Men's Ironman World Championships Preview: Nice 2025
We are back in Nice, for the third year, and for the second time the men’s only Ironman World Championships, here. Unfortunately, it’ll be the last time (likely) that the Ironman World Championship is in Nice, as next year we head back(wards) to a single day in Kona.
Nice. The Cote d’Azur, the South coast of France, the Mediterranean Sea. For a long time has been associated with the European elite, and now more so general holiday makers, who find that their beach has been overrun by hyped up, lycra clad male triathletes.
The Ironman World Championship course, has an ocean swim, a hilly technical bike and a flat fast run. The swim is one lap but forms two rectangles bringing the athletes back close to the shore (but not an Aussie exit), between each rectangle. The bike is one 180km loop, with a total elevation gain of 7963ft (2427m). The biggest climb comes after about 40km (25miles), taking athletes up onto the highest point on almost a plateau before the fast technical descent and run in to T2. The run is along the promenade, Promenade des Anglais, on the beach front. Four laps, so plenty of opportunity for athletes to see each other, but also for the crowds and holiday makers to come out in force.
For more details on the course, check out Parcours athlete Ruth Astle’s thoughts...
This year in Nice, there will be the largest number of rookie athletes since 2009. That is, athletes that haven’t raced Nice or Kona World Champs before. At the same time several very experienced athletes have raced the World Championshipssix or seven times, and a very deep field with a lot of athletes who could be at the front of the race or have a significant impact.
Patrick Lange (Germany) is probably the most decorated. The three-time World Champion, has raced the World Championships six times. He comes to Nice as the defending Ironman World Champion, having won in 2024 in Kona. Lange was second in Nice, in 2023 and always has the ability to pull out a performance for the World Championships. The swim power of the start field, I feel is more this year, so Lange will need to keep within touch on the swim, hang in on the bike or close, to be able to unleash his run to challenge once again for the podium or win.
Due to rotating years, it’s almost, like we have two defending Champions, as Sam Laidlow won the last time the World Championship was in Nice in 2023. He attacked on the bike and held on, on the run, from Lange and others chasing. His competitors will of course be savvy to his tactics this year and how he races. Laidlow has been training with South African, Jamie Riddle. The youngster is one of the Rookies, and is known for his swim ability but also his attacking nature from the start. He’s exciting to watch. There’s been ‘chat’ that Riddle will work with Laidlow on the swim and early on the bike to get away. Laidlow had a slow start to the year with some health issues, but his performance at Challenge Roth, and then World Championships qualification at Ironman UK have been back in the right direction, and have shown a maturity and race craft, to put Laidlow back in the mix as a favourite, and a smarter athlete than in 2023. For Laidlow, who races for France, it’s a home country race which always adds extra.
Other returning World Champions; the Norwegians Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden, who will be joined by countryman and rookie Casper Stornes. Blummenfelt has been the inform athlete this year, with dominant and impressive performances at Ironman Texas and Ironman Frankfurt. After focusing on the Olympics last year, he has fully committed to the longer distance this year and the Ironman Pro Series, and it certainly seems to be paying off. Iden, has had a rough few years after he won the World Championships in 2022, but seems to be racing himself back to a good place and could be a threat. Stornes, too, growing with experience and confidence with each race. After a fifth at Ironman Texas, Stornes came third in Frankfurt, actually finishing just ahead of Iden.
Magnus Ditlev (Denmark) started the year in style winning Ironman South Africa, and then has been a little quieter over the rest of the year, but with a focus on Nice. He chose not to race Challenge Roth this year, where he is the three time Champion, putting his focus on the World Championship. Ditlev was 3rd in 2023 at the World Championship, 2nd in 2024 in Kona…. So in 2025…
Rudy von Berg (USA) is the local athlete, even though he lives and trains in Boulder, Colorado, and races under the USA, but considers this a home town race with family from this area. Von Berg was 4th in Nice in 2023, then 3rd in Kona 2024 and always seems to fly a little under the radar.
Two of the rookies that could have an impact on the race, are Jonas Schomburg (Germany) and Marten Van Riel (Belgium). Schomburg has been making a mark with his strong swim/bike attacking combo. He races hard from the start trying to break up the race early on. Marten Van Riel, hasn’t raced as many Ironman’s as Schomburg has this year, after he qualified back in South Africa, instead racing the T100 and 70.3s. This will be his third Ironman, and is coming back from a running injury, so we are a little unsure of his form but could very well be mixing it up.
Others to watch for – Krisitian Hogenahaug (Denmark) who had a career best performance in Frankfurt, pushing Blummenfelt all the way, to finish 2nd and breaking up the Norwegian dominance. Daniel Baekkegard (Denmark) could be an outside chance along with Matthew Marquardt (USA). Marquardt lead out the water in Nice in 2023, as a first year Pro. Now he has two Ironman wins to his name, and incredible balances training, with medical studies and a whole host of other commitments and activities. Leon Chevalier (France) is always an athlete who tends to race well on the big days. He’s finished in the top 10 the past three years, his best placing last year in Kona with 5th. He’s a raced a lot this year, and like in 2024 has had solid results but nothing to shout home about (e.g. no wins). However, he does sit at the top of the Ironman Pro Series Rankings, a position he’ll be wanting to keep.
As to how the race could unfold….
How fast will Riddle, Laidlow and Schomburg push the swim?
Can they get a break over the likes of Blummenfelt and Lange, and how big will this be?
Will the uber bikers be able to dominant on this course and break off the front to get a lead come the run?
How much lead do they need to hold off the faster runners?
Will we see sub 2:30hrs on the marathon, by one or many athletes?
And will that be enough to run to the win?
The depth and number of outcomes is exciting. The World Championships always brings the heat. The athletes have trained for this, so much focus and attention all year. A lot on the line. Many athletes will go for the win and risk it… boom or bust? Some play it slightly more measured (if you can) to ensure a solid outcome, but without the bust.
Some will be looking at points for the Ironman Pro Series rankings.
But I’m not sure with the depth of athletes and the characters of the athletes racing, there is no going steady. It tends to be full on racing from the gun. But it will be who can race hard, but keep some in the tank or be in a place to be able to dictate the race, and come through strong when the time is right.
You don’t want to miss this!
Ironman World Championships, Sunday 14th September
Watch the race on Ironman Now, Outside TV, Dazn and L’Equipe.
Body Marking Broadcast starts at 0515hrs CET.
Professional Men start at 0705hrs CET. (Age Group Men at 0715hrs CET.)
