Athlete Dies Attempting Cancelled Ironman Course in Nice
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>Athlete Dies Attempting Cancelled Ironman Course in Nice
>After Ironman France and Ironman 70.3 Nice were cancelled because of extreme heat, some athletes chose to complete the course independently, ending in tragedy.
>Following the cancellation of Ironman 70.3 Nice and Ironman France this past weekend because of the European heat wave, a number of athletes chose to complete the race course anyway. Common reasons cited on social media included having travelled a significant distance to the race, already being in Nice when the cancellation was announced, and the considerable expense of race entry, travel, bike transport, and accommodation. One individual organized a group on social media to take on the course together despite the official Ironman events being cancelled.
>As one participant from Switzerland told a local newspaper: “I can understand cancelling the full Ironman. But I have a harder time accepting cancelling the 70.3. We train all year for this. Between the entry fee, transporting our bikes, and the hotel, we’ve spent a lot of money. We’re here anyway, so we might as well make the most of it.”
>According to local reports, the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture, which had ordered the cancellation because of the extreme heat, warned athletes against attempting to complete “their Ironman without supervision or assistance” outside of the official event. Importantly, the sanctioned race included full road closures on the iconic but demanding and highly technical bike course – protections that were not in place for any unofficial ride.
>Despite those warnings, some athletes proceeded with the course. Tragically, a 42-year-old man was killed after reportedly crossing the centre line during the bike leg and colliding with a motorcyclist travelling in the opposite direction. What should have been an incredible weekend of racing at one of Ironman’s flagship events instead ended in both cancellation and tragedy.
Emergency services responded to the scene but were unable to revive the athlete, who was pronounced dead. The motorcyclist was reportedly uninjured.
>“A cyclist in his forties died today in the municipality of Bouyon,” the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture said in a statement. “He was descending at high speed and is believed to have crossed over before colliding with a motorcyclist traveling in the opposite direction. The deceased had been registered for the Ironman events, which had been prohibited by prefectural order, and was riding on a section of road that formed part of the cancelled race course.”
>An investigation into the incident is ongoing. We extend our sincere condolences and our thoughts are with the athlete’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragedy.