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Race Report
If you followed Ironman France on any of the live websites you probably saw images of blue Mediterranean waters, sweeping vistas on the bike and a whole host of entertainment keeping the crowd going at the finish line. You saw Marcel Zamora win his second consecutive Ironman France in grand fashion, holding himself within striking distance on the bike, then sealing the deal with ease on the marathon. You undoubtedly saw petite Alexandra Louison become a giant as she crushed her competition in similar fashion setting a new record on the marathon in the process.
What’s just tough to get across, though, is the feel of being here in Nice. Each city has its character, style, quirks to avoid and places to love. Nice is like stepping into a time in your childhood when you just couldn’t wait to get up the next day because something special and magic was going to happen. Maybe it was a birthday gift your parents were trying to keep a secret, one you knew about anyway. It might have been a special holiday that sparked your belief in things unseen.
Nice is like that, kind of like stepping into a past memory of something yet to happen that sweeps you up and embraces you. For the time you are here, no matter how brief, the cobble stone beaches, constant string of moped and Smart cars, the blocks of restaurants that all warrant five star status, the tourists and Nicoise, the triathletes, fishermen and cadre of city workers who clean the streets while the rest of us sleep all become your life. Home is like a fleeting thought that comes in and leaves with little trace to connect you back to it.
The race is just an added bonus to all of this. It takes you through villages hanging on for dear life atop the Maritime Alps then sweeps you back down descents that are either death defying or worthy of the Tour de France depending on your attitude. Best to go with the second one! Pro for a day. Why not?
This was the third year of Ironman in Nice. And even though the sport has a 25-year history here, the transition from Nice International to Ironman was a right of passage complete with challenges. But just as triathlon was embraced by the town from the beginning, Ironman in Nice is quickly becoming part of the city’s lore. Words fall short of describing the race. No more need be said. Instead, if you haven’t already checked it out, take a look at our videos here. (Our MAC version converted better and is viewable to anyone with QuickTime). Certainly a picture is worth a thousand words. Hopefully it will wet your appetite for more, and maybe even be the inspiration to come here in 2008 for the next edition of Ironman France-Nice.
See you then.
Mark Allen
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Race Video  Windows  MAC
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Race Intro 