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Originally by Anglea Reichhold for Ironman

On the Côte de Azur, history was made as the first-ever VinFast IRONMAN World Championship to take place in Ville de Nice unfolded. It was Sam Laidlow, racing for France, who enjoyed a dominant victory on home soil. Laidlow used a 47:50 swim, a race-best 4:31:28 bike, and a strong 2:41:46 run to improve on his runner-up performance in Kona last year.

Swim

The professional men set out on the two-lap, non-wetsuit swim held in the azure blue water of the Mediterranean Sea in calm conditions. It wasn’t long before the field split up into two packs. Braden Currie (NZL) led the first group, but Sam Laidlow got to the front at the first turn and put the pressure on. The lead pack consisted of 10 athletes, with Germany’s Jan Frodeno displaying sincere motivation to not get left behind and chasing Laidlow and Gregory Barnaby (ITA) swimming side by side with Currie.

The chase group was about 10 to 15 meters behind, with Pieter Heemeryck (BEL), Cameron Wurf (AUS) and Kristian Hogenhaug (DNK) in the front.

After the 3.8 km swim, the first out of the water was Matthew Marquardt (USA) in 47:46 who closed the gap from behind. He left the water shoulder to shoulder with Currie and Frodeno in second position.

Bike

Marquardt executed a quick transition and was first onto the bike course, followed by Niek Heldoorn (NLD) who quickly took the lead. On the flat, opening kilometers of the bike course, Laidlow powered to the front, looking strong when chasing Heldoorn on the first climb. Currie, Frodeno, Marquardt and Rudy von Berg (USA)—a half-local who is very familiar with the technical bike course—put the chase on. At 12 km, Clement Mignon (FRA) made an aggressive move to the front and took over the lead. As this course is said to be his training ground, he was in a confident position. On a winding course with so many variables, strategy and drama were bound to be factors: Laidlow would make a move, riding by Mignon, and the two locals would continue to exchange the lead over the most challenging part of the course.

The two French athletes built their gap to the chase group and at 27 km had put a full minute on their chasers. Currie, Weiss, Barnaby, Von Berg and Frodeno tried to keep up, but the gap only increased, even at this very early stage in the race. Von Berg, who grew up in Nice, displayed a powerful local knowledge, and Weiss came up only shortly after him.

After finishing the steepest climbs Mignon lead the race, but both he and Laidlow continue to ride aggressively. The gap between them and Ditlev, Von Berg and Weiss was now over two minutes.

Laidlow, demonstrating his technical riding skills, eventually outpaced Mignon, who fell back more and more. Von Berg, Ditlev and Wurf in the chase group saw the gap grow constantly with five minutes at 130 km.

Laidlow put on an impressive performance on the bike course, said to be the hardest ever at an IRONMAN World Championship with a remarkable 4:31:28 split. His chasers came into transition with a significant gap: Rudy von Berg at 5:16 down, Magnus Ditlev at 5:53, Cameron Wurf  at 7:17, and Leon Chavalier at 11:05.

Run

At the beginning of the marathon, the head and tail winds on the four-loop course along the Promenade des Anglais were very demanding, and the temperatures were heating up as did the race itself. Laidlow started the run strong with a head start of more than five minutes. He demonstrated a fluid style, despite overcoming recent injuries and COVID three weeks ago.

At 3.5 km, Ditlev ran past Von Berg and stayed in second position, but Von Berg began to fall back kilometer by kilometer. There was a big focus on the former world champion, Patrick Lange (DEU) who started the run with an almost 13-minute deficit. While Laidlow ran very smoothly, Lange started to increase his pace. At 15 km he’d run into fourth position, but with a 10-minute gap to Laidlow. He flew by von Berg at 28 km and it became clear that he would take over Ditlev’s position as well. At 34 km, the race got a new second position when Lange caught Ditlev.

Laidlow stayed focused and no one was able to catch him. The 24-year-old athlete soared across the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship finish line in 8:06:22.

Lange finished second with an incredible run split (2:32:41) in 8:10:17, and Magnus Ditlev completed the podium in 8:41:07. Three-time IRONMAN World Champion Jan Frodeno completed the last race of his professional career, crossing the finish line in 24th place to adoring crowds.

Laidlow said that he had dreamed of this moment his whole life, “I am so grateful. It was a long season. Sometimes it’s just the least you expect. Today I just had great legs. There has never been a French World Champion and I hope that I will be just one of many.”

Lange stated that he was happy with his race as well, “It would have taken a miracle to catch this guy [Laidlow],” he said.

Ditlev commented, “I am super proud of the way I fought. I kept staying positive, it was such a hard day, so I am super proud that I have made it to the podium.”

Top 10 Professional Men

1. Sam Laidlow (FRA) – 8:06:22
2. Patrick Lange (DEU) – 8:10:17
3. Magnus Ditlev (DEN) – 8:11:43
4. Rudy von Berg (USA) – 8:12:57
5. Leon Chevalier (FRA) – 8:15:07
6. Arthur Horseau (FRA) – 8:18:36
7. Bradly Weiss (RSA) – 8:20:54
8. Gregory Barnaby (ITA) – 8:21:15
9. Robert Wilkowicki (POL) – 8:21:23
10. Clement Mignon (FRA) – 8:24:10