IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth
Weymouth, United Kingdom · September · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Voted most recommended race and best swim in EMEA in the 2024 athlete survey
- Sheltered 1.9 km (1.2 mi) bay swim with a rolling start
- Flat, crowd-lined 21.1 km (13.1 mi) seafront run
- Jurassic Coast and Dorset countryside setting
Watch out for
- Sources disagree on bike climbing: about 800-1,400 m (2,600-4,600 ft)
- Cold conditions: 6 °C (43 °F) reported on the bike and water of 16-18 °C (61-64 °F)
- No transition-bag access on race morning; transition and finish are about 3 km (1.9 mi) apart
- Narrow lanes, sharp descents and a slippery left turn out of transition
- Rain cut the swim to 950 m (0.6 mi) in one edition
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 satisfactionLoved4.1
Named most recommended race in EMEA in the 2024 athlete survey; reports praise the swim, run and crowds but criticise a cold, hilly bike. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
A 2024 finisher praised road closures and swim safety; downsides are no transition-bag access and a 3 km (1.9 mi) gap between transition and finish. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.7
Billed as a first-timer favourite with a rolling start and flat run, but the bike has 800-1,400 m (2,600-4,600 ft) of climbing on narrow lanes. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.1
A flat run offsets a rolling bike, but the 2018 winner's 4:03:08 came with a swim cut to 950 m (0.6 mi). · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.8
Rolling bike with conflicting climbing figures of 800-1,400 m (2,600-4,600 ft), a flat run and cool conditions. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.6
Water averages 16-18 °C (61-64 °F) in September, so wetsuits are the norm. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.0
16-18 °C (61-64 °F) is on the cool side; racers report feeling cold by the end. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.5
The sheltered bay is usually calm, but 2017 was choppy and rough water cut one edition to 950 m (0.6 mi). · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
Simple rectangular loop and a rolling start cut contact; sun glare and chop can hamper sighting. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.3
Voted best swim in EMEA in the 2024 athlete survey; rolling start and beach entry. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.8
Narrow back roads with sharp descents; no hard surface data. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.4
A 2024 finisher praised road closures and directions; organisers removed small roads for safety. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
Dorset countryside and villages; ranked third best bike in EMEA in the 2024 athlete survey. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
A 2026 guide calls the lanes exposed; no wind statistics found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.8
Narrow lanes, descents and 800-1,400 m (2,600-4,600 ft) of climbing slow it; the last stretch is flat and fast. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly2.2
Sources disagree: about 800 m (2,600 ft) in 2017 versus 1,400 m (4,600 ft) in 2026, spanning hilly to mountainous for 90 km (56 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.7
Twisty narrow lanes, sharp descents and a tight, slippery left turn out of transition. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
Seafront loops with repeated U-turns; racers cite crowd and volunteer cheering. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
Aid roughly every 2 km (1.2 mi) with water, electrolytes and cola; volunteers praised. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Seafront, harbour and Jurassic Coast backdrop. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.0
Flat tarmac and cool temperatures, but open to wind with little shade. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.6
Flat seafront and harbour run; all sources call it flat. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Highs sit around 19 °C (66 °F) or under, and mornings can be cold; 6 °C (43 °F) was reported on the bike in 2017. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.7
Rain and a cut swim in 2018, cold in 2017 and a warm 24 °C (75 °F) in 2022. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.3
Sandy beach, Georgian seafront and Jurassic Coast setting. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.4
A compact seafront run with several U-turns gives repeat viewing, with a finish at the Pavilion. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level, 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 early3.0
Guides say guesthouses fill early in a holiday resort town. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
No race-week price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
Transition at Lodmoor and the finish at the Pavilion are about 3 km (1.9 mi) apart; B&Bs between them are suggested. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Small regional airports at Bournemouth and Exeter; most travellers connect via London. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.1
The rolling start helps, but bags are not accessible on race morning and the finish is separate from transition. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Resort town with harbour restaurants; limited review data. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 12 September 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 2,800 athletes
- First held
- 2016
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Weymouth Bay, from the beach by the town (sea)
- Water temperature
- 16–18 °C (61–64 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- rolling (by estimated swim time)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Purbeck Hills section (The Triathlete 2026)
- Run laps
- 2.5
- Run shade
- little; open seafront
- Air temperature
- 8–21 °C (46–70 °F)
- Humidity
- coastal, moderate
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bournemouth (BOH); Exeter (EXT)
- Where to stay
- Weymouth seafront, between Lodmoor and the Pavilion
- Booking
- Guides say seafront guesthouses fill early; Portland is a fallback about 30 minutes (drive) from the Lodmoor start. T1/T2 at Lodmoor and the finish at the Pavilion are roughly 3 km (1.9 mi) apart.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forum (MOP race report)Raced 2017 · forum · Mixed
Mid-pack finisher (5:52) described a choppy, sun-glared 16 C (61 F) swim, a bitterly cold bike near 6 C (43 F) on narrow roads with sharp descents, and a flat, well-supported seafront run. Disliked the bike and logistics like no bag access but loved the rolling start and run.
- Slowtwitch race coverageRaced 2018 · article · Mixed
All-day rain and rough water cut the swim to 950 m (0.6 mi). Describes the single anticlockwise bike loop and shows the run decided the race; no athlete complaints about the course are quoted.
- Tri247 course guideRaced 2017 · article · Positive
Guide calls the bike rolling with about 800 m (2,600 ft) of gain and no fearsome climbs, the swim a simple clockwise rectangle from a pebble beach, and the run flat, fast and spectator friendly. Tips include packing bags the night before and bringing a head torch.
- Tri247 2021 results reportRaced 2021 · article · Positive
Race report on the 2021 edition; as summarised by a search result, the winner called the bike tough and credited crowd and volunteer cheers on the run. Full text could not be fetched.
- The Triathlete UKRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
2026 guide ranks the bike among the toughest on the UK 70.3 calendar, citing about 1,400 m (4,600 ft) of climbing on narrow exposed lanes, calls the bay swim sheltered, and the run flat promenade. Advises booking seafront guesthouses early.
Show 3 more
- IRONMAN Athletes' Choice AwardsRaced 2024 · survey · Positive
Post-race surveys from 2024 rank the race #1 most recommended, #1 best swim and #3 best bike in EMEA; a 2024 finisher praised road closures and swim support. Organiser-published, so treat as promotional but survey-backed.
“an amazing time and a weekend I will remember”
- 220 Triathlon (via PressReader)Raced 2019 · article · Mixed
UK race-prep feature noting that the tight left turn leaving transition can be dangerous in wet conditions. Seen only through a search snippet.
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Race page describes a one-lap L-shaped swim, rolling bike north to King's Stag and a flat 2.5-lap run, with average water 17 C (63 F). No athlete ratings are posted.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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