Nice Ironman

Sunday morning, 6 am, and it's an early start to watch the competitors hit the water for this year's Nice Ironman. It is a big event; roads are closed and a kilometer of the Promenade is screened off for the transition area.

Three thousand transition kits - and the last few competitors hurrying to the start line.

6.30, and they're off.

The first competitor out of the water and on to the bike.

Once I saw the first few competitors away on the bike it was time for a leisurely breakfast and change into my own bike gear. Back to the event area and the back markers were leaving the water and still streaming out on the bike. I rode parallel with them to get past the main mass of spectators and then ducked across onto the bike course and joined in - a great opportunity to ride in a spectacular area on closed roads.

Got chatting with an Irish competitor who seemed glad of the company (everyone else looked pretty serious). It was only his second triathlon and first Ironman, and it was about to be his first marathon. Good luck to him! 

Of course it couldn't last. After about 40 km a Marshall on a motor bike asked where my race number was and it was time to get off the course. Shook hands with the Irish guy and wished him well then took an alternative route to the top of the Col du Vence and arrived minutes before the race leader (who had ridden about 120 km by that time).

The first rider to reach the turn around point at the top of the Col du Vence.

After watching a few riders go through it was back on the bike and a quick descent to Nice in time to catch the leaders again as they completed the ride and transitioned into the run.

A good day out; a fun 86 km and 1,200 metres climb.