Deva Triathlon (Chester Triathlon)
Chester, England · June · Independent (Chester Triathlon Club)
Why people love it
- Swim starts at the Groves bandstand in the city centre; the finish is beside it.
- Flat bike of about 40 km (24.9 mi) with roughly 130 m (427 ft) of climbing.
- Run crosses the Old Dee Bridge and loops the Groves; spectator-friendly laps.
- Racecheck rates it 4.73 of 5 from 52 ratings, mostly from longer-distance racers.
Watch out for
- Sprint bike is 40 km (24.9 mi), double a typical sprint's 20 km (12.4 mi).
- River swim with a deep-water start and possible current; weaker swimmers should practise.
- A 2018 racer reported a sewage release the day before; the club times the swim around tides.
- Only one drinks station on the run.
- No 2027 date yet, and race directors stepped down in 2024; check the club first.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
Racecheck averages 4.73 from 52 ratings, but most written reviews cover the middle distance or aquabike; one 2018 Olympic racer was ill. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Reviewers praise marshals, water safety and a slick event; the club also changed its race directors in 2024. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
1.5 km (0.93 mi) deep-water river swim and 40 km (24.9 mi) bike; hot three-lap run. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.0
Flat fast bike and flat run; current can slow the swim. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5
Water is usually 15 to 18 °C (59 to 64 °F) in June; the organiser's wetsuit rule was not stated. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.2
River is typically 15 to 18 °C (59 to 64 °F), but a 2018 swimmer was ill after a reported sewage release. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.0
Little flow expected in June, yet a strong current slowed the upstream leg in 2018. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate2.8
Strong current slowed the 2018 upstream leg. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
City-centre river start beside the bandstand; the 2018 report was soured by water quality. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.8
Safety canoeists and strong water safety praised on Racecheck; deep-water start in a river. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Wrexham relief road and country lanes; surface quality is not discussed. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
Roads are closed at the start, then open lanes and a relief road. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.7
Cheshire and Welsh border lanes; pleasant but unremarkable. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Open Cheshire and Welsh border lanes; wind is not reported. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.0
Reviewers call the bike flat and fast, with a few roundabouts and one mild climb. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.4
Flat and fast per the 2018 report; about 130 m (427 ft) gain. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
One 40 km (24.9 mi) lap through several villages with a few roundabouts. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
A multi-lap run around the Groves suits supporters, though crowds are barely described. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.0
One self-service drinks station on the run; reviewers want another. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.3
Run crosses the Old Dee Bridge and follows the river through The Groves. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.0
Old Dee Bridge, suspension bridge and The Groves; mostly easy underfoot, with some bends. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.7
Three flat laps. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
June, usually mild; the 2018 run was hot. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
British June weather varies. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.3
Historic walled city and riverside gardens. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.1
Swim, finish and multi-lap run are all around the bandstand. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Chester is low-lying, under 50 m (165 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Chester has many hotels; availability was not checked in detail. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
City hotels can be pricey on race weekends. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.9
Swim start, finish and city centre sit close together. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.9
Chester has a train station; Manchester and Liverpool airports are within about 70 km (43 mi). · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Compact finish area, free parking for locals, closed roads at the start. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.4
Chester city centre offers plenty of cafes and restaurants. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Chester, Cheshire, England
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 7 June 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Chester Triathlon Club)
- Field size
- About 1,500 athletes
- Distances
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- River Dee at the bandstand, The Groves (river)
- Water temperature
- 15–18 °C (59–64 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Not stated
- Swim start
- deep-water wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 130 m (425 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 3
- Air temperature
- 12–21 °C (54–70 °F)
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Liverpool John Lennon (LPL), 45 km (28 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Chester city centre
- Booking
- Chester has plenty of hotels; book early for race weekend.
What racers and reviewers say
- RacecheckRaced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Fifty-two ratings average 4.73 of 5; ten written reviews from 2022 but most are for the middle distance or aquabike. Two Olympic reviewers rate it 4.8 and 4.9, praising great marshals, free parking for a local, closed roads at the start and a multi-lap run good for supporters. Across all distances: friendly, well run, strong water safety, wants one more aid station.
- City of Lancaster Triathlon Club blogRaced 2018 · blog · Mixed
Olympic race report: warm, cloudy river with a strong current made the 900 m (0.56 mi) upstream leg slow; bike flat and fast with a few roundabouts and one mild climb; hot three-lap run. He praised the slick organisation but was ill after a reported sewage release the day before, and felt the briefing ignored it.
“a slickly organised event”
Raced Deva Triathlon (Chester Triathlon)? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Deva Triathlon (Chester Triathlon)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.