This weekend, the inaugural edition of IRONMAN 70.3 Tours Métropole – Loire Valley triathlon took place, welcoming 2,700 registered age-group and professional athletes.
During the weekend, it was announced by IRONMAN and the city of Tours that, next year, IRONMAN 70.3 Tours Métropole – Loire Valley will become a full-distance IRONMAN event. In parallel, IRONMAN Les Sables d’Olonne – Vendée will return to be an IRONMAN 70.3 event.
Regional Director for France at The IRONMAN Group, Thibault Vellard said “It’s great to see such a large appetite in France for both IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon races.
“Both of these races have been a real hit in the region, and we want to give our athletes the opportunity to experience both distances at two exciting and loved French destinations.”
Next year’s IRONMAN Tours Métropole – Loire Valley triathlon will take place on June 14, 2026. The course will be an elongated version of the IRONMAN 70.3 course, including a river swim, a mostly flat bike and run course, and an indoor transition and finish line.
This year’s edition of the race saw some speedy times, with 15 male professionals all going under two hours for the bike leg, and seven professional women going under two hours twenty.
IRONMAN’s Thibault Vellard added “We’re delighted to be able to count on the Tours metropolitan area to host this new IRONMAN.
“Its flat playing field, surrounded by castles and running alongside the Cher, makes it the perfect venue for this type of event. We are absolutely delighted with our collaboration with the region, and I am sure that this new race will be a success.”
Next year’s IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendee triathlon will take place on July 5, 2026, following the full distance edition of the race this year.
IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne – Vendée has been one of IRONMAN’s fastest selling events in Europe since its launch in 2019, thanks to its strong local support, a swim in the Vendée Globe channel, a bike course through the picturesque Vendée countryside, and a harbour side run.
With the race transitioning back to an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon, it will officially become France’s flattest IRONMAN 70.3 race.
With these changes, the 2026 French racing calendar will kick off with IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence triathlon on May 17. The new full distance IRONMAN Tours Métropole – Loire Valley triathlon will then take place a month later on June 14.
IRONMAN France and IRONMAN 70.3 Nice will then take place as usually scheduled at the end of June, with IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne – Vendée scheduled for the week after. The French season will then finish with IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy towards the end of August.
