IRONMAN World Championship 2025 Comes to Nice

 

The IRONMAN World Championship returns to the French Riviera in 2025, with Nice once again stepping onto the global stage as host city. On Sunday, September 14, 2025, the world’s top professional triathletes and thousands of qualified age-group athletes will take on one of the sport’s toughest and most spectacular courses, set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding Alpes-Maritimes.

Why Nice?

Long recognized as a hub for endurance sport, Nice has cemented its place in the IRONMAN calendar. The city has previously hosted both full-distance and 70.3 IRONMAN World Championship events, and its partnership with IRONMAN has been extended through 2028. For athletes and fans alike, Nice offers a unique blend: warm Mediterranean waters, a cosmopolitan seafront promenade, and a demanding bike course that climbs into the mountains before returning to the coast.

The Course

Competitors face the classic full-distance challenge: a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride, and a 42.2 km marathon.

• Swim: Starting in the Baie des Anges, athletes will dive into the turquoise Mediterranean just off the Promenade des Anglais.

• Bike: The 180 km bike leg showcases the region’s dramatic terrain, with steep climbs, technical descents, and sweeping views of mountain villages and coastal valleys. It’s considered one of the most beautiful yet demanding bike courses on the world circuit.

• Run: The marathon brings the action back to the Promenade des Anglais. With multiple loops along the seafront, the run is flat but exposed to sun and heat, making crowd support and mental strength key factors.

  

  Athletes to Watch

  The men’s professional race promises fireworks. Defending champion Patrick Lange will return to defend his crown, while French favorite Sam Laidlow aims for glory on home soil. Norwegian stars Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden—both former world champions—will be major contenders, alongside powerhouses like Magnus Ditlev, Rudy Von Berg, and Léon Chevalier. With a $375,000 prize purse and 6,000 IRONMAN Pro Series points on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

  What Makes This Edition Special

  What sets Nice apart is the balance of beauty and brutality. The Mediterranean swim is inviting, but the mountain bike course can shatter even the best-prepared athletes. The marathon, lined with cheering spectators, provides both spectacle and suffering. For French triathlon fans, the chance to see their champions race a World Championship on home ground adds extra excitement.

  For Spectators

  Nice is tailor-made for spectators. The swim start along the Promenade offers incredible views, while the run course keeps the drama close to the city center. Those willing to venture into the hills can catch glimpses of the athletes tackling the toughest climbs. Visitors are advised to plan ahead: traffic will be restricted, accommodations fill quickly, and the best viewing spots are claimed early.

  Beyond the Race

  For Nice and the wider Côte d’Azur, the IRONMAN World Championship brings not only prestige but also significant economic impact. The event reinforces the region’s reputation as a premier global sports destination, combining elite athletic competition with world-class hospitality and breathtaking scenery.
  

  As athletes dive into the Baie des Anges on September 14, 2025, they’ll be racing not only for world titles but also into history—on a course that embodies the spirit of IRONMAN: endurance, determination, and a setting like no other.

Monaco Grand Prix Secured Through 2035

 

Formula 1’s crown jewel is here to stay. The Monaco Grand Prix has officially extended its agreement with the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), locking the Principality’s iconic street race onto the calendar until at least 2035. The deal secures another decade of glamour, high-stakes drama, and historic moments in Monte Carlo.

The announcement, made Friday 5th September, ends years of uncertainty that saw short-term renewals and tense negotiations over hosting fees, limited overtaking, and television production rights. With this extension, Monaco now holds one of the longest contracts in F1, joining Madrid, Bahrain, Australia, Miami and Austria in securing its future well into the next decade.

ACM President Michel Boeri called the deal “a reaffirmation of our commitment to delivering an exceptional, unmatched and world-renowned race weekend,” while thanking Prince Albert II for his decisive role in moving talks forward. The Prince himself welcomed the extension, stressing Monaco’s “deep attachment” to the tradition and its unique place in global motorsport. F1 President Stefano Domenicali echoed the sentiment, describing the race as “an iconic event loved by all drivers and fans.”

The news follows a turbulent period in which Monaco’s place on the grid was often questioned. A six-year deal signed in 2024 initially stabilized matters, but this new four-year add-on finally provides the long-term security organizers were seeking.

Last year’s race produced history when local hero Charles Leclerc claimed a landmark first home victory for a Monegasque driver in the World Championship era. This year, however, a controversial two-pit-stop rule overshadowed McLaren’s Lando Norris’s win, with drivers and fans alike dismissing the format as ineffective. Despite criticism, the rule will return in 2026 as organizers push for more strategic intrigue.

One key change is already set: the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix will shift to 5–7 June, avoiding a clash with the Indianapolis 500 and streamlining F1’s European schedule.

With its future secured, Monaco now has over a decade to continue blending sport, spectacle and prestige like nowhere else in the racing world.

LGBTQIA+ Côte d’Azur Center Hosts Fall Kickoff Event in Nice

 

The LGBTQIA+ Côte d’Azur Center is ringing in the new season with its annual fall kickoff event, taking place on Sunday, September 14 at 5 p.m. at the Center on rue Cathy Richeux in Nice.

The evening will feature a presentation of the association’s upcoming activities, a special exhibition, speeches, music, and of course, a convivial apéritif to bring the community together.

Admission is free and open to all, making it a perfect opportunity to connect, celebrate, and discover the wonderful programs the Center has planned for the months ahead.

The White Lotus Rumored to Set Season 4 in France

 

Word is that creator Mike White and HBO have set their sights on France as the backdrop for the highly anticipated fourth season of The White Lotus, the Emmy-winning murder-mystery dramedy.

Thanks to HBO’s ongoing partnership with the Four Seasons hotel chain—which doubles as the fictional White Lotus resorts—speculation has zeroed in on the legendary Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat. Perched dramatically on the tip of the peninsula, the Riviera landmark has long drawn Hollywood’s elite, with Cannes and Monaco just a stone’s throw away.

Still, nothing is locked in. Much like Season 3 in Thailand, which combined the Four Seasons Koh Samui with three other resorts, Season 4 is expected to feature multiple hotels. Whether a French Four Seasons property will anchor the story remains to be seen. Fueling the Riviera buzz, White was recently spotted staying at Nice’s historic Hotel Negresco, a Belle Époque treasure that echoes the grandeur of Cap-Ferrat.

France offers three Four Seasons options: the Cap-Ferrat on the Riviera, the alpine retreat in Megève, and the glamorous Hotel George V in Paris. Each presents a unique tone—Cap-Ferrat aligns with the beachside luxury of Seasons 1–3 (Hawaii, Italy, Thailand), Megève could deliver a snowy twist, and Paris would plunge the series into an urban, romantic setting. But White has admitted to hating the cold, which makes Megève a risky choice, especially if production starts before late spring.

At the close of Season 3, White teased a shift in direction: “For the fourth season, I want to get a little bit out of the crashing waves of vernacular rocks, but there’s always more room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels.”

Location scouting was originally planned for spring but postponed to summer, as White took a breather after wrapping Season 3. With the show’s most recent installment scoring 23 Emmy nominations, expectations are sky-high.

Locals on the Côte d’Azur, meanwhile, are divided. Some welcome the global spotlight and economic boost, while others fear that a Riviera-set season could unleash another wave of overtourism. I personally think this region is a most beautiful and intriguing location option along with its history that helped make it what it is today.