The exciting news of the day: the start lists for the 2026 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Nice have officially been revealed. Here’s our analysis of who’s racing (along with the notable athletes who aren’t).

Men’s Race

A total of 72 professional men will line up in Nice.

Headlining the field is defending champion Jelle Geens, who has won both Ironman 70.3 World Championships he has contested (Taupō 2024 and Marbella 2025). He’ll be looking to make it three-for-three, something no man has ever achieved. Following a frustrating year over the Ironman distance, including a DNF in Texas and an injury that ruled him out for Lake Placid, we’re rooting for Geens to remind everyone why he’s become one of the sport’s most dominant middle-distance athletes.

Joining him on the start line will be the three previous men’s world champions: Rico Bogen (2023), Kristian Blummenfelt (2022), and Gustav Iden (2019 and 2021). Each will be looking to reclaim the title, while also chasing the valuable 3,000 Pro Series points on offer.

And the depth of the field doesn’t end there. Marten Van Riel, the 2024 T100 World Champion, will also be arriving as one of the favourites, along with Casper Stornes, the reigning Ironman World Champion. Hayden Wilde’s presence will add another compelling storyline – while he sat out of the 70.3 World Championships last season (after finishing runner-up in 2024), his dominance over the T100 distance makes him a clear leading contender.

For Canadian fans, Lionel Sanders will be on the start line. After winning Ironman 70.3 Dallas-Little Elm in March, his season was interrupted by injury, but we’re always excited to see him back on a start line. (He’ll be racing Ironman 70.3 Northern California August 16th followed by Nice.) Other Canadians racing will include Blake Harris and Zachary Bernier-Michaud, both making their 70.3 World Championship debuts.

Among the notable absentees, Sam Laidlow has opted to skip Nice in favour of Challenge Samarkand as his final tune-up before Kona. As Laidlow explained: “Challenge Samarkand marks my final stop before the World Championships. The course and conditions are exactly what I’m looking for in a final hit-out, and I’m excited to race somewhere completely new.” Also missing will Ben Kanute, currently sitting sixth in the Pro Series standings, and 2022 Ironman 70.3 World Championship runner-up Harry Palmer.

Women’s Race

The women’s race will feature 78 professional athletes and is headlined by defending champion Lucy Charles-Barclay, who claimed world titles in both Marbella (2025) and St. George (2021), along with three-time Ironman 70.3 World Champion Taylor Knibb (who won in 2022, 2023, and 2024, in addition to capturing the 2024 T100 World Championship).

And the field is stacked well beyond those two. Reigning Ironman World Champion Solveig Løvseth, 2024 Ironman World Champion Laura Philipp, and defending Pro Series champion Kat Matthews will also be among the favourites.

Leading the Canadian charge will be Paula Findlay, joined by Tamara Jewett, Amélie Kretz (making her Ironman 70.3 World Championship debut), and Kristen Marchant.

Among the biggest names absent are Georgia Taylor-Brown, who finished fourth last year, and Grace Thek, the current Pro Series leader. With scores already recorded from five eligible races, Thek appears fully focused on Kona.

The women’s race is set to take place on Saturday, September 12th, followed by the men’s race on Sunday, September 13th.

Fans can watch both races live on the Ironman YouTube channel or at ironman.com/proseries.