It’s not Kona. It’s the first Ironman World Championship in Nice. It’s time to get excited

If  you were on a deserted island without internet coverage from, say, December to about April of last year, you might not know why we’re gearing up for the first Ironman World Championship in Nice on Sunday.

Here’s the short version of how we got here: Ironman had expected to have two days of racing in Kona for years to come. The community rebelled after one year of dealing with Thursday and Saturday race-day bedlam, and Ironman had to find a new venue. (You can read more details here.) In the end it was decided that the women would race in Kona this October, while the men would compete in Nice. Next year they’ll switch. There’s been lots of push back over the decision, with a good chunk of the people who had qualified for the race on the Big Island before last December choosing to defer their world championship slot until Kona, 2024.

Nice is not Kona. Get over it

There’s lots of reason to look forward to the event here in Nice, though. (If you really want to get excited about an Ironman in Nice, listen to our upcoming podcast with Mark Allen.) As we begin our coverage in earnest, here’s a look at why Nice is such a great choice for a world championship.

World Championship venue

It was hardly a surprise to see Ironman choose Nice as the alternate site when it became apparent that Kona wasn’t prepared to host two days of racing. Since 1982, the year of the inaugural Nice International Triathlon, the region has been the historic home of long-distance racing in Europe, with some of the world’s top triathletes racing through the Alps and along the Côte d’Azur. While IMG stopped putting on the Nice International event in 1993, between 1994 and 2002 Nice hosted the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championship five times. Since 2005 Nice has hosted an Ironman event, one of the most popular of the company’s races in Europe.

(Read about Mohammed Arafat, the man pictured above, and his incredible Ironman journey below.)

“If you can dream it, you can make it happen.” Meet Bangladesh’s first Ironman World Championship finisher

In 2019 Nice hosted the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, an event that was widely considered to be hugely successful, setting the stage for yet another world championship event here in France.

Course

The day will begin with 3.8 km,  swim in the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The athletes start at the Plage de Ponchettes, and do a double-rectangular course.

Next up is a 180 km bike that will include 2,400 m of climbing through the Maritime Alps. The region is often a host for the Tour de France – the historic climbs are a challenge for the world’s best cyclists, and its not like the climbs get easier on a tri bike. No matter how hard you’re pushing, it’s hard not to take in some of the spectacular views in the mountains. It’s best to take all that in during the climbs and up in the mountains – the descents require lots of attention as you fly back home to T2.

The run course will include four out-and-back loops along the iconic Promenade des Anglais. The run courses here in Nice have always been renowned for the incredible atmosphere. Fans and tourists line the entire run course, cheering athletes along.

Enjoy the French Riviera

While this is, of course, firstly a world championship, one would hope that athletes and their families alike will do their best to take in the incredible sights and attractions of the French Riviera. Cannes is a short drive in one direction, while Monaco is an easy bike ride in the other. Combining a trip to the worlds with a holiday is hardly a stretch. Family members or friends not competing can enjoy the beach, the various sites and the wonderful French cuisine and atmosphere.

Nice isn’t Kona

We thought we got this covered earlier. No, this is most definitely not Hawaii. Who knows how all this double-event stuff will play out in the future, but since we’re here, it makes sense to embrace what we’re seeing.

While Jan Frodeno looks to bow out of the sport with a big win here in France, this isn’t necessarily a course that suits him. All the climbing is likely to change the dynamics of the race dramatically – it’s hard to imagine we’re going to see a lead group of 20 to 30 men lined up at legal distance for a huge chunk of the bike ride. This is a race that could truly suit a great climber. While it is likely to be hot on Sunday, it won’t be as humid (or likely quite as hot) as Kona, which means this is a course that will suit an athlete who sweats a lot a bit better than Kona might. While a fast run has always been a key to winning in Kona, this super-flat, super-fast course could provide us some frighteningly fast marathon splits.

At the end of the day, it will be very interesting to see who can come out on top and take the inaugural title here.

It’s the first Ironman World Championship in Nice. And it’s going to be quite a race. Stay tuned for lots more coverage.