It also hosted the 70.3 World Championship event in 2019. It quickly became one of the most popular locations on the Ironman race circuit, and a 70.3 was added in 2018. Sensing an opportunity to turn France’s most iconic triathlon into the crown jewel of its European portfolio, the race was expanded into a full Iron-distance race. (Photo: Patrick SICCOLI/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) Competitors dive in at the start of the Nice Triathlon on October 25, 1987. In many ways, the Nice event came to compete against Ironman Hawaii. In the following years, a who’s who of triathlon legends took on the notoriously hilly course: Mark Allen, Simon Lessing, Natascha Badamann, Luc Van Lierde, Karen Smyers, and Peter Reid. It attracted such a deep field of competitors that it garnered the interest of the International Triathlon Union (ITU), who took over the race in 1994, standardized the distance, and turned it into the World Triathlon Long Distance Championships. The inaugural “Triathlon International de Nice,” with a 1,500-meter swim, 100K bike, and full marathon, was the first-ever long-course triathlon in Europe. Since 1982 – only one year after Ironman Hawaii moved from Oahu to Kona – Nice has been a major triathlon destination. In fact, one could argue Nice has just as much triathlon history than Kona. The Nice location is not a left-field selection. (Photo: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images) Why Nice? ![]() Athletes compete in the swim leg during Ironman France Nice on September 12, 2021. At the same time, we are looking forward to announcing a co-host location for the men’s race that will be worthy of an Ironman World Championship and will capture the imagination of our athletes and fans.”Īfter compiling a list of what Ironman calls “familiar and historically important triathlon destinations,” they selected Nice, France to serve as co-host of the race. “We are reinforcing our commitment for a dedicated world championship race experience for women and men to each receive an exclusive spotlight on their race,” Andrew Messick, president and CEO of Ironman said in November.“Hawai’i is in our DNA and we look forward to the first-ever exclusively women’s world championship race week in Kona. Though Ironman stated after the race that it was committed to finding a solution and keeping the two-day format on the Big Island, it could not come to an agreement with the County of Hawai’i to actually make it happen. The 2022 Kona event saw conflict with the local community and logistical challenges due to an increase in visitors and participants-particularly on a weekday, which was a first for an Ironman of any kind. However, double the racing also meant double the triathletes – and double the strain on the host island. ![]() The two-day format also allows for equal numbers of men and women racing at Kona, something age-group and pro triathletes have pushed for since 2015 via the “50 Women to Kona” campaign. Enthusiastic crowds turned out in person and for the livestream to cheer on athletes both days. The format worked well for Kona – in addition to allowing for clean racing for both pro fields, separate races meant full coverage from start to finish of both events. In 2022, Ironman brought the two-day format to Kona as well, with the women’s pro fields and half the age-groupers racing on a Friday and the men’s pros and remaining age-groupers on Sunday. The two-day championship format is not new to Ironman, as the 70.3 World Championships have hosted separate days for men and women since 2017 – however, the genders have never split locations. The rotation will continue through 2026, with Nice and Kona acting as co-hosts. Then in 2024, the two groups will flip locations, with women racing in Nice on September 24 and men racing Kona on October 26. Professional and age-group women will take to the iconic Big Island course on October 14, 2023. ![]() (From 1978 to 1980, the race was held on the island of Oahu.) How Nice became the new Kona (kind of)ĭon’t fret – there will still be a race in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i. The decision comes on the heels of Ironman’s November reversed announcement that it could not come to an agreement with the county of Hawai’i, where the race has been held since 1981. It’s official: The 2023 Ironman World Championship race for professional and age-group men will be taking place in Nice, France on September 10. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!
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