This was our preview for IRONMAN France Nice on Sunday June 25, 2023. Click here for a full report and results after Clement Mignon claimed an emphatic home win.
IRONMAN France Nice will offer some of the final slots available to the men’s IRONMAN World Championships at the same venue on September 10, as a strong contingent of athletes head to the French Riviera for a men’s professional race.
Whilst Alistair Brownlee, along with the likes of Cam Wurf and Rudy Von Berg was meant to be racing in Nice, all three are now unlikely to be competing, with von Berg and Brownlee certainly not travelling down to the South of France.
Instead, a very strong domestic field including some of the best French athletes, such as World Long Course Champion Clement Mignon and IRONMAN Lanzarote winner Arthur Horseau will get a taste of what’s to come at the world championships in three months time.
Start time and how to follow
IRONMAN France Nice will take place on Sunday, June 25 2023. Racing will begin at 07:30 local time, which corresponds to 06:30 UK time and 01:30 on the East Coast.
There is no live broadcast or streaming this weekend, which means that the ever reliable IRONMAN Tracker app is going to be your primary source of live information.
Pro Men
There is some serious domestic talent in this field, as the French, led by IRONMAN South Africa winner Leon Chevalier, are very well represented on home turf.
Already qualified for Nice, Chevalier will be looking to take some confidence from a good result this weekend, especially after his last race at the PTO Tour European Open ended with a disappointing 23rd place.
Seventh at the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona last year, the 26 year old will be a real threat in Nice this September, and will benefit from a race on what might well be the course three months out from the big day.
Notably joining Chevalier from the home nation is world champion Mignon, who still needs to secure his Nice slot, as well as the likes of Challenge Cagnes-Sur-Mer winner William Mennesson and IRONMAN Lanzarote winner Horseau.
![Men podium Wurf Heldoorn Horseau IRONMAN Lanzarote 2023 [Photo credit: James Mitchell / Club La Santa IRONMAN Lanzarote]](https://eoabtbwhbrs.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Men-podium-Wurf-Heldoorn-Horseau-wins-IRONMAN-Lanzarote-2023.jpg?lossy=1&ssl=1)
Horseau, who lost out on his slot to the world championships after missing the ceremony in Lanzarote, is said to still be working to rectify the situation, but comes to Nice with a point to prove.
Having finished third here last year, the PTO World #76 will face some stiff competition for a world championships berth, but has gone from strength-to-strength over the last two years and seems capable of another big result.
Finally, long distance veteran Bart Aernouts is one of the only non-French contenders for the win, along with Denmark’s Kristian Hogenhaug. Belgian Aernouts, who finished second at Kona in 2018, is also in need of a slot for Nice.
Prize Money: What’s on the line?
The total pro prize purse for IRONMAN France Nice is $50,000, with the winner collecting $15,000.
In addition to money, there will be three qualifying slots for the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France on September 10, 2023.
The total funds will be paid ten-deep, as follows:
- $15,000
- $9,000
- $7,000
- $5,000
- $4,000
- $3,000
- $2,500
- $2,000
- $1,500
- $1,000
Of course, in addition to the on-the-day prizes, the results of this event will contribute to the athletes’ PTO Rankings, which has a significant prize fund on offer. This year, IRONMAN France Nice is a Silver Tier race on the PTO calendar, with all the details on the new PTO tiering system for the 2023 season available here.
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