IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca
Alcúdia, Spain · May · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Spectacular Tramuntana climb and Lluc descent on smooth roads.
- Clear, calm bay swim in wetsuit-friendly 17 to 19 °C (63 to 66 °F) water.
- Flat three-loop beachfront run finishing 50 m (55 yd) from the swim start.
- One of the world's largest 70.3 fields, with course records of 3:49:18 and 4:14:21.
Watch out for
- About 800 m (2,625 ft) of climbing, including a 25 km (15.5 mi) climb.
- Flat, windy final third and heavy drafting in a field of 3,500 or more.
- The 5:30 bike cutoff was tight in the 2024 afternoon heat.
- Large transition, with a 1 to 2 km (0.6 to 1.2 mi) walk from out-of-town parking.
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 satisfactionLoved4.3
RaceCheck reviewers give 4.4 and 4.3 out of 5 for atmosphere and location. Drafting and crowding are the main gripes. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Quick registration, a good expo and 127 marshals on the roads in 2025. Swim-start waits reached an hour in 2019. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
Calm clear bay and a long but manageable climb suit many, though the 5:30 bike cutoff and heat add pressure. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.2
Pros set course records of 3:49 in 2024, but the 800 m (2,625 ft) of climbing, windy flat back half and drafting packs slow many. · Medium confidence
- Course easeTough3.0
Moderate: about 800 m (2,625 ft) of climbing in one long climb, a flat run and warm afternoons. · 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
Water is 17 to 19 °C (63 to 66 °F) in May, so wetsuits are normally legal and comfortable. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.0
17 to 19 °C (63 to 66 °F) is on the cool side but fine in a wetsuit. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.3
Two reviewers describe the bay swim as rarely choppy. · High confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.9
Out and back with buoys every 100 m (110 yd), though the big field and fast swimmers add traffic. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Crystal-clear shallow bay, but the self-seeded start meant waits of up to an hour in 2019. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood4.4
Roads were called smooth in 2024. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresFully closed4.6
Staggered closures across north Mallorca from about 07:30 to 15:00 with 127 marshals. · High confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.6
Coast to Pollenca, then the Tramuntana climb with spectacular views. · High confidence
- WindSome wind2.8
The flat back half is often windy, with gusts to 35 km (21.7 mi)/h (22 mph) in 2024. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.4
Pros ride about 2:08, but age-groupers find the 25 km (15.5 mi) climb and the windy flat finish slower, and packs form. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.6
About 800 m (2,625 ft) over 90 km (56 mi), mid-hilly and concentrated in one long climb. · High confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.7
Technical switchback descent from Lluc, and hills and turns make drafting easy. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
The beachfront promenade has good spectators, but urban and main-road sections are quiet. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
Four aid stations per loop in 2019, and volunteers were praised in 2024. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
Beach, bridges and canals with views of the bay. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
Flat, but often run in peak afternoon heat. A sea dip after the finish helps. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.7
Flat three-loop run along the beach, bridges and canals. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Highs are typically 20 to 24 °C (68 to 75 °F), up to 25 °C (77 °F) with hot sun in 2024. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.8
Mostly sunny in May, but rain in 2016 and gusts in 2024. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.5
Mediterranean island bay with old town walls and mountains. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.8
Three-loop run and beach finish are easy to watch, but the bike is remote. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Near sea level, about 5 m (16 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Large resort area, but 3,500 or more athletes arrive in May. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
May is shoulder season, and no athlete price reports were found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
Large transition, and parking is a 1 to 2 km (0.6 to 1.2 mi) walk if you stay outside town. Port hotels are close. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Palma airport is about 55 km (34 mi) away by transfer, with very many flights. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.7
A single transition near the beach, but a big field and road closures need planning. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Established resort and old town with abundant dining. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Alcúdia, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 8 May 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 3,500 athletes
- First held
- 2011
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Bike 5:30
- Swim venue
- Bay of Alcúdia, Port d'Alcúdia (sea)
- Water temperature
- 17–19 °C (63–66 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 800 m (2,620 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Coll de Femenia (about 25 km / 15.5 mi climb); Coll de la Batalla 576 m (1,890 ft) at about km 35 (mi 22); Lluc
- Run laps
- 3
- Air temperature
- 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Palma de Mallorca (PMI), 55 km (34 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Port d'Alcúdia, Alcúdia old town, Playa de Muro
- Booking
- Official race hotel Zafiro Tropic; stay near the old town or port to avoid road closures. Transition is large; if staying out of town expect a 1-2 km (0.6-1.2 mi) walk from parking. Airport distance approximate general knowledge.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceCheckRaced 2019 · aggregator · Positive
4.4/5: self-seeded hat-colour swim with waits up to an hour in clear calm water, scenic coast then Lluc climb and technical descent, flat windy back half with visible drafting, three-loop run quiet away from the promenade, big transition and a long walk from parking.
“"It's a very good race, great atmosphere between the athletes"”
- RaceCheckRaced 2015 · aggregator · Positive
4.3/5: clear, rarely choppy bay, sustained manageable climb with spectacular views, fast flat windy second half, hot beachfront run with a sea dip afterwards; noted as the largest 70.3 in the world.
“"one of the most fantastic race locations on the European circuit"”
- Scott Dunlap (Substack)Raced 2024 · blog · Positive
Age-group race report: 38:46 swim in clear water, smooth roads, 25 km (15.5 mi) Coll de Femenia climb, hot late-afternoon run, 5:30 bike cutoff squeezing slower riders, praise for volunteers; 3,700+ athletes from 100+ countries.
“"The roads were AMAZING!"”
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2024 · forum · Mixed
Pro-race thread dominated by drafting: hilly twisty roads make packs form easily, penalties and a DNF discussed, and Spanish marshals praised for actually penalizing.
- Slowtwitch newsRaced 2016 · article · Mixed
2016 pro report on a rainy race day; bike called challenging; winners Dreitz 4:04:14 and Philipp 4:32:38.
Show 3 more
- ProTriNewsRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
2024 conditions 25 C (77 F), water 18 C (64 F), gusts to 35 km (21.7 mi)/h (22 mph); record 3:49:18 and 4:14:21; sheltered bay swim, 800 m (2,625 ft) bike through the Tramuntana, flat three-loop run.
- Majorca Daily BulletinRaced 2025 · article · Positive
2025 logistics: 3,500+ athletes, closures across north Mallorca between about 07:30 and 15:00, 127 marshals, three-loop 7 km (4.3 mi) run.
- TriathleteRaced 2011 · article · Positive
Inaugural-edition preview describing an open-water bay swim, hilly bike and flat run in tropical Alcúdia.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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