The Ironman 70.3 World Championship takes place in Nice on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, with women racing on the Saturday and men on the Sunday, according to ICI. More than 6,000 athletes are expected to take part in the event, which combines a 1.9km swim in the Baie des Anges, a 90km cycle through the Nice hinterland including the Col de Vence, and a 21.1km run along the Promenade des Anglais, the outlet reported.
Disruption began well ahead of race weekend. The Jardin Albert-Ier, the Miroir d'Eau and the Espace Jacques-Médecin on the Promenade du Paillon closed to the public on September 2 and will not reopen until September 16, according to Nice Mag. A section of the cycle path along the Promenade des Anglais and the Quai des États-Unis became inaccessible from September 7, with the first road closures beginning September 9 ahead of a progressively tighter restriction schedule through the weekend.
The Promenade des Anglais will see the heaviest restrictions, with several sections closed to traffic from Friday evening, September 11, according to Petites Affiches des Alpes Maritimes. The Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur has published a detailed plan covering traffic, parking, public transport and pedestrian and cyclist access; drivers travelling north-south through the Var valley are advised to use the M6202 or the A8 motorway instead. Communities beyond Nice, including Saint-Laurent-du-Var, La Gaude, Saint-Jeannet, Vence, Le Broc, Carros and Gattières, will also see localised disruption.