IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy

Vichy, France · August · IRONMAN 70.3

Why people love it

2.7Good

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-person athlete accounts; the 2022 swim was cancelled yet a record 2,200 entered, and French racers dominated. · Low confidence
OrganizationWell run3.5
A swim cancelled for storms and current in 2022 was handled by starting everyone on the bike, but no athlete feedback is available. · Low confidence
First timer friendlyDoable2.9
About 1,030 m (3,380 ft) of climbing, summer heat and a river-fed swim make it a demanding first 70.3. · Low confidence

PR potentialAverage2.9
A hilly bike with grades up to 16.6% and late-August heat; the 2022 winner took 3:23:43 without a swim. · Low confidence
Course easeTough2.6
About 1,030 m (3,380 ft) of climbing and highs near 30 °C (86 °F). · Low confidence

2.7Good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalSeldom2.2
Water averages about 25 °C (77 °F), at or above the limit, and wetsuit status varies by year. · Low confidence
Water temperatureAcceptable3.1
Water of 23 to 26 °C (73 to 79 °F), warm but comfortable. · Low confidence
Calm waterSome chop3.0
River-fed lake with a strong current that helped cancel the 2022 swim. · Low confidence
Swim easeEasy3.6
A rolling start of five athletes every six seconds between the Bellerive bridge and the dam. · Low confidence
Swim experienceFine3.3
Spa-town lake setting, but no swimmer describes the water. · Low confidence

3.2Good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

Road surfaceMixed3.4
No surface information found. · Low confidence
Road closuresMostly closed3.5
No closure details found. · Low confidence
Bike sceneryBeautiful3.7
Towards the Montagne Bourbonnaise and Auvergne countryside. · Low confidence
WindSome wind3.3
No wind reports. · Low confidence

Bike speedAverage2.8
A hilly loop with 1,030 m (3,380 ft) of gain on 90 km (56 mi). · Low confidence
Bike flatnessHilly2.4
About 1,030 m (3,380 ft) of climbing, per the organiser's data. · Medium confidence
Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.9
An unofficial reconstruction shows grades up to 16.6%. · Low confidence

3.1Good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportDecent3.4
Spa-town and riverbank sections, but no athlete reports. · Low confidence
Aid stationsGood3.6
No aid information found. · Low confidence
Run sceneryBeautiful3.7
Allier river banks and the spa-town centre. · Low confidence
Run conditionsModerate3.0
Late-August heat averaging near 30 °C (86 °F) on a two-loop course. · Low confidence

Run flatnessMostly flat3.8
Described as flat, but the organiser lists 187 m (614 ft) of gain over two loops. · Low confidence

3.0Good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Air temperatureWarm or cool3.0
Late-August highs average near 30 °C (86 °F). · Low confidence
Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Storms affected the 2022 race week. · Low confidence
Venue beautyLovely3.8
A historic spa town on the Allier. · Low confidence
Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Two run loops through the town and river banks. · Low confidence

Low altitudeSea level4.6
About 250 m (820 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence

3.4Good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilityGood3.6
The 70.3 and full distance share the weekend; no sell-out reports. · Low confidence
Hotel valueGood3.6
No pricing found. · Low confidence
WalkabilityWalkable3.7
Compact spa town, though the transition layout is not confirmed. · Low confidence
Travel easeOne connection2.7
Clermont-Ferrand's airport is small, so most travellers drive or connect. · Low confidence
LogisticsSome complexity3.4
Shared weekend with the full distance; transition layout not confirmed. · Low confidence
Town and foodGood4.0
A French spa town with good restaurants, though athletes say little. · Low confidence

SportmagRaced 2022 · article · Mixed
Report on the 7th edition: storms had spoiled water quality in Lac d'Allier and the current was judged too strong, so the swim was cancelled and everyone started on the bike. A record 2,200 entered the 70.3 and French athletes swept the podium; Guilloux won in 3:23:43 after building his lead on the hilly bike.
Finishers.comRaced 2027 · aggregator · Mixed
Organiser-supplied data: swim between the Bellerive bridge and the dam with a rolling start (5 athletes every 6 s), 90 km (56 mi) with 1,030 m (3,380 ft) gain, run two loops with 187 m (614 ft) gain, cut-offs 1:10 / 5:50 / 8:30. No participant ratings on the page.
WeRunRaced 2027 · aggregator · Mixed
Listing for the 12th edition on 22 Aug 2027: Lac d'Allier swim, hilly bike toward the Montagne Bourbonnaise and Auvergne landscapes, run in two loops around the lake and spa town. No athlete opinions on the page.
Rouvy route (IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Virtual-ride reconstruction of the bike course reporting roughly 1,044 m (3,425 ft) of climbing over 83 km (52 mi) and a maximum gradient of 16.6%. It is a third-party reconstruction, so treat it as a rough guide.
TrainerDay event pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Event listing describing a spa-town race on the Allier with a flatter run through Vichy streets and river banks, late-summer highs near 30 C (86 F) and water near 25 C (77 F). Climate averages rather than race-day reports.

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