Triathlon fans will be treated to mouth-watering professional battles in Europe with multiple exciting mid-season IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon races coming up. The spotlight will be on European battles in France, Denmark, Germany, and Andorra with IRONMAN France Nice and IRONMAN 70.3 Elsinore on June 25th. Followed by Mainova IRONMAN European Championship Frankfurt, IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée, and IRONMAN 70.3 Andorra on July 2nd.
A defining set of mid-season European races, with wins that will surely give athletes a much-needed confidence boosts ahead of this year’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France on September 10, 2023 (men), and Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i on October 14, 2023 (women). With the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Lahti, Finland on August 26 -27.
IRONMAN France Nice
Nice, France is a city rich with triathlon history, and known as the European birthplace and premiere host of long-distance triathlon. Over the years Nice and the Côte d’Azur has staked its claim as a major sporting destination, hosting many sports events on a global scale. This month the city welcomes the 18th edition of IRONMAN France Nice, with over 2 000 athletes taking part. The event will feature a professional men’s line-up with 31 professional athletes battling it out for a piece of the $50,000 prize purse and for some, a chance to qualify for the highly anticipated VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France on September 10, 2023.
IRONMAN France Nice’s professional line-up features Clement Mignon (FRA), who will be looking to put the opening season DNF at the Isuzu IRONMAN African Championship in South Africa behind him as he wears Bib 1 going into the event. With Leon Chevalier (FRA) unfortunately pulling out of the race, this leaves the likes of Bart Aernouts (BEL) who will be wearing Bib 3 to challenge Mignon for that top podium spot. The event won’t be a two-horse race however, with a strong athlete contingent that features Cameron Wurf (AUS), Arthur Horseau (FRA), Dylan Magnien (FRA) and Thomas Navarro (FRA) hunting down a podium finish. A strong French presence will for sure get the local spectators hopeful for an all-French podium finish.
Athletes will begin the morning with a two-loop 3.8 km swim course starting at the Plage des Ponchettes in front of the Quai des Etats-Unis where athletes jump into the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Before taking on a one-loop 180.2 km bike course which is arguably one of the most spectacular and challenging bike courses on the global IRONMAN circuit. Athletes make their way through the hinterland of Nice and through the beautiful villages of the Parc Naturel des Pré Alpes d’Azur. Lastly, athletes will complete a four-loop 42.2 km run course leading along the legendary Promenade des Anglais.
Mainova IRONMAN European Championship Frankfurt
Germany’s urban playground along the banks of the Main River, Frankfurt am Main, offers the destination for this year’s professional women’s IRONMAN European Championship event. The event will feature a professional line-up with 29 women battling it out for a piece of the $75,000 prize purse and for some, a chance to qualify for the highly anticipated VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i on October 14, 2023.
With the absence of defending IRONMAN European Champion, Laura Philipp (DEU), a new champion will be crowned. A tightly contested race will see the likes of Daniela Bleyhmehl (DEU), Nikki Bartlett (GBR), Svenja Thoes (DEU) and Maja Stage Nielson (DNK) trying to keep the European crown away from the Americans in the form of Skye Moench (USA), Sarah True (USA) and Lauren Brandon (USA). With Rebecca Clarke (NZL) looking to get one up on both the Europeans and Americans by taking the crown of 2023 IRONMAN European Champion.
Athletes will begin the day with a 3.8 km swim course. Two laps take athletes across the Langener Waldsee as huge jets from nearby Frankfurt Airport soar above them. A short “Australian Exit” separates the two loops. The two-loop 182 km bike course leads through the picturesque villages surrounding Frankfurt, also called “Mainhattan” for its impressive skyline. Lastly, the four-loop 42.2 km run course is flat and fast, promising some fast run times.
IRONMAN 70.3 Elsinore
Staged near the legendary 15th century Kronborg Castle, IRONMAN 70.3 Elsinore is a fusion of Danish culture and nature. With an iconic race start marked by an old cannon being fired on the harbour front as athletes kick start their swim-bike-run journey. This year the event celebrates its 9th edition and will welcome over 1 200 athletes to the start line.
