The ‘Last Dance’ for Jan Frodeno did not have a fairytale ending in Nice on Sunday, but the German great still showed the class of a champion as Sam Laidlow claimed the IRONMAN World Championship title for 2023.
The relentless 24-year-old Laidlow claimed a famous victory on home soil by taking control on the bike and holding his lead for the rest of the way on a blisteringly hot day on the Cote d’Azur.
Frodeno meanwhile, despite being out of the race for the win as the run began and hampered by an injury, kissed his family in T2 before completing the final marathon of his incredible pro career with a smile on his face.
Two-time champion Patrick Lange produced a terrific run to claim second place with Danish giant Magnus Ditlev third.
IRONMAN World Championship Full Results
Here is the full finishing order from Nice on Sunday:
- Sam Laidlow (FRA) – 8:06:22
- Patrick Lange (GER) – 8:10:17
- Magnus Ditlev (DEN) – 8:11:43
- Rudy von Berg (USA) – 8:12:57
- Leon Chevalier (FRA) – 8:15:57
- Arthur Horseau (FRA) – 8:18:36
- Bradley Weiss (RSA) – 8:20:54
- Gregory Barnaby (ITA) – 8:21:15
- Robert Wilkowiecki (POL) – 8:21:23
- Clement Mignon (FRA) – 8:24:10
- Matthew Marquardt (USA) – 8:26:17
- Arnaud Guilloux (FRA) – 8:28:53
- Benjamin Hill (AUS) – 8:29:41
- Cameron Wurf (AUS) – 8:30:42
- Niek Heldoorn (NED) – 8:32:33
- Braden Currie (NZL) – 8:38:50
- Mathias Petersen (DEN) – 8:40:11
- Remi Conte (FRA) – 8:43:38
- Leonard Arnold (GER) – 8:44:44
- Jonas Hoffman (GER) – 8:44:54
- Matt Hanson (USA) – 8:45:55
- Andre Lopes (BRA) – 8:46:15
- Ben Phillips (NZL) – 8:48:00
- Jan Frodeno (GER) – 8:48:42
- Franz Loeschke (GER) – 8:57:34
- Georg Enzenberger (AUT) – 9:00:29
- Fernando Toldi (BRA) – 9:06:54
- Maximilian Hammerle (AUT) – 9:20:37
- Adam Feigh (USA) – 9:32:16
- Joe Skipper (GBR) – 9:40:13
- Tuan Chun Chang (TWN) – 10:04:28
- Brent McMahon (CAN) – 11:21:14
