It is back to the beach for the cycling leg of the 16th Ironman Africa triathlon taking place in Port Elizabeth in March with Bay athletes applauding the move.
Organisers on Tuesday said after monitoring route conditions, and taking into account feedback from athletes and local stakeholders, a decision was taken to return to the popular, nearly all-coastal bike course enjoyed by athletes between 2016 and 2018.
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.
Ironman SA operations director Paul Wolff said: “We are excited to return to the bike course our athletes have come to love and enjoy.
“The route also eases congestion coming into the city and will benefit the public more on race day, with fewer road closures necessary.”
Wolff added that during the event’s 16-year history the race had “evolved to strike the right balance between endurance challenge, embracing the best of a stunning location and providing an unforgettable athlete experience”.
The course featured a great contrast between sweeping coastal views and green countryside, he said.
The course was also rated at 94% by athletes for overall bike course satisfaction in the Athlete Survey compared to 92% for last year’s course.
Ironman Africa 2018 winner Kyle Buckingham said he was very happy with the change especially as the course was one he had won on, which “gives me confidence”.
Buckingham, who was forced to pull out of last year’s race due to severe cramping, said: “Many international competitors come here for the beauty of the Ironman route, so to be able to do 40km more along the coast will bring people back.
“It is also better for crowd support — they don't have to be scattered.”
Saying he had “the fire back in me”, Buckingham added that this year’s route allowed professionals to see where their competitors were while the 2019 route did not.
That, he felt, was also a big bonus.
Robyn Dougans, who took on the Ironman in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018, said she was ecstatic about the news.
Dougans said while she had deferred her 2019 entry to this year for health reasons, she had trained on the 2019 route and far preferred the 2016 to 2018 route.
“It [the 2019] route is a lot hillier and you have to go over Maitlands and then there are still more hills while the other route is flatter.”
Dougans added that from a spectator point of view the route was more favourable as traffic congestion was lessened, meaning those wanting to support the athletes were better able to do so.
Bruce Gie, who participated in Ironman Africa from 2013-2019 and who will compete again this year, said he thought the move was a good one.
“It’s very good as it allows for a better free flow of traffic.
“Both are tough routes but for our international competitors to ride along our beachfront is fantastic.”
Gie added that more supporters would be able to make their way down to Summerstrand to support athletes — something he said was critical to both the event and the athletes.
He said he had competed in several overseas Ironman competitions and believed the Bay’s route was the “best bike route of all, with spectacular views”.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.