TROIS IN THE TRICOLORE: QUINTANA ROO’S THREE PROS RACING 70.3 WORLDS NICE
This Saturday, the world’s fastest middle-distance triathletes will take part in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships. As always, the energy along the Promenade in Nice, France is bustling and electric; holidaygoers and locals from around the world are enjoying the late summer Côte d’Azur sun in seaside restaurants or along the beach.
The 70.3 World Championship is moving to Chattanooga next year, but the South of France is still giving us a beautiful send-off. Warm days, a fast 1.2-mile swim, an iconically mountainous 56-mile bike course in the hinterland of the French Alps, and a fast, flat half marathon along that iconic Promenade des Anglais.
Then you’ve got the triathletes. We’ve got three of the fastest women lining up on the Plage. Let's introduce Bridget Theunnisen, Caroline Kaplan, and Marta Sánchez.
Caroline Kaplan (USA)
The newest member of the Quintana Roo Factory Team, Caroline’s performance trajectory represents one particular emoji: 🚀
A true Southerner, Kaplan was a walk-on track and field and cross-country runner through college at Butler University in Indianapolis, and, seeking an outlet for her post-collegiate drive, fell in love with multisport. Finding quick success as an age grouper, she earned her pro card in 2014.
Since then, it’s been nothing but up. A resident of Franklin, Tenn. (just outside Nashville and a neighbor of ours northwest of Quintana Roo’s Chattanooga, Tenn. headquarters), Kaplan has gone from rookie to a trusted top-10 finisher at any 70.3 she rocks up to. With two top-five results in 2025 (at IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga and Louisville) and two top-10s at PTO Gold events at 70.3 Boise and Pennsylvania, she’s cutting her teeth against some of the best domestic middle-distance pros.
But this weekend, she’s up against the world’s best. Last year, she finished 40th in Marbella, a “happy to be here” result. She comes into Nice after a mountain-specific training block in Chattanooga in preparation for this weekend.
“Honestly, the Chattanooga hills were worse (than the climb to Vence),” Kaplan said. “We did the descent, but I also heard from a guy who also did the Chattanooga rides in preparation for Nice, and he said the same thing… so hopefully we’re prepared enough!”
Bridget Theunissen (RSA)
If you've heard of Bridget, it's likely because you’re tuned in to the short–course draft–legal World Triathlon circuit, where “Biddi” is a familiar name.
Hailing from South Africa, Bridget started racing as a junior on the world triathlon circuit in 2018, then as an elite one year later. With stacks of U23 and elite podiums at regional cup championships over the last few years, highlighted by a victory at U23 Africa Sprint Championships, and most recently, runner-up at the RSA Triathlon National Championships this year, she continues to maintain a foothold in the short course world.
But as it has historically, short course racing has become a bellwether for middle distance success. Theunissen did her first 70.3 in Mossel Bay in 2022, finishing fourth, and has sprinkled her seasons with 70.3 and Challenge events the last few years. This year, Theunissen really broke out, with victory at Challenge Cesenatico in Italy and Challenge Turku, along with a fourth-place result at 70.3 Krakow, results earning her a start on the Côte d’Azur in Nice this weekend.
Last year, Bridget finished 30th at 70.3 Worlds 2025 in Marbella. With a full head of steam—and of course piloting her new V-PRi—anything is possible for the South African this Saturday.
Marta Sánchez (ESP)
We’ve all seen the amazing season Marta Sánchez has built this year, her first with Quintana Roo (aboard that signature giraffe-print motif on her V-PRi). While so much of her year has been centered around top results in the full IRONMAN distance, with a focus on a big result in Kona in October, she's also shown up well in the middle distance, with a sixth-place finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside, and fifth place at IRONMAN 70.3 Elsinore.
While Kona remains a big focus, she's certainly not training through this one in Nice, having put in a big training block, climbing the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain. The diminutive Spaniard is capable of ripping off a top 10, and maybe more, this Saturday.
Catch QR Athletes in Nice
If you’re looking for a bit of intel on the course, Marta will be joined by two-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion (and Quintana Roo ambassador) Craig Alexander at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships Tips & Tricks with Craig Alexander & Marta Sánchez talk, Thursday at 11:30 a.m. to noon on the main stage (Miroir d'eau) inside the IRONMAN Village. For those there, we invite you to join them!
