Nice or Kona? Ironman Worlds on the Riviera & Gravel Grit in Dalby

About this episode

Mark and Caroline discuss the Ironman World Championships in Nice and Caroline's experience at the British Gravel Championships in Dalby Forest.

In this episode of The Brick Session, Mark and Caroline dive into a packed weekend of racing news, starting with the Ironman World Championships in Nice. With the legendary Kona course giving way to the French Riviera this year, the event sparked considerable debate. Mark and Caroline unpack the brutal bike course that left its mark on the field, reflected in a notably high DNF rate. They question whether Nice was given a fair chance to prove itself as a long-term alternative to Kona, or if the tradition of Hawaii will always overshadow any new host. The conversation naturally turns to the race dynamics, where the Norwegians once again proved their dominance, sweeping the podium with a remarkable top-three finish. Mark and Caroline explore what makes their approach so consistently successful, and what this says about the future of long-distance triathlon. Closer to home, Caroline shares her personal experience at the British Gravel Championships held in Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire. In a race that attracted some of the UK’s best off-road talent, she put in a gritty performance to take 8th place overall — a standout achievement at 46 years old. Together, they reflect on the…

People in this episode

Host: Mark Livesey

Guest: Caroline

Topics covered

• Ironman World Championships
• gravel racing
• triathlon dynamics
• Norwegian dominance
• personal racing experiences

Keywords

• Ironman
• Kona
• Nice
• gravel racing
• Dalby Forest
• triathlon
• DNF rate
• Norwegian athletes
• British Gravel Championships

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Nice, Kona, French Riviera, Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire

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