Gustav Iden is relishing starting the second phase of his long-distance triathlon career – and believes the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice on September 14 will be a date with destiny.

Iden burst into the global spotlight with his victory in a stellar IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice in 2019, getting the better of double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee.

He successfully defended that title the next time the event was held in 2021, and was then crowned IRONMAN World Champion in Kona the following season.

But he has endured a traumatic time since then, with personal tragedy as his mother lost her brave battle against cancer in 2023.

Injuries have also curtailed his appearances but he was building things up in the second half of 2024 and is now ready for a fresh start, which coincides with a change on the coaching side as he and compatriot Kristian Blummenfelt will take more responsibility now that long-time coach Olav Aleksander Bu focuses much of his time on pro cycling with a new role at Uno-X.

Exciting times

In the latest episode of the Santara Tech ‘Norwegian Method’ series, which is embedded below, Iden reveals: “Me and Kristian and doing more on the programmes themselves now.

“Olav is very much still part of the team and we’re talking a lot about the training.

“But taking more charge of the day to day life is also a challenge I’m looking forward to.

“I’m more motivated than ever to do some more of the training myself and just figure things out as I go.

“It’s weird to feel like you have so much to learn still when I’m a three-time world champion.

“But I do feel that way. I feel like I have a lot of things to improve and develop so it’s very exciting.”

‘Nice the ultimate goal’

The priority for both Iden and Blummenfelt in 2025 will be the IRONMAN Pro Series, with the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice the undoubted highlight.

Their seasons will start in April with 70.3 Oceanside and IRONMAN Texas but before then a trip to the French Riviera will combine a training block and the chance to spec out the Nice course.

“I think for me Nice is the ultimate goal,” explains Iden. “I feel like it’s almost destiny in one way. 2019 was the year I really broke through on the international stage, especially over long distance.

“Winning there in Nice on a road bike and with no sponsors was basically the start of my career.

“And now to restart my career there would be a dream.

“I’m feeling very motivated to get back into training.”