Matthew Marquardt, Marten Van Riel, and Sam Long make up a spicy trio in a talent-stuffed field
The men’s Ironman World Championship in Nice features a star-studded roster that should make for thrilling racing in one of the most iconic locales along the Mediterranean. Trek is sending three representatives to compete this Sunday: Med student/Ironman pro Matthew Marquardt, T100 dynamo Marten Van Riel, and All-American stoke machine Sam Long.
The course in Nice is features a few big climbs in comparison to the always-rolling course in Kona, so racing should be fast and potentially very tight.
Matthew Marquardt has one of the coolest stories in triathlon. | Photo: Hank Whalen
Matthew Marquardt will be one of the most closely watched competitors, and not just for one of the most unique back stories of anyone competing. Marquardt is in second-place on the Ironman Pro Series standings, while also attending medical school as a full-time student at Ohio State. As you can imagine, the man is on his feet a lot, but that hasn’t stopped him from winning Ironman races in Lake Placid and Cairns this year.
The big question for Marquardt: Will he cramp? In every triathlon start he has made this season, Marquardt’s legs have seized up entering the first transition into the bike leg. He has determined, along with coaches and doctors, that the issue likely stems from scar tissue that is irritating a nerve in the front upper portion of his leg as he swims. Through targeted stretching and active release techniques, he has managed to reduce the length and severity of the cramps, but not yet eliminate them. If he has solved the problem in Nice, he could contend for an awe-inspiring podium.
Marten Van Riel may not be at full strength, but underestimate the T100 World Champion at your own risk. | Photo: Robrecht Paesen
Marten Van Riel is one of the most intriguing competitors in the event. At full strength, he’s one of the most fearsome middle-distance triathletes in the world. In 2024, he won three T100 races, including the World Championship and the series overall title, and also competed in the Paris Olympics. He has been gradually upping his distance throughout his career, and now he’s about to compete in his first ever Ironman World Championship after having raced just two full-distance Ironmans in his career.
One of those Ironmans took place in South Africa this past March, when Van Riel took second. There’s no question he has the pedigree of a podium contender, but Van Riel is also coming off a pesky sprained ankle that kept him from running up until less than four weeks ago. He’s not in tip-top form, but Van Riel at 80-90 percent is still wickedly fast.
Sam Long is going to bring more energy and fight to Nice than anyone. | Photo: Kenny Withrow
Like Van Riel, Sam Long is also highly-regarded on the middle distance circuit. This year, he already has wins at Ironman 70.3 Eagleman and Chattanooga, and a second-place finish at Ironman 70.3 St. George. Long doesn’t often push himself to full-Ironman distances, but when he does, he puts on a show. In 2024, he won a thriller in Chattanooga.
Long is one of the best cyclists and runners on the circuit. The swim leg, however, is his not-so-secret bugaboo. If he can keep within shouting distance of the leaders heading into the bike, he has the very real potential to charge past everyone. And no matter what, he’ll be an absolute blast to watch. Maybe no one in triathlon has a bigger personality than Mr. Yo Yo Yo. Oh, and he’s one helluva dad, too.
Matthew's Speed Concept is ready for battle. | Photo: Hank Whalen
The race will begin at 7:05 a.m. CET (European time) on Sunday, which is 1:05 a.m. ET if you’re United States. If you’d like to settle in and watch the nearly eight hours of racing, you’re in luck. You can watch the race for FREE at the Ironman Pro Series website. The broadcast will start roughly two hours before the race (11:15 p.m. ET on Saturday night). You can also watch on OutsideTV.
If you haven’t yet, make sure you’re following Matthew, Marten and Sam on Instagram to keep up with everything they’re up to in Nice, including in-depth looks at their Speed Concepts and their journeys to the biggest race of the year. And of course, check out Trek Race Shop for plenty more from Ironman World Championships and all of Trek’s athletes.
