This weekend’s IRONMAN and 70.3 races in Nice have been postponed as the scorching heatwave continues to hit large areas of Europe with sweltering temperatures that have already reached 40C.
Athletes were informed of the decision this morning after local authorities cancelled both events due to the rising temperatures across the region and ‘in the interests of the health and safety of all athletes’.
Temperatures are expected to spike once again on Saturday as the blast of unrelenting sun continues to cause havoc across the continent.
Talks are underway to find a new date
Around 4,500 people had been registered to take part over the weekend, while the 70.3 was also a final opportunity for the elite women to qualify for this year’s World Championships.
Talks are already underway between IRONMAN and the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture regarding a potential new date for the races, but nothing has yet been agreed.
A statement from IRONMAN reads: “IRONMAN can confirm that the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture has issued a notice of cancellation of the Ramify IRONMAN France Nice and the IRONMAN 70.3 Nice triathlons, scheduled to take place this Sunday, June 28, in response to the rising temperatures.”
“The safety and well-being of our athletes, volunteers, staff, and the wider community are always our top priority. We respect the decision of the authorities and have been working in close coordination with the City of Nice and relevant stakeholders throughout this process.
Concern over impact on healthcare services
“We understand the disappointment this news will bring to the thousands of athletes who have travelled to Nice to participate, as well as to their families and supporters. We share in that disappointment.
“IRONMAN and the City of Nice are working collaboratively to determine appropriate solutions, including a potential replacement date. Further details will be communicated as soon as possible. We thank our athletes, partners, and the local community for their understanding.”
The prefecture also issued a statement stating that while the safety of athletes was paramount, they were concerned about the impact the events could have on local emergency and healthcare services.
“The weather conditions, combined with the extension of the orange heatwave alert in the department and the context of a prolonged heatwave episode that has affected the national territory for the past ten days, have led us to cancel both races,” said the prefecture.
Follows cancellation of Hamburg half-marathon
“This decision has been taken both to safeguard the health and safety of all participants (athletes, organisers, and the security and emergency personnel mobilised for the event) and to avoid placing any additional strain on emergency and healthcare services, which are already under significant pressure across the region.”
The athlete village will remain open on Saturday, and athletes are welcome to collect their event backpacks until Saturday at 3pm.
It was announced earlier this week that the Hamburg half-marathon had also been cancelled due to the heatwave; however, the IRONMAN Frankfurt race, due to take place on Sunday, is still scheduled to go ahead, although both the bike and run are likely to be shortened for the age-group athletes.
