Starting 2023, the southern French city and the historic Hawaiian destination will take turns hosting the two-day Ironman World Championship races
Photo by Clement Mahoudeau/Ironman France
Get a move on with your race calendars, triathletes: The World Championship events are going to get a little more interesting as Ironman has finally confirmed the dates and locations of the 2023 editions.
The men’s world championship will take place in Nice, France on Sept. 10, bolstering the location’s “rich triathlon history, as the European birthplace and premiere host of long-distance triathlon.” The women’s race, as previously announced, will stay in Kona on Oct. 14.
“Our commitment to holding dedicated Ironman World Championship race days for women and men is fueled by what we believe is an opportunity to not only showcase the depth of each professional field but also further investing in the growth of the sport of triathlon,” said Andrew Messick, president and chief executive officer for The Ironman Group.
“Our commitment to holding dedicated Ironman World Championship race days for women and men is fueled by what we believe is an opportunity to not only showcase the depth of each professional field but also further investing in the growth of the sport of triathlon,” said Andrew Messick, president and chief executive officer for The Ironman Group
“In 2022 we saw for the first time what is possible with a two-day Ironman World Championship, and we are excited to see how the pinnacle of triathlon racing can evolve further by adding another location rich in triathlon history that also provides a different type of course and racing conditions.”
While the two-day racing format isn’t new, it’s the first time that the men and women will be competing in different locations, which would mean equal coverage for both events as well as a solution to the impact and challenges of two race days in Kona.
Another interesting change is that Nice and Kona will rotate hosting duties—with the men racing in Kona on Oct. 26, 2024 and the women competing in Nice on Sept. 22, 2024. This will continue on until 2026.
After two years of cancellations and postponements amid the COVID-19 pandemic, expect a wave of support from reinvigorated professionals and age groupers looking to capitalize on triathlon’s future.
