathon · reported leading times, official edition classification to be verified
Men
| Pos | Athlete | Country | Finish time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lemi Gerema | ETHEthiopia | 2:13:27 |
| 2 | Abdisa Saketa | ETHEthiopia | 2:18:37 |
| 3 | Julien Gueydon | FRAFrance | 2:24:58 |
Women
| Pos | Athlete | Country | Finish time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manon Gras | FRAFrance | 2:41:02 |
| 2 | Hanna Ottewil | FRAFrance | 2:47:58 |
| 3 | Aline Camboulives | FRAFrance | 2:53:41 |
Sources: Nice Premium race report
Gras and the women's top three
Gras led the women's marathon in 2:41:02, with Hanna Ottewil next in 2:47:58 and Aline Camboulives third in 2:53:41. Their podium deserves to be read as a competitive women's race, not merely as a subset of the mixed overall results.
The gaps tell part of the story: Gras built a lead of almost seven minutes over second place. Ottewil and Camboulives, meanwhile, completed a strong French top three. The names should remain linked to the correct race and distance once the full result file is recorded.
Sources: Official 2026 results hub · Local podium report
What gives Nice–Cannes its character
The race starts in Nice and finishes in Cannes, following an exposed Mediterranean route punctuated by resort towns and coastal bends. This is not a reason to manufacture a dramatic weather narrative: actual wind and temperature measurements would need race-day sources. But the setting is undeniably part of the marathon's identity.
The event's 2026 age-category and age-graded achievements still need the official full classifications. Those awards should be added with the same prominence and care as the leading senior finishers, while respecting athletes' profile choices.
Sources: Organiser result index · Nice race-day podiums
Quick answers
Who won the Nice–Cannes Marathon 2026?
Lemi Gerema won the men's marathon in 2:13:27 and Manon Gras won the women's race in 2:41:02.
Who was the leading local athlete at Nice–Cannes?
Nice runner Julien Gueydon finished third in the men's marathon in 2:24:58.