Titan Brecon Middle Distance Triathlon
Tredegar, United Kingdom · June · i-Compete / DB Max (Independent)
Not a standard 70.3. This course is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 96.6 km (60 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run, not the usual 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run. Bike is 96.6 km (60 mi), about 7 km (4 mi) longer than a standard half.
Why people love it
- Lake swim around an island is easy to sight and described as clean and warm
- Bike over the Brecon moors ends with the sustained Iron Mountain climb into T2
- Three-lap run past the lake is easy for spectators
- King and Queen of the Mountain prize and a strong volunteer reputation
Watch out for
- Hilly bike of 96.6 km (60 mi), about 7 km (4 mi) over standard
- Wet, windy conditions recur in athlete reports; lights and a jacket are compulsory
- Open roads and only two bike feed stations
- Prize and trophy arrangements drew complaints in 2023
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 satisfactionLoved4.3
Nearly every review is glowing; athletes call it epic, tough and well run, and the only complaint is about prizes. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
Marshals, aid stations and signage praised repeatedly in 2023, 2024 and 2026; the only gripe was missing podium trophies in 2023. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Hilly 96.6 km (60 mi) bike and often wet, windy weather; first-timers still praise the support, but it is a tough debut. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.0
Long, climbing bike and hilly run on exposed moorland make this one of the slower halves in the set. · Medium confidence
- Course easeVery tough1.9
Reviewers call it very challenging: long climbs plus weather. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5
A Welsh lake in June is normally cool enough for wetsuits, though no water temperatures are published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.0
Reviewers describe the lake as clean and surprisingly warm; no temperature range was published. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.6
Sheltered park lake with one lap around an island; reviews mention a flat swim and no chop. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeVery easy4.5
Easy sighting around an island and a single lap; reviewers found the layout simple. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.2
Clean lake, scenic setting and a well-organised start according to 2024 and 2026 reviews. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.9
The organiser calls the quiet roads excellent riding surfaces; athletes did not contradict that. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.3
Quiet lanes but open to traffic; the organiser requires lights and a jacket. · Medium confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.6
Brecon moors and Breconshire scenery called stunning in multiple reviews. · High confidence
- WindWindy2.4
Wind and rain recur in 2023 and 2024 reports from the exposed moors. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow2.0
Climbs including Iron Mountain, an 18% ramp in the original route and frequent bad weather slow riders. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly1.9
Reviewers describe a very hilly 96.6 km (60 mi) course with long climbs; the total elevation gain is not published. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.3
Well signposted route; the long climbs and descents are demanding but no technical hazards were reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Reviewers mention great crowd support on the three-lap run around the lake. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsAbundant4.5
Reviews cite excellent aid stations, nutrition support and motivating volunteers. · High confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Laps around the park lake are pleasant but less dramatic than the bike. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
Hilly three-lap run after a hard bike; shade is limited and weather can be harsh. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.7
Run is park-style asphalt with cheeky climbs and descents, described as hilly by several athletes. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.1
Wet and cool conditions are frequent in June; no air temperature range was published. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.2
Brutal weather on the bike is reported in 2023 and 2024. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.3
Reviewers call the lake and Brecon scenery beautiful. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.1
Three run laps around the lake give family many views; the bike is remote. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.0
Parc Bryn Bach sits around 400 m (1,300 ft), well below altitude levels that matter for racing. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
Rural edge of the Beacons; accommodation is spread over Tredegar, Abergavenny and Brecon. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
Valleys towns are inexpensive, though no athlete commented on lodging. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Parc Bryn Bach hosts the start, transition and finish; hotels are a short drive away. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.1
About 60 km (37 mi) from Cardiff airport; access by road. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.2
Single venue for swim, transitions and finish with on-site parking. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.1
Park-based finish; larger towns nearby are modest. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, Wales, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 12 June 2027
- Organiser
- i-Compete / DB Max (Independent)
- Entry fee
- About $215
- First held
- 2014
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 96.6 km (60 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Finish about 8:30 (no official per-leg cut-offs)
- Swim venue
- Parc Bryn Bach lake (lake)
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Deffynog Hill (18% in the 2014 route); Iron Mountain (about 6 km / 3.7 mi, sustained climb into T2)
- Run laps
- 3
- Run shade
- limited
- Nearest airport
- Cardiff (CWL), 60 km (37 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Tredegar, Abergavenny, Brecon
- Booking
- Park in the Heads of the Valleys; hotels in Merthyr Tydfil, Abergavenny and Brecon.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceCheck: Justin A.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Aquabike entrant in 2026. Praises the scenery and the friendly staff, notes the cycle route is very well marked and that the swim around an island is easy to sight. Warns the course is tough and to train for hills.
“do train for hills”
- RaceCheck: Lee G.Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Describes a clean, rather warm lake swim, a 96 km (59.7 mi) bike with a brutal but rewarding climb up Iron Mountain, then a hilly half marathon with enthusiastic volunteers, plenty of nutrition and good crowd support. Marshals were brilliant.
“an epic 96km through stunning Breconshire scenery”
- RaceCheck: Kelly W.Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Found the course very hilly but the swim flat as promised. Friendly, relaxed day with clear communication and strong volunteer support.
- RaceCheck: Mark M.Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Warm lake, well signposted and scenic bike route with a mountain around mile 50, rain and wind on the day, and a run with a few hills. Recommends it as preparation for an IRONMAN. Organisers and helpers were outstanding.
- RaceCheck: Dan T.Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
First-timer who calls it a great event with excellent marshals and aid stations. The bike weather was brutal, as usual, though the sun came out for the last run lap. Tough but rewarding.
Show 5 more
- RaceCheck: Matthew R.Raced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
Very challenging day in tough weather. The organisers were well run, the volunteers kept everyone motivated, the lake swim was beautiful and surprisingly warm, the bike had challenging climbs late on, and the run is park-style on asphalt with some cheeky climbs.
- RaceCheck: Sian H.Raced 2023 · aggregator · Mixed
Rated the day well but was disappointed that podium finishers received no trophy and only a bottle of Prosecco for a roughly 143 GBP entry. The organiser replied, apologised and promised trophies.
- RaceCheck: Iwan W. and shane t.Raced 2023 · aggregator · Mixed
Two 2023 entrants call it a very challenging race in always brutal weather. One wished foil blankets had been handed out at the finish given the conditions.
- Parc Bryn Bach: Titan Brecon event pageRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Venue listing for the tenth-year edition. Describes the one-lap swim in the park lake, a 60-mile bike over the Brecon moors that ends in a sustained climb to T2, and a three-lap run that is good for spectators. Promotional in tone.
- 220 Triathlon: The Titan Middle Distance 2014 galleryRaced 2014 · article · Mixed
Report on the first edition (then Brecon Man): 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 96 km (59.7 mi) bike across the Brecon moors with the 18 percent Deffynog Hill, and a finish into Iron Mountain, a 6 km (3.7 mi) climb with no rests.
Sources
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