Jan Frodeno is getting ready to go out with a bang this weekend, as the multiple IRONMAN World Champion prepares for his final race on Sunday at the men’s IRONMAN World Championships in Nice.
The German, who announced at the beginning of the year that this would be his final season of professional triathlon, has proved doubters wrong time and time again so far in 2023 and will look to do so one final time in the South of France.
Gearing up for his fifth IRONMAN World Championship, the 42 year old shared his pre-race thoughts in an interview on Breakfast with Bob (watch the whole thing right below here), as he seeks to cement his status as the greatest triathlete to ever grace the sport one more time.
Frodo from the mountains to the coast
Having started his preparations for the race at altitude in the mountains of Andorra, Frodeno made his way down to Nice for race week. He says the opportunity to put his training on the hills back home to the test on the bike course is something he is very much looking forward to.
“On this course, for me, it is a massive challenge and it is also what keeps me engaged and interested, it is everything I could ask for from the last dance and I feel like my body has one more in it.
“On the bike, what goes up must come down, I think there’s 8000 feet of descending and I like to think of myself as one of the best technically and I like a good descent. I like taking a lot of risk and then we have a completely flat and fast marathon at the end which is something I am looking forward to.”
One of the things that most excites the PTO World #4 about Nice is the competition, with the usual suspects for the world title, plus a number of dark horses ensuring that the race will be brutal from the start.
“It is a magic box, because you have all the people that have always won on these kind of courses, with the best in the world at their peak also racing, so on paper I think it is a course for the dark horses and I really think that championship racing always brings out the best and makes the cream rise to the top.”
Jan in prime shape for Nice showdown
Taking a deeper dive into his own preparations, Frodeno revealed that he is in the shape of his life and in the perfect position to strike for gold.
“In terms of physiology and in terms of numbers, I am the fittest I have ever been and I am moving better, in terms of IRONMAN performance, whilst the peaks are not what they used to be, I am there.
“Last year I didn’t get to train or run at all, so there was a bit of a base missing earlier in the year, but luckily I was able to catch up on that and the preparation has gone well and it is all to play.”
Doubling down on the positive mental headspace he has found himself in prior to the race, Frodeno appears relaxed and ready, an athlete who is more excited to race than nervous to lose in what will be his final shot at another world title.
“I am looking forward to Sunday. I am really nervous and excited and I am all the things I was 20 years ago when I would toe a start line. Don’t get me wrong, the journey is always an interesting one and it has been full of its usual ups and downs, but I have managed to surround myself with some good people and found a real calm place up there in the mountains.
“Confidence, for us athletes, is one of those things that come and go with good preparation. In the end, there are only a limited number of things you can influence and that’s what I tried to concentrate on.
“There is a sense of anticipation, excitement and curiosity to see what all these young guns are up to, and I am just grateful to be in the shape and contain to say okay, let’s see what I can make happen in this kind of field.”
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