It’s not Hawaii, and yet it is the Ironman World Championship. For the first time for women in Europe, more precisely in Nice. In 2023, the men’s title will start on the Côte d’Azur. There was a lot of criticism when organizer Ironman announced that the men’s and women’s races would be split in terms of space and time. But the men’s race, in which Patrick Lange made it onto the podium in second place, calmed the angry triathlon spirits a year ago.
The women want to more than confirm this with a 3.86-kilometer swim, 180.2-kilometer bike ride and 42.2-kilometer run this Sunday (start at 7:15 a.m./ZDF live stream from 7:00 a.m./2:10 p.m. to 4:35 p.m. live on ZDF). The top field is led by British defending champion Lucy Charles-Barclay.
Two Germans are also among the biggest challengers: former world champion Anne Haug and Laura Philipp, who finished second and third in Hawaii in 2023. The Swiss Daniela Ryf is no longer taking part. Contrary to plans, the four-time Hawaii winner had to end her career before the world championship race and will only be there as a spectator this time.
This is what the top athletes say about the World Championships in Nice
Lucy Charles-Barclay (Hawaii winner 2023): “It feels special to wear the number one. I am extremely proud. But it also feels different. This year the race is a complete unknown, we don’t know what will happen. We are practically competing blind, but that makes it even more exciting.”
Anne Haug (Hawaii runner-up 2023): “It’s important to control yourself properly. Then everything depends on how much energy I have left for running. In any case, I assume that everyone will run damn fast. The heat preparation was not as important as for Kona. Overall, my preparation was more of a rollercoaster due to health reasons.”
Laura Philipp (Hawaii third place 2023): “It’s not just about the title, it’s also about the journey and the path to get there. It’s about overcoming obstacles. But of course the title is the big dream that we all have.”
The differences between a World Cup in Hawaii and in Nice
One of the biggest advantages, especially for those coming from Europe, is the significantly shorter journey. This also reduces the overall costs, which recently exploded again in Kailua-Kona. This makes it particularly attractive for age group athletes. 124 participants from Germany are represented in the age groups, and nine are in the professional field.
Acclimatization is more or less eliminated. While temperatures in the South of France are in the mid-20s, the thermometer in Hawaii is currently above 30 degrees. This also means that traveling long before the race is no longer necessary. This also saves costs.
The course
The 3.86-kilometer swim is not that different from Hawaii. Whether it’s the Pacific or the Mediterranean, there’s unlikely to be any visual contact with sharks, otherwise it’s just swimming in open water.
Professional women are probably not allowed to wear wetsuits when the water temperature is around 23 degrees, and this is always the case off Hawaii. Someone like world champion Lucy Charles-Barclay, who comes from a swimming background and missed the Olympic qualification in 2012, is not dependent on this. The so-called wetsuits are particularly helpful for weaker swimmers.
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The biggest difference awaits the participants on the bike compared to the course in Hawaii. The 180.2 kilometers are also a climbing tour. Among other things, there is an 18-kilometer climb. The participants are rewarded with a spectacular backdrop and a thrilling descent.
The running course is flat, from Nice to the airport and back again. The 10 kilometers have to be run four times. The finish is on the Promenade des Anglais. This also means that anyone who can manage the bike course with its challenging profile without using up too much energy can really pick up the pace in the marathon.
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