IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Start Lists Released Ahead of Nice Event

The official start lists for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice have been released, confirming the participation of defending champions Lucy Charles-Barclay and Jelle Geens, along with last year's runner-ups Taylor Knibb and Kristian Blummenfelt. The women's race is scheduled for September 12, followed by the men's race on September 13, with a total prize purse of $500,000.

The course will include a 1.9-km swim in the Mediterranean, a challenging 90-km bike ride featuring the Col de Vence, and a 21.1-km run along the Promenade des Anglais. Meanwhile, the IRONMAN Sweden Kalmar race this weekend offers the last opportunity to qualify for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with three slots available for both men and women.

Defending women's champion Katrine Christensen will compete against 2024 IRONMAN World Champion Laura Philipp, among others. In the men's race, top seeds Matthew Marquardt and Trevor Foley will face strong competition, including local favorite Jesper Svensson and several international athletes. Recent results from other IRONMAN events highlight the competitive nature of the series.