IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence (Pays d'Aix)
Aix-en-Provence (swim at Peyrolles-en-Provence), France · May · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Historic finish on Cours Mirabeau with a three-loop city run and crowds.
- Scenic bike around Mont Sainte-Victoire with 1,077 m (3,533 ft) of climbing.
- Wetsuit-legal lake swim at 18 to 19 °C (64 to 66 °F).
- Free shuttles for bikes, bags and the swim start.
Watch out for
- Hilly bike with technical, fast descents that are dangerous when wet.
- Two transition areas about 20 km (12.5 mi) apart make logistics cumbersome.
- May weather swings from 16 °C (61 °F) rain to 31 °C (88 °F).
- A punchy late climb near 67 km (42 mi).
- Bike drop-off bib checks caused friction in 2023.
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 satisfactionLoved4.0
Accounts from 2014 to 2026 consistently praise the scenery, crowds and city finish, offset by two transitions and tough hills. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
A 2023 racer praised packet pickup and shuttles, though one official turned away a bike drop without a bib. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.8
About 1,077 m (3,533 ft) of climbing, technical descents and two transitions make it a step up for newcomers. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.6
Hilly point-to-point. The 2024 winners went 3:47:23 and 4:21:32, and age-group reports of 5:27 and 6:00 reflect a hard course. · Medium confidence
- Course easeVery tough2.4
Hilly bike with technical descents, a punchy late climb and weather that swings. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.4
Lake water was 18 to 19 °C (64 to 66 °F) in recent Mays, so wetsuits are normally legal. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.0
A 18 to 19 °C (64 to 66 °F) lake is cool but comfortable in a wetsuit. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.2
Inland lake with a wave start that worked well in 2023, though a 2014 swim began as a washing machine. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.6
Rectangular single lap. Crowding in the first half was reported in 2014, and waves have since been used. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.7
Pleasant lake, but you need a bus shuttle to reach the start. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
No surface complaints, though wet roads made descents dangerous in 2023. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.9
Not directly documented, but this is a major IRONMAN event. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.4
Provencal countryside and Mont Sainte-Victoire, described as challenging but scenic. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
A headwind on the opening stretch in 2014 and gusts to 25 km (15.5 mi)/h (16 mph) in 2024. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow2.4
About 1,077 m (3,533 ft) of gain. The 2024 winners rode 2:04 and 2:27, and age-groupers reported 2:54 to 3:13. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly2.0
Slowtwitch gives 1,077 m (3,533 ft) of gain over 90 km (56 mi), clearly hilly for a half. · High confidence
- Bike simplicityTechnical2.2
Technical, fast descents on twisty roads, and a 2023 rider braked cautiously on wet ones. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.2
Crowds turned out even in the 2023 rain, with strong support on three town loops. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Finish food was praised, and no aid complaints were found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.4
Historic centre, the La Rotonde fountain and a finish on Cours Mirabeau. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
City loops felt hot at 24 °C (75 °F) in 2014, with many turns. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.0
Rolling city course with gain unpublished. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Race-date lows and highs are mostly 11 to 24 °C (52 to 75 °F), though 27 to 31 °C (81 to 88 °F) has occurred. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Rain in 2023, drizzle in 2024, a chilly clear day in 2026 and sun in 2014. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.4
Historic Provencal city with a Sainte-Victoire backdrop. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Three-loop city run finishing on Cours Mirabeau, but the swim is 20 km (12.5 mi) away. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Aix is about 173 m (568 ft) above sea level. · High 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
Popular tourist city in May, with no sell-out data. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
Provencal tourist pricing is likely, but there is no race-week data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Finish and T2 are in town, but the swim start and T1 at Peyrolles need shuttles. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.2
Marseille airport is about 30 km (19 mi) away and a fast train serves Aix. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsFiddly2.4
Two transition areas with a Saturday bike and bag shuttle and a Sunday swim shuttle. Reports call it cumbersome but manageable. · High confidence
- Town and foodGood4.4
Wine region and historic centre with strong food and cafe culture. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Aix-en-Provence (swim at Peyrolles-en-Provence), Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 23 May 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 2,000 athletes
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lac de Peyrolles, about 20 km (12.5 mi) from Aix (lake)
- Water temperature
- 18–19 °C (64–66 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 1,077 m (3,530 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Final punchy climb at about 67 km (42 mi); Col de Cengle (per TrainerDay)
- Run laps
- 3
- Run shade
- Limited; city centre
- Air temperature
- 11–27 °C (52–81 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 173 m (570 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Marseille Provence (MRS)
- Where to stay
- Aix centre
- Booking
- Aix is a popular tourist city; finish and T2 in the centre.
What racers and reviewers say
- DC RainmakerRaced 2023 · blog · Mixed
Raced the 2023 edition in constant rain at about 16 C (61 F); 19 C (66 F) lake and a well-run wave start. Wet technical descents made the bike the hardest part, then a 1:46 run and 5:27:33 finish. Liked the shuttles, packet pickup and crowds despite the weather; one official rejected a bike drop without a bib.
- Torq Fitness (Chris Standidge)Raced 2014 · article · Positive
Fourth-place pro report from 2014: first 15-20 km (9-12 mi) of the bike flat into a headwind, a final climb to save energy for, and a 1:21 half marathon. Calls the course challenging but scenic with a three-lap run and strong crowds.
- Mid Sussex Tri Club (Anthony Vince)Raced 2014 · blog · Mixed
Age-grouper report: a washing-machine first half of the lake swim, a hilly bike with a long climb near 80 km (50 mi), then breathing trouble on a hot-feeling run at 24 C (75 F). Called two transition areas cumbersome but the event good and the crowd lively; finished in 6:00.
- Slowtwitch previewRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Preview of the 2026 Pro Series opener: single-lap lake swim, twisty French bike roads with 1,077 m (3,533 ft) of climbing, technical fast descents, a punchy climb near 67 km (42 mi), and a turn-heavy three-lap run with T2 in the city centre.
- Protrinews 2024 resultsRaced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
19 May 2024 data: 22 C (72 F) air, light drizzle, gusts to 25 km (15.5 mi)/h (16 mph), water 18 C (64 F). Winners Zepuntke 3:47:23 and Legrand 4:21:32 with bike splits 2:04:36 and 2:27:41.
Show 2 more
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Race guide: 1.9 km (1.2 mi) rectangular swim at Lac de Peyrolles, hilly bike back to Aix with technical roads near Mont Sainte-Victoire, three-loop run finishing on Cours Mirabeau. Notes free shuttles and May highs of 24-31 C (75-88 F). No athlete ratings.
- Tri247 2026 report (via search snippet)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Pro-race report: 2026 was a chilly but clear day, disc wheels were allowed for the first time, and Pierre took control on the bike. Page itself could not be fetched; details come from the search summary.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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