When the men line up in Nice for the Ironman World Championship, a new generation will be tested against some of the sport’s most seasoned athletes. Twenty-one men will be making their world championship debut, the largest rookie contingent since 2009, representing 39 percent of the field. None of these athletes have raced Kona or Nice before, making the moment a true first.
Among them is South African Jamie Riddle, the youngest of the rookies, though not the youngest athlete on the start line overall. The rookie trio drawing the most attention includes Jonas Schomburg, Marten Van Riel, and Casper Stornes.
Schomburg has built a reputation with his front-pack swim and aggressive riding. While his swim in Ironman South Africa ranked just behind Van Riel and Riddle, he delivered the fastest bike split at Challenge Roth. Stornes, meanwhile, carries one of the sharpest run weapons in the field, finishing third behind Kristian Blummenfelt and Kristian Hogenhaug in Ironman Frankfurt, and second only to Blummenfelt at Ironman 70.3 Pays d’Aix. Van Riel remains the biggest wildcard. Recovering from an ankle sprain, his ability to run at full strength is uncertain, but his record speaks volumes: five podiums from six starts this season, underscoring his strength across all three disciplines.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are the veterans. Bart Aernouts, 41, and Cameron Wurf, 42, each arrive with seven world championship starts, more than any other men in the field. Only Lionel Sanders and Michael Weiss surpass that number, though neither is racing this year. Just behind them with six starts apiece are Matt Hanson, Joe Skipper, and Patrick Lange.
Lange stands apart as the most decorated of the veterans. The reigning champion has an instinct for championship racing. In six appearances, he has claimed three titles, alongside a runner-up and a third-place finish. Few in the field know how to manage the pressure and deliver when it matters most quite like Lange.
With rookies eager to prove themselves and veterans aiming to defend their ground, the men’s race in Nice promises to be both a display of experience and a glimpse into triathlon’s future.
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