The event will see a small professional women’s field fight for a piece of the $25,000 price purse and two qualifying slots up for grabs to race at the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Lahti, Finland on August 26 -27, 2023. The 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 Elsinore will feature the likes of Michelle Vesterby (DNK), Anna Bergsten (SWE), Olivia Mitchell (IRL), Kate Curran (GBR) and Minna Koistinen (FIN). T
Athletes will begin the day with a one-loop 1.9 km swim course starting at Elsinore Harbour in front of the historic Kronborg Castle (home to Shakespeare’s Hamlet). Followed by a fast and relatively flat 90.1 km bike course that heads out north along the stunning coastline of Northern Sealand. Lastly, the 21.1 km run course circles the historic Kronborg castle before heading for the city centre of Elsinore where tens of thousands of spectators will cheer athletes all the way to the finish line.
IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne
Les Sables d’Olonne, translated as “the sands of Olonne”, is a seaside town on the western French coast, the Côte de Lumière. The seaside town will be hosting the 4th edition of IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée, with 3 300 expected athletes to take to the start line on July 2nd, 2023. This year’s event offers 45 Age Group Qualifying slots and 20 Extra Slots for Women to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on 26 – 27 August 2023 in Lahti, Finland. While the professional athletes will be battling it out for a piece of the $30,000 price purse and 4 qualifications spots (2 for men & 2 for women) to race at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
The event sees a deep field, with 50 professional men and women battling it out for that top podium spot. The men’s field will see this year’s IRONMAN African Champion, Leon Chevalier (FRA), take on fellow countrymen in Dylan Magnien (FRA), Pierre Le Corre (FRA) and Yvan Jarrige (FRA). However, the likes of Matt Trautman (ZAF) and Frans Loeschke (DEU) will be looking to make sure it is not a straight French podium finish. The women’s field will feature the likes of Susie Cheetham (GBR), Laura Addie (GBR), Charlene Clavel (DEU) and Alexia Bailly (FRA).
Athletes will begin the day with a one-loop 1.9 km swim at the Plage des Ponchettes in front of the Quai des Etats-Unis. Athletes will take a one-loop 90 km bike course with an elevation gain of 600m. The bike course will take athletes into the Olonne forest where athletes will enjoy the breath-taking French countryside. Finally, athletes will take on two-loops that make up a 21.1 km run course and finish in the centre of town.
IRONMAN 70.3 Andorra
IRONMAN 70.3 Andorra is a young race on the IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon global circuit but has quickly become one of the favourites. This third edition of the event will offer 45 age group qualifying slots to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on 26 – 27 August 2023 in Lahti, Finland. With professional field racing for 2 qualification slots in the men’s category and 2 in the women. In addition, the professional fields will be racing for a piece of the $30,000 prize purse.
The women’s professional field will see a mouth-watering battle between Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) and Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR). Two fierce competitors capable of winning an IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on their day. These women will be joined by 4 other athletes that will see a small field but exciting battle that a smaller field promises. There will be no place to hide come race day. The men’s field sees the Oceania foursome of Josh Amberger (AUS), Kyle Smith (NZL), Mitch Kibby (AUS) and Cameron Wurf (AUS) battle it out on European shores. They will be joined by the likes of Antony Costes (FRA), Jordi Montraveta Moya (ESP) and Erwan Jacobi (FRA) who will be looking to stop and Australasian podium finish from occurring.
A stunning racecourse that features a two-loop 1.9 km swim course in the picture-perfect Engolasters Lake. Josh Amberger (AUS) will look to show why he is one of the best swimmers on the IRONMAN circuit by putting a healthy gap between him and the rest of the field coming out of the swim. Followed by a 90 km bike course that has +1900m elevation gain. Knowing these roads well, this is where Cameron Wurf (AUS) will be looking to take full advantage. Lastly, athletes will take on a three loop 21.1km run course that will no doubt involve a thrilling showdown between Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) and Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR).
The full IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon professional fields can be found here.
