ATW Grafman Middle Distance Triathlon
Grafham, United Kingdom · June · ATW Events (Independent)
Why people love it
- Clear, shallow reservoir swim with a sandy beach start and an Australian exit
- Quiet country-lane bike on four out-and-back legs, so you see the field often
- Compact base with parking, cafe and a spectator-friendly four-lap run
- Small, friendly field of about 200 to 300 with a relaxed ATW team
Watch out for
- Cold water around 14.5 °C (58 °F) and exposed to wind; the 2026 swim was choppy into a headwind
- Short, steep climbs make the bike tougher than the profile suggests
- Aid is basic: self-service water barrels on the bike and few toilets on the course
- Run mixes tarmac with uneven grass; the 2023 start used gun time with no timing mat
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.2
About 95 RaceCheck ratings average 4.6; reviewers love the lake, rolling start and ATW staff, with aid and run surface the main complaints. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Friendly flexible staff, easy registration and good marshalling; start timing, thin aid and a congested finish drew complaints. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
Many first-timers loved it: rolling start, short transitions, on-site parking and relaxed vibe; climbs and cold water add challenge. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Quiet, fast roads and a flat run lap, but short steep climbs, wind and a grassy section cost time. · Medium confidence
- Course easeTough2.6
Cold water, wind, short steep climbs and a grassy run. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.6
Cool reservoir at about 14.5 °C (58 °F) in June; wetsuits and booties are standard. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable2.6
Reviewers report cold water, about 14.5 °C (58 °F) in 2024, with some saying they barely made it. · High confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.8
Often calm and clear, but a headwind made the 2026 swim choppy. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.7
Two laps with a rolling start; low sun hides the exit buoys on the return. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.4
Clear water, sandy beach start, Australian exit and safe rolling start praised by many. · High confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.9
Smooth country roads mostly, a few poorer sections. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.6
Open roads, well marshalled; the front can need motorbike marshals. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.8
Quiet lanes and Cambridgeshire countryside. · Medium confidence
- WindWindy2.4
Wind was the major problem in 2026 and noticeable in 2025. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.7
Quiet fast roads with a few steep rises; wind a factor in 2025 and 2026. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.9
Undulating with short steep climbs; reviewers say the profile understates the effort. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.9
Four out-and-back legs are easy to navigate with good signage. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Four run laps past transition give spectators and marshals repeated chances to cheer. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard2.9
Reviewers repeatedly call aid basic: self-service water on the bike and water only on the run. · High confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Lakeside laps around the reservoir. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
Uneven grass and four-lap monotony make it tough for some. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.5
Two-thirds flat tarmac and a rolling grass section. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.5
Chilly early June starts, hot some years. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Wind in 2026 and fog cancelled a swim in an earlier year per a club report. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.4
Large reservoir with beach start and wooded edges. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySee them often4.7
Reviewers call it arguably the best venue for spectating: swim, run and finish all by the Visitor Centre. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Grafham Water sits about 50 m (160 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.3
Rural reservoir; options in St Neots, Huntingdon and Bedford. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No lodging cost comments. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Venue is rural; most arrive by car with ample parking. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.1
About 70 km (43 mi) from Luton airport; mostly by car. · Low confidence
- LogisticsVery simple4.5
Park on site, pick up the pack, rack and go with short transitions. · High confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Visitor Centre cafe; larger towns a short drive away. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Grafham, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 6 June 2027
- Organiser
- ATW Events (Independent)
- Field size
- About 300 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $215
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Finish 9:30 overall (8:30 in a 2024 listing)
- Swim venue
- Grafham Water reservoir (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 14–15 °C (57–59 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- A few short, steep climbs
- Run laps
- 4
- Run shade
- woodland section
- Nearest airport
- Luton (LTN), 70 km (43 mi) away
- Where to stay
- St Neots, Huntingdon
- Booking
- Rural reservoir; stay in St Neots, Huntingdon or Bedford. Registration is on the Saturday and race morning; bikes could not be racked on Saturday evening in 2023.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Third Grafman. A tough day with wind on all three sectors, but he felt looked after throughout a challenging swim, bike and run by an exceptional ATW team.
- RaceCheck: Simon H.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
A lovely small, friendly race of 200 to 300 participants with timely communication and helpful staff on race day and the day before. Strong headwinds and chop made the swim and every sector tough.
- RaceCheck: Steffan P.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Enjoyed it but wants more kayakers or buoys for the swim exit because the rising sun hid the final buoy, and a safer aid station than one roadside on a T-junction.
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Beautiful, friendly event with relaxed organisers; a smooth Australian exit, a mostly flat bike with one sharp climb and a few others, and a four-lap run by the lake that is two-thirds flat tarmac and one-third rolling grass.
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Great ATW race: swim well marked in a nice setting, a fast bike route with a few hills on a slightly windy day, and an out-and-back run that was not too bad. Wants portable toilets near the run turnaround.
Show 11 more
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Favourite race of the year: beautiful, clear water that is not choppy, quiet, fairly flat scenic bike roads, well-stocked stops and friendly volunteers. The run is hard with some off-road but flat, with many places for spectators.
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
First time and it exceeded expectations. Chilly 14.5 °C (58 °F) but clear water, a self-seeded rolling start without drafting dramas, easy transition, a fantastic bike on good surfaces and a run that is half grass and half tarmac.
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Lovely swim and bike but a tedious run with uneven grass and weak aid: the bike water station was self-service from a barrel, which meant stopping.
- RaceCheck: Kevin P.Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Very good event with loads of friendly marshals, a good swim and a challenging, fast bike with some little hills. Finds four 5.2 km (3.2 mi) run laps mentally hard.
- RaceCheck: Johnny G.Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Might be his new favourite UK 70.3. A choppy, hectic swim, a bike that is a blast on open roads with plenty of marshals, and a simple, fast lakeside tarmac run apart from 1.5 to 2 km (1.2 mi) of tricky grass with dips.
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Terrific event with beautiful water, a gorgeous bike and great marshals, but basic aid (self-service on the bike, water only on the run) and the water was incredibly cold with too little warning.
- RaceCheck: Roland S.Raced 2023 · aggregator · Negative
Disappointed that a championship event used gun time with no timing mat at the rolling swim start, which disadvantaged slower swimmers; asks for chip timing.
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
A stunning, superbly run location with a clear lake and a sandy beach for the start, Australian exit and finish. Four out-and-back bike legs let you see the field, hills mix with flats on quiet roads, and the run is mixed gravel, grass and tarmac.
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2021 · aggregator · Positive
First ever triathlon: easy morning registration, clearly marked bike and run courses and quick chip timing. Warns the course is more challenging than the elevation profile because climbs are short but very steep.
- RaceCheck: Rob E.Raced 2018 · aggregator · Positive
Self-seeded two-lap swim in cooler but pleasant water, a bike held back by early traffic, and a lovely lakeside run with plenty of water stations and midges. Pay-on-the-day entry was easy.
“Definately worth a day out.”
- Stratford Herald: Shephard defies heat at British Championships (2016)Raced 2016 · article · Positive
Club report from the 2016 British championships on the hottest day of the year: a new rolling-start pen system, a flat-to-rolling fast bike on out-and-back legs and a two-lap reservoir run where cramps hit riders after fast bike legs.
Sources
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