Jan Frodeno begins his new phase in trail running with a great debut in Nice.
The German triathlete shone in the Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB race, making it clear that his retirement from the IRONMAN does not mean a halt to his sporting ambitions.
Jan FrodenoAt 44, he continues to write unique chapters in the history of sport.
Olympic champion in 2008, three-time winner of the HOMBRE DE HIERRO World Championship and two-time world champion in the 70.3 class, the German said goodbye to professional triathlon in 2023 after the Nice event.
Less than two years later, he returned to the French Riviera, this time to compete in a demanding trail running event.
Premiere at the Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB
The chosen challenge was the 55-kilometer race of the Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB, with more than 2.000 meters of positive elevation gain.
Frodeno completed the test in 5 hours 27/XNUMX, Achieving a 15th overall position among 1.378 men and winning in his age group (40–44).
An outstanding performance considering that most of the athletes who preceded him were much younger and specialized in mountain runners.
On the way to the big goal: the UTMB OCC
This debut is part of a bigger plan. Frodeno had already confessed his intention to compete in the UTMB OCC, the iconic 56km race that connects Orsières to Chamonix via Champex-Lac.
Considered one of the most prestigious international trail races, it's also one of the toughest due to its alpine course. Her performance in Nice demonstrates that she's on the right path to qualify.
References and level rivals
The winner in Nice was the young Spaniard Miguel Benitez, professional trail athlete and runner Asics Running, who completed the test in less than 4h30.
Despite the difference in age and specialty, Frodeno was competitive and made it clear he still has a strong engine. After the race, the German shared on social media: "It was a long time on my legs... I'll come back stronger!"
See this post on Instagram
Reactions and support
Frodeno's performance did not go unnoticed. Personalities such as the Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas, who lives in the area, publicly congratulated him. He also did so Heather Jackson, a former IRONMAN star converted to trail running, who knows firsthand the challenge of changing disciplines.
