Trail des Balcons d’Azur welcomes European title contenders and visiting runners to France’s Côte d’Azur for a trail adventure in the Estérel.
XTERRA will bring the 2027 European Trail Run Championship to Mandelieu-La Napoule, France, at XTERRA Trail des Balcons d’Azur Mandelieu. Scheduled for April 10-11, 2027, the weekend will award European titles in the Trail Half Marathon and Trail Marathon, with shorter and ultra-distance races completing a schedule based at Parc Familial de Robinson.
Pre-registration opens November 10, 2026. Places are expected to fill quickly, with a lottery system used to allocate entries.
The Estérel
“As someone who lives just two hours from Mandelieu and is originally from Nice, I’m really excited about the upcoming XTERRA European Trail Run Championship,” said Nico Lebrun, XTERRA Technical Director. He describes the championship as “a chance to show off our beautiful Côte d’Azur, which I love.”
The championship courses take runners into the Estérel Massif, a volcanic mountain range along the Côte d’Azur, where rocky climbs open onto views of the Mediterranean and the massif’s red volcanic formations. Mandelieu’s coastal location places the event approximately 35K from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, providing a nearby arrival point for runners travelling from elsewhere in Europe.
“Hosting the XTERRA European Trail Run Championship is a fantastic way to showcase our exceptional heritage, the Estérel massif and the town of Mandelieu-La Napoule,” said race organiser Philippe Cordero. “As organizers, we are immensely proud to welcome such a major sporting event to Mandelieu.”
Cordero founded the race with Laurent Gourmaud in 2007. Balcons d’Azur joined the XTERRA in 2021, as Cordero’s relationship with Lebrun helped bring the event into the XTERRA Trail Run calendar. The European Championship appointment arrives 20 years after its inception, recognising the work of a well-established organising team.
European Titles
“The European Championship began in Molveno, Italy, in 2023, followed by Arinsal, Andorra, in 2024 and Collbató, Spain, in 2025. O-SEE in Germany hosted this October, and now we’re coming to Mandelieu in 2027,” said Landry Benoit, XTERRA Trail Run Technical Director. “Each move gives runners a different course to test themselves as we bring the championship to another vibrant trail community.”
Saturday, April 10, pairs the 23K Trail Half Marathon championship race, with 1,000M of climbing, while a 14k Capitou offers a shorter option for runners building their experience or choosing a more compact challenge.
Sunday, April 11, brings the 47K Trail des Balcons d’Azur, the Trail Marathon championship race, with 2,200M of climbing. The 68K Ultra Trail des Balcons d’Azur extends the weekend’s distance options for experienced runners. European titles will be decided in the 23K and 47K races; the 14K and ultra are additional events.
“The championship races are open to all eligible runners, with European titles awarded to athletes representing European countries,” Benoit added. “The two distances also offer a route to the Trail Run World Championship in Gozo, Malta through age-group qualification. Runners can come to compete against the best in their division or to take on a new course at their own pace.”
Beyond the Championship
Local runner Salima Delhoum of France has already taken that route. She walked 2K from her home to Balcons d’Azur and earned an invitation to the 2024 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship after finishing third in her age group. In an interview with XTERRA ahead of that championship, she explained her approach: “When I go running, I have no specific goal other than pleasure.”
Cordero added, “In particular, we want to develop races for children, such as XTERRA Kids, as well as new entertainment throughout the weekend: live music, DJs, and other highlights to keep the village buzzing, even between the different events.”
Once pre-registration opens November 10, visit the XTERRA Trail des Balcons d’Azur Mandelieu event page to enter the selection process. Direct registration for any remaining spots will open November 18.
