Belgian Marten Van Riel wins Ironman 70.3 in Nice
Aurélian Marre Published on 06/29/2025 at 10:33 AM, updated on 06/29/2025 at 11:16 AM
He was the favorite, and he assumed his status without trembling. The world's best performer over the 70.3 distance in 3h26'06'' (half of a classic Ironman: 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike ride and 21.1 km run), the Belgian Marten Van Riel won the half Ironman France this Sunday morning in Nice in 4h01'48''.
However, it was the Italian Michele Bartolamedi who emerged from the water in the lead, but the Flemish rider made the difference in the cycling section, the strong point of this big fan of the Tour de France. Marten Van Riel widened the gap to 3'40'' before starting the final leg of the half-marathon.
On the running leg, the 32-year-old triathlete managed his effort to cross the line first.
Behind him, the Italian Michele Bartolamedi took a very fine second place, just 2:59 behind the winner, in 4:04:47. Third place went to the Danish Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen in 4:06:01.
In the women's race, Briton Jessica Learmonth won in 4h39'57'' ahead of Frenchwoman Sandra Huon (4h42''37) and her compatriot Anne-Sophie Pierre (4h44'01''), who both overtook Spaniard Sara Perez Sala in the middle of the half-marathon, who finished just off the podium.
Var-Matin
