Following the huge news that the IRONMAN World Championships are returning to Kona for both men and women on the same day from 2026 onwards, where does that leave Nice?
The French city has shared the event with Kona since 2023, when the men raced on the Cote d’Azur while the women locked horns in Hawai’i.
That alternated in 2024 and will do so again this year, with Nice hosting the 2025 men’s IRONMAN World Championship on September 14.
And while the IRONMAN press release put a positive spin on the news for Nice, the bottom line is that the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship for women, which had been scheduled to be held in France, will now be in Hawai’i.
Consolation prize
However there will still be World Championship triathlon on the Cote d’Azur in the years to come.
For the release revealed: “In conjunction with this announcement, IRONMAN is pleased to also extend its partnership for world championship events with the City of Nice, France through 2028 as the host for the 2026 and 2028 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship as well as a mutual option to host the event in 2030.
“As the birthplace of long-distance triathlon in Europe, Nice has continued to build an incredible legacy in the sport of triathlon and in IRONMAN history after hosting the 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, 2023 Men’s IRONMAN World Championship, and 2024 Women’s IRONMAN World Championship triathlons.
“With over 20 years of partnership between IRONMAN and the city of Nice, the triathlon community has enjoyed historic performances, inspiring athletes and stories, and one of the most iconic courses in the history of the sport, making it an ideal destination for future IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship events. By 2028, Nice will have hosted a total of six IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship events, the second most of all host cities behind only Kona, Hawai`i.”
Nice’s rich triathlon heritage
Nice holds historical significance in the world of triathlon. It was there in 1982 that long-distance triathlon in Europe was born with the inaugural “Triathlon International de Nice”.
Between 1994 and 2002, Nice proudly hosted the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships five times before it became an IRONMAN event in 2005. Since then, Nice has been one of the most popular locations on the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 race circuit, hosting both IRONMAN France, and later, IRONMAN 70.3 Nice France.
As well as the IRONMAN World Championships in 2023, 2024 and soon to be 2025, it also produced a spectacular 70.3 World Championships in 2019.
The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, was referenced by the IRONMAN Group’s CEO Scott DeRue when the news about the return to Kona was announced.
DeRue said: “Mayor Estrosi and Ville de Nice are incredible partners in elevating our World Championship events to be world-class experiences for our athletes and the global triathlon community.
“The natural beauty of the coastal Mediterranean city, paired with a rich culture and community who appreciates the highest levels of sporting excellence, makes Nice a global destination that aligns perfectly with our goal to deliver race experiences that inspire athletes to dream and pursue their greatest ambitions in life.
“The City of Nice has captured the hearts of our athletes, and their hosting the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in these coming years will be met with great anticipation and enthusiasm by our community. We are truly honored to extend our longtime partnership with Nice and Mayor Estrosi.”
70.3 Worlds stays at two days
The future 70.3 Worlds in Nice – and elsewhere – will continue as a two-day format. This year they will be held in Marbella, Spain.
The fact they are at middle-distance means athletes from Olympic distance all the way up to full-distance specialists tend to target the race.
Last December in Taupo, New Zealand, five athletes from the 2024 Olympics in Paris competed, including silver medallists Julie Derron and Hayden Wilde, and bronze medallist Léo Bergère. But it was the other Olympians, Jelle Geens and Taylor Knibb, who ended up taking the crowns.
And while the majority will no doubt welcome the return of the full-distance IRONMAN World Championships to Kona – especially the fact that the women and men will race at the same location – there will be disappointment in some quarters.
For the Nice course – especially the hilly and technical bike route – offered a very different and multi-dimensional challenge compared to the long, straight roads in Hawai’i.
And the more temperate climate also dampened down the heat factor and arguably made it a more level playing field for a wider range of athletes.
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