I suggest that you’ve inferred that but the video does not imply it.
@ironmandad offers a reasonable take on the PF&H announcement that, after the undoubted success of Marbella, they’re extending their support of the 70.3 World Champs beyond Nice in 2026, to whichever venues are selected for 2027 and 2028 (and we know Nice for 2028).
IRONMAN have moved the 70.3 World Champs around the world for over a decade now and I’d be super-surprised (and dismayed) if that stops.
Nice is a great venue with a long triathlon tradition. The volte face wrt alternating the IMWC between Kona and Nice to give women their own day required some deft contractural footwork, which is why both 2026 and 2028 70.3WC are locked in there (option on 2030).
The ‘triathlon mass’ of the USA has a gravitational effect which I expect to see realised in 2027. Clearly IRONMAN are struggling with final resolution: there’s a chance that Nice is the fallback for 2027 (and looking at Nice’s event calendar there’s nothing showing which would be in competition in mid September).
The delay in such announcement brings to mind the delays and changes seen in the gestation of the T100 tour races, dates and venues. I assume the last thing IRONMAN want to generate is announcement and then disorder. The PTO can veer and haul for 20+20 athletes: IM70.3WC is a beast orders of magnitude larger.