Trail Duro Nice begins at the Colline du Chateau in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, employing an enduro-style trail format rather than a continuous timed race. Participants select a short trail route of approximately 10 to 12 km or a longer one around 17 to 20 km, with elevation gains between 370 m and 600 m, varying by course. This event is scheduled as a winter or late-season Nice fixture, and the broader Trail Duro series utilizes other mountain and hill sites within the department.
The format is key: only specific sectors are timed, with liaison sections between them not counting towards the race clock. This allows runners to exert maximum effort on technical and physical segments, then relax, regroup with companions, and proceed to the next timed section without maintaining a constant high pace. Individuals can compete solo or as a pair; in the duo category, the second teammate to cross each finish line determines the team's time, encouraging partners to remain together. All participants are listed in the solo general classification, and the series also recognizes top performers across three challenge stages. Nice editions feature 1 km and 2 km races for children, expanding the event's scope beyond the adult trail categories.