IRONMAN 70.3 Emilia Romagna
Cervia, Italy · September · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Calm Adriatic beach swim with water around 22 °C (72 °F)
- Flat three-loop run through central Cervia, 21.1 km (13.1 mi)
- Bike through vineyards, salt pans and the Balcony of Romagna
- Compact resort venue; the full IRONMAN runs the day before
Watch out for
- Rolling bike with the Bertinoro climb; elevation gain is not published
- September weather swings from 17 to 31 °C (63 to 88 °F)
- Few first-person race reports exist, so ratings are tentative
- Bologna airport is about 90 km (56 mi) away
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 satisfactionLoved3.7
No first-person reviews were found; press describes a mild, calm-sea event with big crowds, which is promotional rather than athlete feedback. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
A large multi-event weekend with municipal support and road closures, and no complaints found. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Billed as flat and beginner friendly, though the bike has rolling hills including the Bertinoro climb. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.7
The 2024 pro winner averaged 45.5 km (28.3 mi)/h (28.3 mph), but the bike rolls and typical finishes are not especially quick. · Low confidence
- Course easeModerate3.7
Flat run, rolling bike and mild conditions. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.6
Average water is about 22 °C (72 °F), though late-summer Adriatic water can reach 24 °C (75 °F). · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.3
About 22 °C (72 °F), in the comfortable 19 to 23 °C (66 to 73 °F) band. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.9
The sea was calm in the 2019 full-distance race; Adriatic conditions vary by year. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
Beach start, one left turn, then a stretch parallel to shore. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
Beach start with large crowds, but no first-hand swim reports. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
No surface reports were found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.1
Local press covers road closures for the event. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
Salt pans, vineyards and the Balcony of Romagna at Bertinoro. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.4
No wind reports were found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.9
Fast flat return after rolling hills, with a 45.5 km (28.3 mi)/h (28.3 mph) pro average in 2024. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.7
Rolling with the Bertinoro climb; elevation gain over 90 km (56 mi) is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
One loop with a descent from Bertinoro and no technical warnings. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
Beach crowds from dawn were reported in 2019, and the run has three loops in town. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Aid station locations are published; no athlete reports on quality. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Cervia centre and the salt warehouse. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.8
Flat, though a September warm spell up to 31 °C (88 °F) is possible. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.6
Three flat loops through Cervia. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Usually 16 to 23 °C (61 to 74 °F), which is mild. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
19 September highs ranged from 17 to 31 °C (63 to 88 °F) over five years. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.8
Adriatic resort beach town. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.2
Beach start, three-loop run in town and a central finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level, about 2 m (7 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
A resort coast with many hotels at the end of the season. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.9
Shoulder-season resort pricing likely, but no figures were found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.1
Start on Cervia beach and promenade, with venues in town. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.2
Bologna airport is about 90 km (56 mi) away. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Compact town venue, but little detail is published. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.5
Romagna food, wine country and resort amenities. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Cervia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 19 September 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 2,500 athletes
- First held
- 2019
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Adriatic Sea, Cervia beach (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 21–24 °C (70–75 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- beach
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Climb to Bertinoro (Balcony of Romagna)
- Run laps
- 3
- Air temperature
- 16–27 °C (61–81 °F)
- Altitude
- 2 m (7 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bologna (BLQ)
- Where to stay
- Cervia, Milano Marittima
- Booking
- Resort coast with many hotels in Cervia and Milano Marittima; no race-week price data found.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves race pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
No athlete reviews posted; course facts: one-loop Adriatic swim, one-loop rolling bike past salt pans, three-loop flat run, average water 22 C (72 F).
- Il Resto del Carlino: Ironman Cervia 2019Raced 2019 · article · Positive
Describes a perfect mild September day with calm sea and big crowds on the beach from dawn; 6,200 athletes from 98 countries over the weekend.
- Comune di Cervia event pageRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Official course description of the swim, bike through Forlimpopoli and Bertinoro, and three-loop flat run; reports 2026 weekend of more than 6,500 athletes.
- ROUVY course pageRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
Classifies the bike as rolling with gently undulating roads and a few steeper pitches, and a Bertinoro climb before a flat return.
- Endurance-data 2023 statisticsRaced 2023 · aggregator · Mixed
2,194 athletes and 2,003 finishers in 2023; winners 4:04:22 and 4:34:05; histogram suggests median finish around 5:45-5:59.
Show 3 more
- Tri247: Emilia-Romagna 70.3 addedRaced 2019 · article · Positive
Announcement of the new 70.3 replacing Pescara; organisers call it relatively flat and ideal for first-timers.
- Italian press on 2026 results (comunecervia.it)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
2026 race: McCluskey won in 3:44:23 and De Vet in 4:08:16; weekend drew more than 6,500 athletes.
- Balarm: Salvo Bua profileRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Sicilian age-grouper's third 70.3 was Cervia; he highlights the emotion of the finish with supporters in the stands.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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