The Ironman 70.3 World Championships are taking place this weekend in Nice. Among the women, Taylor Knibb is the overwhelming favorite in the absence of Lucy Charles-Barclay. Marjolaine Pierré, the Nice native, can hope to be part of the fight. On the men’s side, a rematch of the 2025 edition between Jelle Geens and Kristian Blummenfelt seems to be shaping up.
1.9 kilometers of swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, 90 kilometers of cycling in the Nice hinterland, and 21.1 kilometers of running on the Promenade des Anglais, that’s what awaits the athletes this weekend during the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Nice.
When we talk about “70.3” Ironman, we’re referring to a format that corresponds to half of a “classic” Ironman (or long distance Ironman, Editor’s note). This weekend’s race will crown the men’s and women’s world champions 2026 in this format, which means the stakes are enormous for the athletes.
The Nice course makes this 2026 edition more uncertain than previous ones. Last year in Marbella, the difficulties were spread across both the bike and the run. This year, the deciding factor of the race is called the Col de Vence, which runners will climb on the bike. On its own, it represents more than half of the total elevation gain of the race of 630 meters out of 1,190 total.
So inevitably, at the press conference, the Col de Vence is the center of all discussions. “I prepared well for the Col de Vence. I climbed it yesterday in the rain and everything went well so I’m thinking that Saturday in the sun, everything should be fine,” said Swiss Julie Derron, silver medalist in triathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
For Kat Matthews, runner-up at the 2023 and 2024 Ironman 70.3 World Championships: “the most dangerous thing will be the descent of the Col de Vence, I hope I don’t use too much energy on the climb to stay clear-headed on the descent.”
The same goes for the men. For Kristian Blummenfelt, runner-up in 2025 in Marbella, the Col de Vence could make a difference: “I think there will be bigger gaps between us all this year. In Marbella last year, we had a succession of short climbs and when one of us attacked on the climb, he got caught by the group on the descent. This year there will be the terrain to create gaps of several minutes.”
Nice native Marjolaine Pierré will have a card to play
Among the women, one of the great favorites is missing, British Lucy Charles-Barclay. She who had won the title in Marbella in 2025 has decided to give up the Ironman 70.3 this year. She indicates she prefers to focus on the long distance Ironman World Championships which will take place in Kona in a month.
In addition to Swiss Julie Derron and British Kat Matthews, who are true contenders for the podium, three other women stand out.
Obviously, the adopted Nice native Marjolaine Pierré will be the highlight of the weekend. She will carry the hopes of French success on her shoulders: “for me it’s an advantage to race here and even a privilege. In 2024 when I raced here for the long distance Ironman I was just starting out and being at home and knowing the course was a big plus.”
Also questioned about the course, she acknowledged the decisive nature of the Col de Vence without downplaying the rest of the race: “we’ve talked a lot about the Col de Vence and the bike section but it’s an Ironman, not just a cycling race. I think you have to be really strong after the bike, digest this section well to perform in the running.”
For her part, Norwegian Solveig Løvseth, 2025 long distance Ironman World Champion, arrives on the Côte d’Azur without references. After a mixed 2026 season, she says she lacks benchmarks: “I had several weeks where I was really sick and couldn’t train. I don’t think I can win this race if I’m being completely honest.”
But the big favorite will be Taylor Knibb, the American. Runner-up in 2025, she had won the Ironman 70.3 in 2022, 2023 and 2024. With a strong point on the bike section, she could make big differences given the course. Aware of her status, she remains cautious about her opponents: “I think there is a lot of quality on this starting line, all the girls have a chance. I’ve never raced here so I’m starting with that disadvantage.”
The start will take place Saturday, September 12 at 7 a.m. from Ponchettes Beach, in the Bay of Angels.
An uncertain race for the men
On the men’s side, the race is even more open. Jelle Geens, winner in 2024 and 2025, is the favorite, but he comes out of a complicated 2026 season: “I spent four months without running. I had an injury, it takes time to come back. I hope to be able to fight for victory rather than top 20.”
The Belgian acknowledges nonetheless that the course suits him: “it’s true that with my small frame I’ll probably be more comfortable in the Col de Vence than my competitors. I prefer that to 90 kilometers of flat biking, but if I don’t have good legs in the end I won’t win.”
Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt is the other major favorite. Defeated in a sprint last year in Marbella against Jelle Geens, the 2022 Ironman 70.3 World Champion will want to take his revenge.
Behind them, several outsiders can claim final victory. Hayden Wilde, New Zealander, runner-up in 2024, Rico Bogen, German, winner in 2023, Marten Van Riel, Belgian, winner of several Ironman 70.3s, and Casper Stornes, Norwegian, third in 2025. All could take advantage of a battle between Jelle Geens and Kristian Blummenfelt to stand out.
On the French side, Vincent Luis seems to be France’s best chance for a podium, but he arrives in worse form than the triathletes mentioned above. Ninth in 2025, it would take a great performance from the Vesulian to hope for a podium.
As for the women, the start will take place from Ponchettes Beach, in the Bay of Angels, Sunday, September 13 at 7 a.m.
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