Jan Frodeno would like to be at the top once again: the Ironman World Championships in Nice marks the end of his unique career. The 42-year-old is the only triathlete to win Olympic gold (2008) and triumph in Hawaii (2015, 2016 and 2019). When the title was awarded for the first time on the Côte d’Azur over 3.86 kilometers of swimming, 180.2 kilometers of cycling and 42.2 kilometers of running, he started as one of the top favorites. Two-time Hawaii champion Patrick Lange is also one of the favorites.
“We will definitely celebrate. And we will definitely laugh. We’ll definitely cry too,” said Frodeno before the showdown in a relaxed atmosphere on a property high above Nice. “But it would be nice if there were a few more tears of joy.” All the background information about the race and the course of the race from Nice in Live ticker from on site:
8.05 a.m.: Who is attacking on the mountain?
The professionals are on the bike route, first out of the city: 180.2 kilometers through the French countryside. 2427 meters in altitude with climbs where the gradient sometimes briefly reaches double digits. Descents that are tough: narrow streets, curves and speed bumps. Not comparable to Hawaii. Things are looking up now:
The Nice cycling course
Which: IRONMAN
Patrick Lange said previously: “The question is what racing dynamics will emerge and which professionals will be ready to attack on the mountain.” It is quite possible that there will be outliers. Who will go along, who dares to do it? The route is long and ultimately a marathon follows.
7.45 a.m.: Frodeno is the first to get out of the water
Frodeno and Braden Currie are the first to reach the coast, with athletes like Laidlow, Denis Chevrot and Rudy van Berg right behind them. In the transition area, Frodeno has slight problems with his suit and loses a few seconds (+26). Laidlow has a similar situation (+55). First on the bike course: Matthew Marquardt (USA). The first group of twelve athletes is now 55 seconds apart.
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Patrick Lange kept his deficit within limits: 1:28 minutes. That should be on schedule. The Dane Markus Ditlev, winner of the Challenge Roth, strong cyclist and co-favorite, is 2:21 minutes behind, Camwurf has lost more: 3:37 minutes.
7.35 a.m.: Frodeno sets the pace, Lange and Cam throw fall behind
The conditions looked so easy in the darkness, but out at sea it is choppy. And the athletes in the leadership group are putting pressure on us. Frodeno not only stays in front, but also takes the lead. A strong swim from the 42-year-old. Laidlow and Braden Currie are also at the front of the first group.
As expected, Camwurf – not only a triathlon but also a professional cyclist – has fallen back from the first group, and Patrick Lange will also get out of the water behind. Neither are surprises, but they can’t let the gap get too big.
7.25 a.m.: Age Grouper – Germany strong, the oldest comes from Japan
The age group athletes start their adventure until 7:40 a.m. The statistics show: As expected, Europeans are the largest group at 54 percent, followed by North America (25%). Regarding the individual nations, the USA is ahead of Germany (249) and France (210) with 480 starters. But athletes from Indonesia, El Salvador, Uruguay and Zimbabwe also started the race.
The oldest participant of all: 79-year-old Ryuji Nakagawa from Japan. The oldest German starter is Hans-Joachim Weißflog (70) from Cottbus.
7.10 a.m.: Two German surprise people in the water
The field quickly split into two groups, with Frenchman Sam Laidlow, second in Hawaii last year, at the top. Camwurf, the best cyclist in the field, is also in the first group. Frodeno, recognizable by his golden swimming cap, didn’t get off to a perfect start, but quickly got into position.
At the beginning of the year they themselves would not have thought that the two Germans Jonas Hoffmann and Leonard Arnold would be involved with the professionals. Both qualified in their first ever long distance event. The 28-year-old Arnold achieved this by coming second at the Ironman Switzerland in July, and Hoffmann at the “normal” Ironman Nice in June.
6.50 a.m.: The starting signal has been fired
Let’s go. The professionals started the race with a water start about 25 meters from the bank. A minute later the handicapped athletes start, followed by the age group athletes in waves. The water temperature is 24.8 degrees this morning, which means wetsuits are prohibited.
3.8 kilometers of swimming in the Mediterranean, divided into two laps without shore leave. The sea is calm this morning, perfect conditions. New Zealander Braden Currie takes the lead.
The swimming course of the Ironman World Championships
Which: IRONMAN
6.30 a.m.: Lange, Frodeno, Ditlev – or someone completely different?
“Victory is of course the goal,” Jan Frodeno told WELT in Nice. “Everything is geared towards that and I want to be measured by that. But I’ll let it happen. I’m trying to get into that state mentally where success is inevitable. But what success ultimately looks like doesn’t just depend on me.”
The route is particularly challenging on a bike: 2,427 meters in altitude, which has little to do with Hawaii and most other long distances. And: That makes it exciting and unpredictable. There are therefore a few favorites: in addition to Frodeno and Lange, including the Hawaii runner-up from 2022: Sam Laidlow (France). Also Challenge Roth winner Magnus Ditlev from Denmark. Plus Rudy Von Berg and Clement Mignon, the winners of the “normal” Ironman races here over the past two years. The Brit Joe Skipper… and others. Gustav Iden, Hawaii winner in 2022, is not at the start, has ended his season after personal strokes of fate and mixed results and is concentrating on the short distance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The latter also applies to Kristian Blummenfelt.
6.10 a.m.: Bonjour de Nice! The countdown is running
It’s still dark on the beach in Nice, but thousands of people are already milling about on the promenade and by the water, and the first cafes are open. In 40 minutes, the starting signal for the Ironman World Championship will be given for 52 professionals and more than 2,200 age group athletes. The three-time Hawaii winner Jan Frodeno wears starting number 1 in the last World Cup race of his career, after which it’s over. The two-time Hawaii winner Patrick Lange has starting number two. Three other Germans qualified: Franz Löschke, Jonas Hoffmann and Leonard Arnold.
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For the first time ever, the Ironman World Championships are taking place in Europe. Hundreds of amateur and professional triathletes have been gathering in the French coastal town since the weekend. They walk along the promenade like they usually do along Alii Drive on the Big Island. In a much-criticized decision, Ironman split the World Cup, which was traditionally held in Hawaii, geographically and by gender: the men now in Nice, the women on October 14th in Hawaii, and next year there will be a swap. Nice has a long triathlon tradition; the first competition of this sport on European soil took place here on November 20, 1982, with the premiere featuring over 1.5 km of swimming, 100 km of cycling and 42.195 km of running.
