CYCLISTS who are gearing up for the upcoming 16th IRONMAN African Championship can look forward to a near all-coastal course after IRONMAN South Africa, a Wanda Sports Group company, announced on January 14 a change to the bike route.
The annual event will take place on March 29 in Nelson Mandela Bay.
After ongoing monitoring of route conditions, taking into account feedback from athletes and local stakeholders, organisers have taken the decision to throw back to the popular, nearly all-coastal bike course enjoyed by athletes between 2016 and 2018.
“We are excited to return to the bike course our athletes have come to love and enjoy,” said Paul Wolff, operations director of IRONMAN South Africa. “The route also eases congestion coming into the city and will benefit the public more on race day with fewer road closures necessary. Naturally, the safety of our athletes remains our top priority and we are committed to providing the best possible race experience,” Wolff said.
During the IRONMAN African Championship’s 16-year history, the race has undergone various evolutions to strike the right balance between endurance challenge, embracing the best of the stunning location and providing an unforgettable athlete experience.
From an experiential perspective, the route is slightly faster with 685m elevation gain as opposed to 865m on the previous course. The course was also rated at 94% by athletes for overall bike course satisfaction in the Athlete Survey compared to 92% for the 2019 course.
The course will take athletes from Hobie Beach, along the coast before heading slightly inland, touching down back towards the coast and turning at Seaview Village to complete the reverse back to transition.
The swim course remains the same with the 3.8km swim taking place at Hobie Beach. The change comes on the 180.2km bike course.
A fast-flat four loop run course along the beachfront awaits the athletes once out of Transition. Athletes will take in the sea breeze and enjoy a spectator-filled run course during the final leg of the race.
“We are delighted to be able to offer breathtaking views that are typical of the IRONMAN African Championship experience,” said Keith Bowler, Managing Director of IRONMAN South Africa.
“The race has true South African spirit and incredible support that leaves a lasting memory. We would like to thank all involved for making this possible and look forward to welcoming athletes from all around the world to Nelson Mandela Bay,” said Bowler.
