IRONMAN 70.3 Versailles
Versailles, France · October · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Finish on Avenue de Paris facing the Château de Versailles
- Run through the Potager du Roi
- Paris airports and RER C close by
- Sold out almost immediately in February 2026
Watch out for
- The July 2026 date was banned for heat and algae, then run on 11 October
- Hilly Chevreuse Valley bike with hairpins; no elevation total published
- Limited hotels in Versailles; Paris is a short train ride
- Only one edition held, with little athlete feedback
- Fees rose from 529 EUR during checkout, and refund terms were unclear
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 satisfactionLoved3.6
The debut had a chateau finish and a sell-out, but a heat and algae ban on the planned July date and little athlete feedback. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.0
The July race was banned three days before the start, refund terms were slow to appear, and fees rose during checkout. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.9
A hilly bike with hairpins and cool October conditions make it better for experienced riders. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.5
Only one athlete went under four hours in the 2026 debut (3:58:54), on a hilly bike. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.7
A hilly Chevreuse Valley bike with hairpins, no elevation published, and a mostly flat run. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.8
No October water temperature is published, but cool autumn water makes wetsuits likely. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.0
No water temperature found. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.2
An enclosed canal with no current. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.8
Sources disagree on the venue (Grand Canal or Pièce d'eau des Suisses), and the course layout is not documented. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.8
Swimming at the Château of Versailles is distinctive, but no athlete has described it. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
No surface information found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Traffic and parking restrictions are announced around the Château; bike closure details are not published. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
Chevreuse Valley and the Abbey of Vaux de Cernay. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Valley roads with no wind reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.5
A single hilly loop through the Chevreuse Valley with the Vacheresse climb and hairpins. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.5
Described as hilly, but no elevation total is published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.7
The '17 Tournants' hairpins and a climb make the route technical. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Chateau finish on Avenue de Paris, but only one edition has been held. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
No aid information found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.3
Through the Potager du Roi to a finish facing the Château. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.8
Flat road loops in cool autumn weather. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.0
Three mostly flat 7 km (4.3 mi) loops. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.0
October highs are around 8 to 17 °C (46 to 63 °F), which is cool. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
The first date was moved because of heat near 40 °C (104 °F). · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.6
Finish in front of the Château de Versailles and its gardens. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Three run loops and a Château finish, though traffic and parking are restricted. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.6
About 130 m (427 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 availabilityBook early2.7
Versailles has limited hotels; Paris is a short train ride. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.8
No pricing found, though limited local hotels and Paris prices suggest a premium. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
Start, run and finish are near the Château, but the transition layout is not published. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.4
Paris Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports, then a short RER C ride. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.3
Single 08:00 start at the Château, but transition layout is not published and parking is restricted. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.3
Versailles has a market and cafes, and Paris is close. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Versailles, Ile-de-France, France
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 11 October 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 1,500 athletes
- First held
- 2026
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Grand Canal of the Versailles estate (initial plans: Piece d'eau des Suisses) (canal)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Vacheresse; 17 Tournants
- Run laps
- 3
- Air temperature
- 8–17 °C (46–63 °F)
- Altitude
- 130 m (425 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Paris Orly (ORY) / Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
- Where to stay
- Versailles centre, Paris (RER C)
- Booking
- About 2,450-2,500 registered, about 40% from abroad; Versailles has limited hotels, Paris is a short train ride.
What racers and reviewers say
- Sortiraparis (results)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Results report for the 11 Oct 2026 debut: about 1,500 starters, swim in the Grand Canal, bike through the Chevreuse Valley (Vacheresse, 17 Tournants, Vaux de Cernay), three-loop run via the Potager du Roi ending on Avenue de Paris. Gallet's 3:58:54 was the only sub-4:00 and women's winner Haak took 4:33:33.
“the only athlete to finish under four hours”
- Sortiraparis (postponement)Raced 2026 · article · Mixed
Explains the move from 12 July to 11 October 2026 because of a heatwave, confirms the Grand Canal swim and a run route revised from the initial announcement, and tells spectators to expect traffic and parking restrictions around the Chateau.
- InfosyvelinesRaced 2026 · article · Negative
Local report on the prefectural ban issued three days before the planned July race: orange heat alert near 40 C (104 F) plus a cyanobacteria bloom in the swim basin. About 2,450-2,500 entrants (about 40% foreign) paid 529-667 EUR; refund terms were not announced at the time; a multi-year deal secures 2027.
- Radiosports.frRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Pre-race profile calling the bike a single rolling loop through Versailles and the Chevreuse Valley, the swim in the 13 ha (32 acre) basin below the Chateau and a run through the Potager du Roi to Avenue de Paris. Gives no elevation, laps or closure details.
- WeRunRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Event listing: single 08:00 start at the Chateau, hilly 90 km (56 mi) bike, mostly flat 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run, profile and GPX behind a login. Confirms no published elevation total.
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- Triathlon Magazine CanadaRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
Reports the race sold out almost immediately on 13 Feb 2026 and that athletes saw the fee climb from 529 to 629-667 EUR during checkout. No course comments.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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