IRONMAN France · NiceVerified
IRONMAN France · Nice: 171 km bike leg, 2477 m of climbing. Elevation profile, what the terrain asks of you, the weather this race day usually brings, and how to pace this course.
Course intel
The classic Nice mountain route: the first 20 km flat along the coast, then inland onto a long climb up to a plateau above 1200 m, rolling terrain across the top, and a long technical descent back to the seafront boulevard. Close to 2700 m of climbing and many corners on the way down; the power plan is about saving your strength for the climb and keeping the descent safe and relaxed.
Source: Compiled from the official route and public race information · every course rechecked before launch
The terrain on this course
- Flat (±1.2%) makes up 30%
- Main climb 45.9–50.9 km: 239 m of gain (avg 4.8%)
- Main climb 52.8–59.0 km: 372 m of gain (avg 5.9%)
- Main climb 115.5–119.9 km: 221 m of gain (avg 5.0%)
Speed score
There is a climb longer than 2 km out there: go in at an intensity you can hold to the top, and only add past halfway if you feel good. Riders who go hard from the bottom mostly bleed speed in the back half.
Historical race-day weather (around 09-12): 22.6°C · Wind 3.7 m/s
0 to 100, and the higher it is the easier it is to post a good time. Points come off for terrain, for corners, and for the heat and wind this race has actually had over the last five years at the same time of year. Full explanation in the article “How the course score works”.