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Could The Favorite Falter in Nice? The 2025 Men’s IRONMAN World Championship Preview

Could The Favorite Falter in Nice? The 2025 Men’s IRONMAN World Championship Preview

World Championship Preview, nutrition myths busted, and fastest tire width?

Matthew Sharpe
September 10, 2025

TOGETHER WITH BLUESEVENTY

Good morning everyone,

It’s one of the biggest weekends for the sport as the Men’s IRONMAN World Championship cracks on in Nice. It’s going to be an incredible day of racing, and I can’t wait for more historic performances and absolutely savage racing.

And of course, best of luck to our exceptional subscribers who are competing!

In today’s edition:

👑 Could the favorite falter? The 2025 men’s IRONMAN World Championship preview.
🛞 Is there a fastest tire width?
🥛 And 10 nutrition myths that need to die!

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

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ONE BIG THING

Could The Favorite Falter in Nice? The 2025 Men’s IRONMAN World Championship Preview

What is it: After a season filled with mind-blowing performances and unexpected twists and turns, the much-anticipated Men’s IRONMAN World Championship will kick off this Sunday in Nice, France.

With the most competitive World Championship field ever assembled, plus one of the most demanding courses in all of triathlon, there is no doubt IRONMAN’s true champion will be crowned.

A Championship-worthy course: When the gun goes off at 7 AM local time, the athletes will encounter a challenging course for even the most prepared.

🏊 The 3.8km (2.4-mile) swim will take place in Nice’s Baie Des Anges. In 2023, the non-Westuit swim broke up the race, which should be repeated on Sunday.

🚵 After the swim, the athletes will ride along the famous Promenade des Anglais before heading into the Nice hinterland for a race-defining 180km (112-mile) ride.

Only 10km into the ride, the athletes will begin the most brutal ascent of the day - the Col de L’Ecre. The 18.7km (11.2-mile) climb has an average grade of 5% and features a leg-sapping 6% average for the final miles.
The middle section of the course is an elevated plateau punctuated by a few mild climbs.
The final third of the bike features fast and technically demanding descents, including the picturesque Clue de Gréolières.

🏃 Unlike the bike, the run involves four pancake-flat loops on the Promenade des Anglais. But, without much shade, the athletes will be forced to confront each other and the full force of the elements.

Champions congregate: The last four IMWC winners will be back and hungry for another crown. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) enters as the favorite, backed by a four-race unbeaten streak which includes wins at IM Texas and IM Frankfurt.

Sam Laidlow (FRA) - who had a challenging start to the season - has seen momentum coursing his way after recent victories at Challenge Roth and IM UK.
Patrick Lange (GER) comes in as the defending champion. Like Laidlow, he has struggled with consistency; however, he’s a 3x IMWC that always overperforms when the pressure is highest.
And Gustav Iden (NOR), who faced difficulties after his iconic 2022 victory, has shown glimpses of his former form ahead of this year’s Championship.

Aspirants await: There’s no shortage of talent among Championship contenders. Magnus Ditlev (DEN), who finished 2nd last year and 3rd in 2023, is hoping to continue the trend with a championship finish.

Rudy Von Berg (USA), third last year in Kona, will be keen for first in Nice.
Matthew Marquardt (USA) comes in with two consecutive Pro Series victories. His chances of victory multiplied without a pre-race cruise ship training camp.
Casper Stornes (NOR) is the “other” Norwegian. But a podium at IM Frankfurt shows he is ready for a big day.

Gamechangers galvanized: Although not favored to win, select athletes could disrupt the race dynamics and change the course of the championships.

Martin Van Riel (BEL) - last year’s T100 champion - had his preparations disrupted with an ill-timed injury. If his run is off, expect him to blow the race apart on the first major climb.

Jamie Riddle (ZAF) and Jonas Schomburg (GER) are both Paris Olympians who bring short-course speed to long-course competition.

Schomburg blasted away from Laidlow on the bike at Challenge Roth before being caught late on the run.
And Riddle - a swimming superstar - has been training with Laidlow in Nice. Could a breakaway duo be in the cards?

But what about Cam Wurf? The Aussie has been putting in viral training sessions ahead of the Championships. If he arrives alive, he and fellow Uber bikers like Kristian Høgenhaug (DEN) and Sam Long (USA) could quickly erase an early swim deficit.

Tempo’s take: In 2023, Sam Laidlow put on a cycling masterclass in Nice. He created an early lead on the opening climbs and rode his way to a World Title.

Will history repeat itself? Not exactly.

Blummenfelt has made it clear this year that no one can challenge him on the run. So whoever wants to win must have a compelling gap before the marathon starts.

Will it be Laidlow and Van Riel putting the pressure on the field? Or will Ditlev be dishing out devastation?

In 2023, athletes lived and died by the bike, and two years on, nothing has changed.

We think an early break will win the day, and the favorite will fall short.

🥇 Sam Laidlow (FRA)
🥈 Magnus Ditlev (DEN)
🥉 Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR)

Our podium picks are in, now let’s hear yours!

Who do you think will win the men's IM WC?

How to watch: In North America, watch live and free on the Outside TV app. Everywhere else can watch live and free on YouTube.

The race starts at 7:05 AM CEST on Sunday, September 14th.

Full race start list

FAVORITES

💪 Ageing stronger: Muscle loss, weaker bones, and fading memory don’t have to be the norm. Could creatine - a simple supplement backed by decades of research - be the key to keeping us stronger, sharper, and more resilient as the years roll on?!? Find out here! [MySportScience]

🛞 Tire width win: Could your skinny tires be slowing you down? According to this article, a wider tire is faster AND more comfortable. And apparently, there is an optimal width for a Triathlon. [Slowtwitch]

🥛 Nutrition myths busted: Think fat-free is always healthier? Or that soy ups your cancer risk? Experts say it’s time to ditch these outdated ideas. In this fascinating article, nutrition researchers reveal the 10 myths they wish would finally die and what the science actually says! [New York Times]

REEL TIME

There has to be more boring spectator sports, right?!?

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TEMPO TALKS PODCAST

Should a New Link Between Endurance Sport and Colon Cancer Have You Concerned?

Was the T100 French Riviera successful enough to put IRONMAN on notice? And could a pair of shoes cost Hayden Wilde $200k?

All this and more in the latest episode of the Tempo Talks Podcast!

Together with The TriDoc, we bring you the biggest stories in Triathlon,

Training tips to make you faster,
And breakdowns of the latest in sports science and performance!

Don’t miss a moment; listen to Tempo Talks on Apple, Spotify, and more!

QUICK NEWS

Rest in Peace: Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Samuel Patrick O’Shea (husband of pro triathlete Lucy Byram) and of Valerie Silk, the matriarch of IRONMAN.

Hall of Famer: Congrats to Graham Fraser, who was recently inducted into the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame. Fraser revitalized IRONMAN Canada and founded iconic races like IRONMAN Lake Placid and Arizona! [Penticton Herald]

Omanman: T100 isn’t the only triathlon player in the Middle East. IRONMAN has just signed a five-year deal with Oman that will see the country host a 70.3 in February, and a full-distance race in November! [Muscat Daily]

T100 start lists: The start lists have been released for T100 Spain - now taking place in Oropesa del Mar after Valencia was unable to host due to funding issues. [T100]

Fury’s eff up: Boxer Tommy Fury recently had his T100 debut turned into a DNF after it was revealed he didn’t complete the full course. Now, he’s making waves for shoving a competitor in the finish straight. [The Sun]