The countdown is on! On September 14th the eyes of the triathlon world will be fixed on the Côte d’Azur as the men’s professional field takes to the start line at the Ironman World Championships in Nice.
As of today, 54 professional men are set to race. At Triathlon Magazine we are committed to providing readers with more than just finish-line highlights. We will be digging into details such as athlete profiles, equipment choices, and the data behind the race. That begins with the all-important professional men’s bike count and a look at how the start list breaks down by nation.
This year the bike count shows 18 different brands on the start line:
- Trek – 7
- Cervelo – 6
- Canyon – 5
- Specialized – 5
- Scott – 4
- Quintana Roo – 4
- BMC – 4
- Pinarello – 3
- Giant – 3
- Ventum – 2
- Racextract – 2
- Argon 18 – 2
- Orbea – 1
- Cadex – 1
- Felt – 1
- Ceepo – 1
- Losa – 1
- Factor – 1
- Uknown – 1
The global spread of talent is just as striking. Athletes from 20 different nations will line up in Nice. Germany leads the way with eight male professionals, reflecting the country’s deep bench of triathlon talent. The United States is next with six, while Norway brings five. Great Britain, France and Denmark each field four. Australia has three, and 10 other countries have two representatives, including Spain, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and South Africa. From Brazil to French Polynesia, the men’s field in Nice truly spans the globe.
For Canadian fans there is one disappointment. There will be no Canadian male professional on the start line this year. Lionel Sanders, one of the sport’s most recognizable and hard-fighting figures, confirmed in his YouTube video on August 24 that he will not race in Nice. His absence leaves a noticeable gap in Canadian representation.
Stay tuned for more pre-race updates in the countdown to the Nice Ironman World Championships!
The post Countdown to Nice: Bike Counts and Nations Represented for the Professional Men appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.