IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d'Olonne-Vendee
Les Sables-d'Olonne, France · July · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Atlantic beach swim start right by the quays and spectators
- Remblai seafront run with large crowds and a straight-line finish
- Sea-level seaside resort with an easy-to-walk layout
- Strong demand: nearly 3,000 starters and fast sell-outs
Watch out for
- Surf and channel current can make the swim choppy; wetsuit rule unconfirmed
- Flat coastal bike can be wind-exposed; elevation sources disagree (about 600 m (1,970 ft) / 1,970 ft cited)
- Peak-season beds and prices; book early
- 2027 date is unclear, with a possible pause; confirm before planning
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 satisfactionLoved3.9
No first-hand reports were found, but demand is very high (about 3,250 sign-ups in 2022) and the sister full-distance race won a 2025 satisfaction award. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Seven editions, municipal backing and a clear promenade finish; only pro-race coverage exists and no athlete complaints were found. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
A surf start and possible wind challenge a first half, offset by a gentle course and big crowds. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.8
Flat-to-rolling course; the 2024 pro winners took 3:39:48 and 4:05:51, good but not record times, and wind can slow it. · Low confidence
- Course easeModerate3.8
A flat to rolling bike and mild Atlantic water; wind and surf are the main difficulties. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.0
Water of about 18-20 °C (64-68 °F) is wetsuit territory, but the ruling was not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.8
The average of 19 °C (66 °F) is at the edge of the comfortable range. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop2.8
An open Atlantic start with surf and a variable channel current. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.1
A surf entry and a stretch up the channel make navigation moderate. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.9
Starting from the Grande Plage near the quays and spectators is atmospheric. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.8
French departmental roads, with no surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.2
Roads through 10-15 communes are marshalled by about 300 volunteers. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.7
Forest, marshes and bocage with coastal views. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind2.7
Flat Atlantic coast, and a French preview flags wind as the key factor. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.8
The organiser pitches personal-best roads, but one source reports rolling false flats. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.8
Sources conflict: about 600 m (1,970 ft) of gain cited against promotion as the flattest course in France. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.0
Rural lanes and roundabouts, with few technical sections reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.4
Large crowds on the Remblai seafront run since 2019. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
About 300 volunteers on the bike; run aid is described as standard or better. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Seafront Remblai, harbour and Atlantic views. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.9
A seafront run with a sea breeze, though it reached 29 °C (84 °F) in 2026. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.8
A flat seafront with short rises to Puits d'Enfer; RaceRaves lists it as rolling. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Averages of 12-25 °C (53-77 °F) are near ideal, though 2026 hit 29 °C (84 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Atlantic weather can bring wind, rain or heat. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.2
A beachfront seaside resort town. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.2
The multi-loop run on the Remblai and quays lets spectators see athletes repeatedly. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
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 availabilityBook early2.9
A peak-season seaside resort where beds near the Remblai fill early. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.8
July resort pricing; no race-specific price reports. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Start, transitions and finish are all in town on the seafront. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Nantes (NTE) is about 90 minutes by road, so expect a connection or drive. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
A compact seafront layout with a local hub. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Seafront restaurants in a French seaside town. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendee, Pays de la Loire, France
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 5 July 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 3,000 athletes
- First held
- 2019
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Finish 8:30 (one source; unconfirmed)
- Swim venue
- Grande Plage and Vendee Globe channel, Atlantic Ocean (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 18–20 °C (64–68 °F)
- Bike climbing
- 600 m (1,970 ft)
- Run laps
- 2
- Air temperature
- 12–25 °C (54–77 °F)
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Nantes Atlantique (NTE)
- Where to stay
- Remblai seafront, La Chaume, Olonne-sur-Mer
- Booking
- Seaside resort in peak July season, so beds near the Remblai fill early; 87 percent of 2026 places sold within 4 days per one report.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch (2024 pro race report)Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Pro race recap: large bike packs, transition speed decided the women's race, and the top five men were within two minutes. Race moved a day early because of French snap elections. Says nothing on conditions.
- Slowtwitch (2023 winners report)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
Reports Sanjana and Van Lierde winning, the latter coming from a 1:19 swim deficit with the best bike split of 2:07:20.
- Slowtwitch (2021 winners report)Raced 2021 · article · Positive
Winning times of 3:47:14 for Noodt and 4:21:23 for Reischmann, with a 1:12:43 run split.
- RaceRaves race pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Beach swim of 1.9 km (1.2 mi) via the Vendee Globe channel, flat-labelled bike through ten coastal towns, rolling two-loop run; water 19 C (66 F). No athlete ratings submitted.
- Sport Mag (2022 preview)Raced 2022 · article · Positive
Fourth edition preview: 3,250 registrations called colossal, two run loops instead of three, bike through the Foret d'Olonne.
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- Atlantic Loire Valley tourism / Kerrun listingRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Tourism listing describing a rolling bike with about 600 m (1,970 ft) gain and false flats, while Kerrun promotes it as the flattest course in France.
- Ekoi / PJAMM Cycling course pagesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Course map and profile pages with no elevation data; confirms distances only.
- IRONMAN Athletes' Choice (full-distance sister race)Raced 2025 · survey · Positive
Reports Les Sables full distance won the top satisfaction award among 38 full-distance races in 2025 surveys, indirect evidence for the venue, not the 70.3.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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