Jess Learmonth heads what could be a stellar cast for IRONMAN 70.3 Nice 2025 next Sunday (June 29) as she continues her return towards peak fitness.

The 37-year-old Olympic gold medallist from Tokyo 2021 was absolutely brilliant at T100 Vancouver last weekend, hanging with the great Taylor Knibb throughout a blistering bike leg before finally falling back to third on the run.

That result was another major step forward for Jess as she continues her recovery from a calf tear earlier this year, and it came despite a lack of run training heading in.

IM 70.3 Worlds slots up for grabs

Now Learmonth appears set to transition to IRONMAN 70.3 combat with places for the World Championship in Marbella later this year up for grabs.

Heading the opposition to the Leeds star will be Kaidi Kivioja (EST) – who will be looking to improve on her fifth-place finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside in April. That saw her narrowly miss out on a spot for Marbella.

French natives on the start list include the likes Julie Lemmolo, Anne-Sophie Pierre and Léa Riccoboni who is making her pro debut this year.

Smith vs Van Riel, rivalry renewed

Wearing bib number one for the men’s race is New Zealand star Kyle Smith, who finished a terrific fourth in last year’s IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on home soil in Taupõ. His main threat will be reigning T100 World Champion Marten Van Riel (BEL), with whom he had that incredible sprint finish at T100 San Francisco last year.  

Leon Chevallier, Clement Mignon, and Simon Vivian make up a strong French contingent, and no doubt all eyes will be on Vivian after his third place at IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence.

Nicolas Mann (GER) returns to IRONMAN 70.3 racing after a breakthrough season last year saw him clock victories at both IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun and IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendee.