Blue bagBike / T1 — what you ride in
- Helmet
- Bike shoes
- Sunglasses
- Race belt + number
- Bike nutritiongels · bars
- Arm warmerscols
- Light glovesdescents
Racked with your bike at check-in, the day before. Your wetsuit goes in here after the swim.
Race day for this edition — 28 June 2026 — has passed. The guide stays up for reference.
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What to pack for IRONMAN France · Nice
IRONMAN France · Nice is a single-transition Ironman on the Baie des Anges — you rack on the Quai des États-Unis, with colour-coded bags for the bike and the run, and your bike goes in the night before. The swim is off the Promenade des Anglais, the bike climbs into the hills, and here's exactly what goes in each bag.
FullSingle transitionNice, FranceSun 28 Jun 2026
ⓘThe layout, bags and check-in shape come from the race calendar and don't change year to year. Exact times are confirmed from the 2026 athlete guide.
A single transition, in two places.
Swim, bike and run all turn through one transition just behind the beach — you come back to the same rack between disciplines. The bike climbs inland and the flat marathon laps the Promenade des Anglais back to the finish, so the day is one venue and a long loop out.
T1 / T2 · one transitionQuai des États-UnisSwim exit, bike out, then bike in and run out — all at the same rack. Your blue and red bags are both here.
→finishPromenade des AnglaisRun finish on the seafront. Your black street bag meets you here.
▪One transition keeps the logistics simple, but the bike does not: a long mountainous loop with big temperature swings between the cols and sea level. Pack the blue bag for cold descents and a hot, exposed marathon — not for the conditions at the start line.
Three bags, by colour.
IRONMAN's colour-to-bag scheme is the same across European races, so this part is settled. Pack each bag for the discipline it powers — and on Nice, pack the bike bag for the mountains.
Red bagRun / T2 — what you finish in
- Running shoes
- Run cap or visor
- Run nutritiongels
- Anti-chafe balm
- Sunscreensmall
- Electrolytesoptional
Racked at the transition the day before. It's waiting for you off the bike.
Black bagStreet gear — start → finish
- Warm dry layer
- Flip-flops or sandals
- Small towel
- Pre-swim throwaway top
- Phone + keys pouch
- Recovery snackoptional
Handed in on race morning; moved to the finish so dry clothes meet you there.
+What you carry to the water (not in a bag): wetsuit, goggles, timing chip on the ankle, and the swim cap from your race pack. The swim start is a pebble beach, so a pair of old sandals for the walk down helps. Everything else has gone into the bags above.
Your bike goes in the night before.
Nice runs a mandatory day-before bike check-in with the bike racked overnight on the Quai des États-Unis — there's no race-morning bike check-in to fall back on. The shape of that is fixed; the exact closing minute is this edition's detail.
Quai des États-Unis
Day beforeMandatoryRacked overnightNo race-morning check-in
Bike check-in & bag drop closecut-off
The 2026 official guide is in. The times below are now confirmed for this edition — a few moved from last year.
How the morning typically runs.
The choreography barely moves year to year — transition opens early, the street bag goes in, then the rolling swim start off the Promenade. The order is what matters.
Saturday — day before
Athlete check-in opens
Bag drop (blue + red) closes
Bike check-in closes
Sunday — race day
Transition opens
Street-clothes bag drop
Rolling swim start
Swim cut-off
Bike cut-off
Final finish cut-off
Nice, answered.
What colour bag is the bike bag at Nice?
The blue bag is your bike / T1 bag — helmet, bike shoes, sunglasses, race belt and ride nutrition. It's racked with your bike on the Quai des États-Unis the day before.
What should I pack for the mountainous bike?
Pack the blue bag for cold cols and fast descents: arm warmers, light gloves and a packable layer. The high ground can be cool and damp even when the seafront is hot, so dress for the descent, not the start.
Do I have to check my bike in the day before?
Yes. Bike check-in is mandatory and day-before, racked overnight by the beach. There is no race-morning bike check-in, so don't plan to bring it on the day.
How many bags do I pack?
Three: blue for the bike, red for the run, black for street clothes. It's a single transition, so blue and red both sit at the one rack; the black bag is moved to the finish for you.
What's the run like for packing?
The marathon is flat but sun-baked along the Promenade. Pack a cap or visor, sunglasses and sunscreen in the red bag, and a hot-day hydration plan — there's no shade out on the seafront.
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Seeded from the 2026 calendar