Going Back to the Drawing Board: Inside Matt Hanson's Quest for Nice Redemption
When Matt Hanson crossed the finish line in 21st place at the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice two years ago, he was already dissecting the race in his mind. Despite his impressive 2:28 run split that had the triathlon community buzzing, Hanson knew the race was lost long before his feet hit the pavement. The culprit? The bike course.
Now, with the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship returning to Nice, Hanson is on a mission for redemption. His secret weapon? An ultra-light version of Quintana Roo's V-Pri, a bike meticulously optimized for climbing, stripped of any non-essential weight, including most of its paint. This approach mirrors Hanson's strategy: focus on what truly matters and eliminate the rest.
For triathlon enthusiasts and competitive athletes alike, Hanson's preparation offers a masterclass in tackling course-specific challenges, optimizing equipment, and learning from past experiences.
The Nice Challenge: Why This Race Demands Different Preparation
The IRONMAN World Championship in Nice isn't your typical triathlon. Unlike Kona, which tests athletes with heat and wind, Nice presents a technical challenge that demands both climbing power and descending skills—two distinct abilities that most triathletes rarely need to balance.
"The first time in Nice was definitely an eye-opener," Hanson recalls. "I knew everyone would attack the climb, but I didn't anticipate how hard they would ride on the top flat section, and I lost a lot of time."
This revelation highlights a crucial lesson for athletes at every level: understanding where you lose time is often more valuable than knowing where you gain it. Hanson's 2023 performance showed that his climbing wasn't the limiting factor—it was his positioning and pacing on the sections between climbs that cost him precious minutes.
The Nice course features sustained climbs that reward power-to-weight ratios, technical descents that demand bike handling skills, and crucially, flat sections where aerodynamics and tactical positioning become paramount. It's this combination that makes equipment choices so critical.
For age-group athletes facing similar challenges, Hanson's experience underscores the importance of course reconnaissance and honest self-assessment. Where you think you'll struggle and where you actually struggle are often two different things.
From Prototype to Performance: The V-Pri Development Story
Hanson's relationship with Quintana Roo exemplifies how meaningful innovation happens in the cycling industry—through genuine athlete-manufacturer collaboration rather than marketing-driven product launches.
"I got the first prototype of the V-Pri shortly before the world championships in Nice in 2023," Hanson explains. "The project started immediately after they launched the V-PR the year before. It was great to be a small part of both projects as a beta rider and guinea pig, aero testing in the tunnel and in the field."
This timeline reveals the long development cycles behind cutting-edge equipment. The V-Pri wasn't a rushed response to market demands but a methodical evolution based on real-world testing and athlete feedback. Hanson served as both test pilot and data source, providing insights that couldn't be replicated in computer simulations or wind tunnel tests alone.
"The great thing about working with QR is they are constantly finding ways to try to improve," Hanson notes, highlighting a philosophy that extends beyond product launches to ongoing refinement.
The ultra-light version Hanson will race represents this continuous improvement mindset taken to its logical extreme. By removing most of the paint, Quintana Roo achieved over 200 grams of weight savings—a significant advantage when every pedal stroke fights gravity on Nice's climbs.
The Technical Breakdown: Every Gram and Watt Matters
Frame and Weight Optimization
The ultra-light V-Pri with minimal paint finish represents a fascinating approach to weight savings. While 200+ grams might seem modest, it's significant when considering that elite cyclists often pay thousands of dollars to save similar amounts of weight. The unpainted approach also suggests confidence in the frame's structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.
Wheel Strategy
Hanson's choice of DT Swiss ARC 1100 wheels—disc rear with 62mm front—balances aerodynamics with climbing performance. The disc wheel maximizes aerodynamic advantage on flat sections while the shallower front wheel provides better handling in crosswinds and climbing situations.
His tire setup reveals additional strategic thinking: "Grand Prix 5000 S TR tires—tubeless and will run 68psi." The tubeless setup reduces rolling resistance and puncture risk, while the specific pressure reflects optimization for the Nice terrain's combination of smooth roads and technical sections.
Drivetrain Decisions
The Shimano Dura Ace 12-speed setup with 58/44t chainrings shows careful consideration of Nice's climbing demands. The compact gearing provides the range needed for sustained climbs while maintaining efficiency on flat sections. The 170mm crank length represents Hanson's personal biomechanical optimization—a reminder that even at the pro level, fit matters more than fashion.
Contact Points and Positioning
The ISM PN 3.0 saddle choice reflects the importance of comfort during long efforts, while the QR intelligent integration cockpit with Delta Speed extensions optimizes aerodynamics without sacrificing adjustability.
The BTA Innovation
Perhaps most intriguing is the Absolute Speed BTA (Between The Arms) bottle holder with integrated gel storage. This seemingly simple component represents sophisticated thinking about both aerodynamics and race execution. As forum discussions note, the integrated storage functionality helps the component meet regulatory requirements while providing tactical advantages.
