The Belgian triathlete Marten Van Riel won the Ironman 70.3 event this Sunday, June 29, in Nice, under intense heat conditions. Among the women, British Jessica Learmonth dominated the race ahead of two French athletes.
The start of the Ironman 70.3 was given at 6:20 am this Sunday, June 29. On the program: 3.8 km of swimming in the Bay of Angels, 180 km of cycling through 17 towns in the Nice hinterland, and a marathon of 42.195 km along the sea.
This course attracts more than 2,500 athletes worldwide each year. Some are present to compete for their qualification for the World Championships. Others come primarily for the experience. All have faced or are still facing a course known for its technicality and scenery.
The favorite showed his superiority among the men
The Belgian Marten Van Riel excelled in this highly anticipated event. In 4h01’48”, he outperformed his competitors on a course made even more challenging by the 34°C measured on the Promenade des Anglais.
However, it was the Italian Michele Bortolamedi who was the fastest in the swimming. But on the bike, Marten Van Riel took the lead. A great fan of the Tour de France, he used this part of the course to widen the gap. With a 3’40” lead in the transition to the running segment, he then managed his half-marathon to maintain his first place.
Michele Bortolamedi crossed the finish line in second place in 4h04’47”. The Dane Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen completed the podium in 4h06’01”.
Among the women, Jessica Learmonth won in 4h39’57”. The French Sandra Huon took second place with a time of 4h42’37”. She narrowly beat Anne-Sophie Pierre (4h44’01”). Both overtook the Spaniard Sara Perez Sala during the half-marathon.
Thousands of spectators are always present along the course on the Promenade des Anglais to encourage the participants to the finish line. The Ironman 70.3 already invites everyone next year and until 2028. Registrations for the 2026 edition will open here in four days.
