IRONMAN 70.3 Valencia
Valencia, Spain · April · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Fast: both 2026 winners set course records
- Sheltered marina swim, wetsuit-legal in April
- Flat run through the Turia gardens to the City of Arts and Sciences
- Airport 8 km (5 mi) away; direct flights from many cities
Watch out for
- Cool water of 15 to 18 °C (59 to 64 °F)
- Sources disagree on bike climbing: 180 to 700 m (590 to 2,300 ft)
- Swim venue is listed as both the marina and Malvarrosa
- Only three editions so far and few athlete reports
- Start and finish areas sit in different parts of the city
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
Athlete accounts are few but warm, calling the swim 'absolute bliss' and the finish atmosphere strong; most coverage is previews and results. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Three editions since 2024 with no athlete complaints, but no detailed organisation reports either. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
A calm harbour swim and flat run help, though the bike climbs into the Calderona foothills. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.3
Both 2026 winners set course records, 3:33:56 and 4:03:39, with a 1:55:54 pro bike split. · Medium confidence
- Course easeModerate4.0
Cool April water, a rolling bike and a flat run in mild weather. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5
Water is about 15 to 18 °C (59 to 64 °F), so wetsuits are legal. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable2.7
Cool at 15 to 18 °C (59 to 64 °F), comfortable in a wetsuit. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.4
A sheltered harbour loop, with a still morning reported in 2025. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.1
A single loop with a rolling entry; sources disagree on whether the venue is the marina or Malvarrosa. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.9
An athlete called the swim her favourite leg, with salt-water buoyancy and a rolling entry. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.6
No surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.8
City event with a marshalled course; closure details not found. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.6
Rolling Calderona foothills; little scenic praise. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
No wind issues reported in the few accounts. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.3
Fast single loop with a 1:55:54 pro bike record, with a rolling section into the Calderona foothills. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.4
Sources give 180 m (591 ft), 594 m (1,950 ft) and 700 m (590, 1,950 and 2,300 ft) over 90 km (56 mi), so rolling at most. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
A single loop out of the city and back with no technical sections reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.1
Previews cite a passionate local crowd and strong finish atmosphere. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
No aid complaints found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.3
Through the Turia gardens, passing the City of Arts and Sciences. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.2
Flat out-and-backs with some tree shade in the gardens. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.8
Almost flat, with about 5 m (16 ft) of gain in the Turia gardens. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
April highs of 20 to 25 °C (68 to 77 °F) and lows of 9 to 12 °C (48 to 54 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.0
Mild April weather and ideal conditions in 2025 and 2026, from only three editions. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.4
The City of Arts and Sciences, Turia gardens and Mediterranean coast. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.3
Out-and-backs pass the finish area twice. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 15 m (49 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Many hotels near the start and finish in a large city. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
No race-week prices found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
Hotels exist near the start and finish, but the marina and City of Arts are separate. · Low confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.6
Airport 8 km (5 mi) away, direct European flights and a 1.5 to 2 hour train from Madrid. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.1
The swim venue is disputed in sources and the start and finish are in different parts of the city. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.6
A big Mediterranean city known for food and old-town character. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 18 April 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 2,500 athletes
- First held
- 2024
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Marina de Valencia / Playa de la Malvarrosa (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 15–18 °C (59–64 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 594 m (1,950 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Sierra Calderona foothills
- Run climbing
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Some shade from trees along the Turia gardens (2024 club report)
- Air temperature
- 9–25 °C (48–77 °F)
- Altitude
- 15 m (49 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Valencia (VLC), 8 km (5 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Malvarrosa / marina, City of Arts and Sciences
- Booking
- Hotels near the start/finish suggested by Love and Road: Ilunion Aqua 4, AC Hotel Valencia, Blanq Marina Suites, Pamphylia (beachfront).
What racers and reviewers say
- 220 Triathlon: 'I completed a half Ironman in Valencia and it was absolute bliss'Raced 2025 · article · Positive
First-person account of the April 2025 race. She describes a still morning, calm harbour water, salt-water buoyancy and a rolling entry, and says the swim was her favourite leg. Only the swim section was readable, so bike and run impressions are not captured.
“absolute bliss”
- 220 Triathlon: 'From spectator to finisher'Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Debut half-distance story from the 2025 race in a field of about 2,500, mentioning cool air in the old town at dawn and nerves before the start. Full text was not accessible, only a snippet.
- The Triathlete UK: 2026 race preview and course guideRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Preview calling the marina swim calm and one of the faster swims on the European 70.3 calendar, water 15-16 C (59-61 F) and about 180 m (590 ft) of climbing on the bike. Notes a passionate local crowd and strong finish atmosphere.
- Love and RoadRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
Pre-race guide, not a race report. It gives 700 m (2,300 ft) of climbing, 17 C (63 F) water, mild race-week weather around 20 C (68 F) and flight and train options, plus five hotels near the start and finish.
- UKRunChat: Laidlow and Schär winRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Results report for the April 2026 race. Both winners set course records (3:33:56 and 4:03:39) in what the article calls ideal conditions.
Show 3 more
- finishers.comRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Course data listing 594 m (1,950 ft) of climbing on the bike and 5 m (16 ft) on the run, with a rolling bike through the Calderona hills and a near-flat run. No athlete reviews.
- RaceRavesRaced 2027 · aggregator · Mixed
Course guide listing a Malvarrosa sea swim at 16-17 C (61-63 F), a rolling bike toward the Sierra Calderona and a flat two-loop run on the Turia path. Historical April highs 20-25 C (68-77 F). No athlete reviews posted.
- Visit Valencia (tourism board)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Official tourism listing describing the Mediterranean swim from Malvarrosa, the Calderona-bound bike and a completely flat run along the Turia gardens, drawing thousands of triathletes.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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