Training Smart: Colorado Preparation for French Alps
With only a six-week focused preparation block after his summer racing schedule, Hanson's training approach emphasizes quality over quantity and leverages his home environment's strengths while acknowledging its limitations.
"Living in Colorado, it is easy to find the climbs to help prep for the bike course here, but the descents at home are nowhere near as technical," Hanson explains.
This honest assessment reveals a common challenge for athletes preparing for destination races: you can't perfectly replicate target conditions at home. Instead of trying to force imperfect simulations, Hanson focuses on what Colorado does offer—sustained climbing efforts at altitude that develop the physiological adaptations needed for Nice's demands.
The altitude training provides additional benefits through improved oxygen-carrying capacity and enhanced recovery between efforts. However, Hanson's acknowledgment of the technical descending gap highlights the importance of skills practice and course familiarity—elements that can't be rushed in a six-week block.
For age-group athletes, this approach offers valuable lessons about focusing preparation efforts where they'll have the most impact rather than trying to address every possible race element.
The Competitive Landscape: Strategy for a Stacked Field
Nice 2025 presents perhaps the deepest field in IRONMAN World Championship history, with "four returning champions as well as the entire podium from 2023." Hanson's assessment that "there are 10 guys who could fight for the win" underscores the tactical complexity of elite racing.
"I think the swim is going to be extremely important here for the guys fighting for the win," Hanson notes, highlighting how course characteristics affect race tactics. In a field this deep, early positioning becomes crucial for accessing the right groups and avoiding the energy cost of constant position changes.
Hanson's specific mention of working "with Sam [Long] on the big climb" reveals the collaborative elements of professional racing. Even competitors recognize that certain race situations demand cooperation for mutual benefit—a lesson applicable to age-group racing where pacing partnerships can determine race outcomes.
His confidence in his running ability ("Tough to predict how the race will shape up") suggests a strategy of staying within striking distance through the swim and bike, then leveraging his proven 2:28 marathon capability in the final discipline.
Lessons for Every Level: Beyond the Pro Peloton
Equipment Optimization Principles
- Course-specific choices matter: Hanson's wheel selection, gearing, and tire pressure all reflect Nice's specific demands
- Weight vs. aerodynamics trade-offs: The ultra-light frame choice prioritizes climbing over pure aerodynamic efficiency
- Integration over isolation: Every component choice considers how it interacts with others in the system
Training Focus
- Leverage your environment's strengths: Use available terrain effectively rather than trying to replicate race conditions perfectly
- Honest self-assessment: Focus preparation on actual limiting factors, not perceived weaknesses
- Time-efficient blocks: Six weeks of focused training can be more valuable than months of unfocused preparation
Race Strategy
- Early positioning pays dividends: In competitive fields, swim performance affects bike and run opportunities
- Tactical awareness: Understanding when to cooperate and when to compete
- Play to your strengths: Hanson's strategy leverages his exceptional running ability
The Broader Implications
Hanson's Nice preparation reflects broader trends in triathlon:
- Equipment Evolution: The move toward climbing-optimized bikes suggests the sport's technical demands are evolving beyond pure aerodynamics.
- Athlete-Manufacturer Partnerships: Real innovation comes from genuine collaboration rather than marketing-driven product development.
- Course Specificity: As venue variety increases, athletes and equipment must become more adaptable.
- Professional Depth: The competitive field's strength demands tactical sophistication that trickles down to age-group racing.
Gear Recommendations for Climbing Performance
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Lightweight triathlon suits can reduce weight and improve aerodynamics on climbs. The reduced fabric weight becomes noticeable during long climbing efforts.
#Triathlon #CyclingTech
What preparations has Matt Hanson made for the cycling course in Nice?
Matt Hanson has focused on a six-week intensive training block after a short break, taking advantage of the hilly terrain in Colorado to prepare for the climbs in Nice, although acknowledging that the descents are less technical than those in Nice.
How is the new Quintana Roo V-Pri bike different from previous models?
The new Quintana Roo V-Pri is over 200 grams lighter than the previous model, partly due to having minimal paint. It was developed with input from athletes like Matt Hanson, featuring improvements based on aero testing and practical feedback.
What components does Matt Hanson use on his race bike?
Matt Hanson's race bike features a QR intelligent integration base bar with Delta Speed extensions, DT Swiss ARC 1100 disc wheels, Grand Prix 5000 S TR tubeless tires, 170mm Shimano Dura Ace crankset, and an ISM PN 3.0 saddle.
What are Matt Hanson's thoughts on potential race strategies in Nice?
Matt Hanson believes the swim will be crucial for competitors aiming for victory, particularly to stay with strong swimmers like Sam on the big climb. He anticipates a hot pace from the swim start, with several past champions and top contenders making the race unpredictable.
Does Matt Hanson's coaching company have any athletes competing in Nice?
Yes, Matt Hanson's coaching company, MHRacing, has four athletes competing in Nice, along with four women racing in Kona and a significant presence at the 70.3 World Championships.
Source: https://slowtwitch.com/triathlon/matt-hanson-ready-for-nice-on-the-new-quintana-roo-v-pri/
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