IRONMAN 70.3 Nelson Mandela Bay
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa · January · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- First IRONMAN 70.3 African Championship, set for 31 Jan 2027
- Beachfront run finishing on the red carpet at Hobie Beach
- Port Elizabeth airport is about 5 km (3 mi) from the beachfront
- Strong volunteer base and well-stocked aid stations at the 2018 Worlds
Watch out for
- Open-bay swim: cancelled in 2022, and 2 to 4 m (6.5 to 13 ft) swell was forecast for 2023
- South-easterly wind of 28 to 46 km (28.6 mi)/h (15 to 25 kn) is common on the bike
- Rolling-to-hilly bike with rough roads reported early in 2018
- Almost no recent athlete reports, and overseas travel usually needs a domestic connection
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 satisfactionLoved3.5
No first-hand 70.3 reports; only press and a 2018 World Championship blog, with the 2022 swim cancelled and the 2023 forecast stormy. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
The 2018 World Championship was very well run with about 3,000 volunteers; the 2022 swim was cancelled; recent evidence is limited. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.8
Open-ocean bay swim with swell risk, wind and a possibly hilly bike are demanding for beginners. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.0
Flat run and tailwind sections, but wind and an early climb; the 2022 winner rode 3:40:50 without a swim. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.6
Wind, swell and a rolling-to-hilly bike; a 2018 athlete called it her toughest race. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.5
Water ranges from about 15 °C (59 °F) in April 2018 to a listed 23 °C (73 °F) average; the rule was not found. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.5
Reports range from 15 °C (59 °F) in 2018 to a listed 23 °C (73 °F) average; January should be warmer. · Low confidence
- Calm waterChoppy2.1
Open Algoa Bay: the 2022 swim was cancelled and the 2023 forecast showed 2 to 4 m (6.5 to 13 ft) swell. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate2.5
Ocean surf entry, swell and a 2018 athlete swimming alone buoy to buoy. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.2
Beach start with scenery, but conditions are often rough; one report of cold, solitary swimming. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.8
A 2018 athlete found rough roads early; little other evidence. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.7
Local press says roads are closed across the Bay; details not found. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.7
Marine Drive coast, Seaview and Maitlands countryside; limited commentary. · Low confidence
- WindWindy2.0
Algoa Bay south-easterlies were forecast at 28 to 46 km (28.6 mi)/h (15 to 25 kn) in 2023, with a windy start in 2022. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.0
Rolling course with a headwind early and tailwind late in 2018; no recent split data. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.8
Called rolling; a 2018 athlete reported about 11 km (7 mi) of early climbing; no gain figure. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.8
Fast descents near 60 km (37.3 mi)/h (37 mph) with tight turns reported in 2018. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
Beachfront run and Hobie Beach finish village; a 2018 athlete praised the support. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.9
Well-stocked aid stations at the 2018 World Championship; strong volunteer base. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Beachfront run finishing by Shark Rock Pier at Hobie Beach. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.5
Flat coastal course, exposed to sun and wind. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.2
Listed as flat, with slopes at the turnarounds of the two loops. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Listed average air is about 27 °C (80 °F) with lows near 19 °C (67 °F): warm but not extreme. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.3
Wind and swell cancelled the 2022 swim, and thunderstorms were forecast for 2023. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.0
Beaches, a pier and a bay setting. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Beachfront promenade and a race village at Hobie Beach; spectators returned in 2022. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Coastal, 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 availabilityGood3.8
Large city with beachfront hotels; no sell-out reports. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
The rand favours foreign visitors, but no race-week price data exists. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.5
Summerstrand hotels are near the beachfront; the 2018 event had transitions 2 km (1.2 mi) apart. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.8
Port Elizabeth airport is about 5 km (3 mi) away, but most overseas visitors connect via Johannesburg or Cape Town. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Split transitions at the Worlds; the current layout is unconfirmed. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Beach town with palm-lined streets, Shark Rock Pier and Summerstrand restaurants. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Typical month
- January
- Latest or next date
- 31 January 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- First held
- 2022
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Kings Beach, past Humewood Beach, Algoa Bay (Indian Ocean) (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 17–23 °C (63–73 °F)
- Swim start
- not confirmed (rolling/wave)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Early climb into headwinds (2018 Worlds report, ~11 km / 7 mi); Maitlands
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Beachfront, little shade
- Air temperature
- 19–27 °C (66–81 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate (coastal)
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Port Elizabeth / Chief Dawid Stuurman (PLZ), 5 km (3 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Summerstrand, Humewood
- Booking
- Summerstrand/Humewood beachfront hotels and guesthouses; no race-week price data found.
What racers and reviewers say
- Cheryl Tay blogRaced 2018 · blog · Mixed
Account of the 2018 70.3 World Championship in the same bay (different date and split transitions): about 15 C (59 F) water with no lane ropes, an early climb into headwinds on rough roads, fast tight descents, and a mostly flat two-loop run with excellent aid. Very well organised with about 3,000 volunteers; travel needed a Johannesburg connection.
“I just want to finish, I just want to finish.”
- The Herald (HeraldLIVE)Raced 2022 · article · Mixed
Report on the inaugural 70.3 on 3 Apr 2022: the swim was cancelled, the bike began windy and rainy with a helpful tailwind out, and the run finished on the red carpet. Winner Lambrechts 3:40:50; women's winner Vermeulen in 4:22:56 (placings inconsistent in print).
- Nova News (Express)Raced 2023 · article · Mixed
Race-week preview for 5 Mar 2023: showers and thunderstorms forecast, SE wind rising to 15-25 kn (28-46 km/h (17.4–28.6 mph)) and 2-4 m (6.5-13 ft) swell on the day; road closures across the Bay.
- Nova News (Express)Raced 2022 · article · Positive
Preview of the 2022 edition: Kings Beach start, 1.9 km (1.2 mi) ocean swim past Humewood to Hobie Beach, 90.1 km (56 mi) single bike loop via Seaview and the Maitlands, run finishing at Hobie Beach; over 1,700 athletes from 44 countries across the full and half; spectators back for the first time since 2019.
- Daily DispatchRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Announcement that the 2027 edition becomes the first IRONMAN 70.3 African Championship, with a 31 Jan 2027 date implied elsewhere; notes 21 years of IRONMAN SA in the Bay, over 22,000 athletes since 2012 and R43m raised for the Ironman4theKidz trust.
Show 1 more
- RaceRaves course pageRaced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Course guide with no athlete reviews: one-loop ocean swim, rolling one-loop bike, flat run to Hobie Beach; average air 27 C (80 F), water 23 C (73 F). Page wrongly marks the race discontinued.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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