A French one-day race in the Alpes-Maritimes
Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes
A sharp, tactical one-day race in the hills above the French Riviera, where positioning and timing matter more than pure power.
- Location
- 🇫🇷 France
- When
- First Wednesday in June
- Course
- One Day
- Most recent winner
- 🇪🇸 Ibon Ruiz (2026)
- Category
- Men’s Continental
About Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes
Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes is a men's one-day bike race held in early June in southeastern France. The route runs through the Alpes-Maritimes department, where the foothills of the Alps meet the Mediterranean hinterland, offering rolling terrain and short climbs that reward tactical versatility over pure climbing power.
This is a race shaped by the terrain of the French Riviera's hinterland: short climbs, narrow roads, and the kind of rolling profile that rewards tactical sharpness over sustained climbing. It sits in the calendar window between the Giro and the Tour, often drawing a mix of stage-race riders looking for form and opportunistic one-day specialists. The finale typically unfolds quickly, and the race rarely follows the script.
Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 🇪🇸Ibon Ruiz |
| 2025 | 🇮🇹Antonio Tiberi |
| 2024 | 🇲🇽Isaac Del Toro |
| 2023 | 🇮🇹Giulio Ciccone |
| 2022 | 🇨🇴Nairo Quintana |
2026 results
This edition is complete.
Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes route
The course moves through the hills north of Nice and the coastal plain, with repeated short climbs and descents that fragment the field without offering a single decisive summit. Positioning into the final circuits or climbs becomes critical, and the race often comes down to a small group sprint or a late attack that holds by seconds. The terrain does not suit pure sprinters or pure climbers, which opens the door for versatile riders who can read the race and place themselves well in the closing kilometers. Weather in early June can range from Mediterranean heat to sudden rain, and wind off the coast occasionally plays a role in how the peloton splits.
What shapes the race
Race type
One-day race in the Alpes-Maritimes, through the hills behind the French Riviera. Climbing-oriented.
Typical winner
A climber who can handle the repeated ascents in the Alpes-Maritimes foothills.
Signature landmarks
The hills behind the French Riviera.
- Terrain
Alpes-Maritimes hills
The alpine foothills behind Nice provide rolling, punchy terrain.
- Setting
French Riviera hinterland
The race runs through the hills north of the Mediterranean coast.
History
Iconic victories
Nairo Quintana
Won the inaugural edition in 2022, lending Grand Tour credibility to a new climbing race.
Isaac Del Toro
Won in 2024 at 19 years old, showing the race can launch careers.
Eras and records
A new climbing race in the Riviera hinterland, first held in 2022.
First edition
The race was first held in 2022, a new addition to the French calendar.