Race Course Reviews: Ironman 70.3 Rapperswil

oliverbridge7
May 1
4 min read

Updated: Nov 5

Ironman 70.3 Rapperswilcourse review - what is the course like?

General

Ironman 70.3 Rapperswil is a well organised, with beautiful surroundings in a land of high performance.

T1 + T2 are the same
Swim is in a lake, out and back to the same point with, clean water surrounded by mountains
Bike has defined flat and hilly parts, some technical parts, fantastic scenery, good surface
Run is flat with challenges like the stairs, mixed road surface, 2 laps, nice scenery

Climate

The climate can be temperamental, it can get very hot. Humidity is generally quite low.

What is the Ironman 70.3 Rapperswil SWIM course like?

It is a wooden pontoon start where you are called forward in just a couple of people at a time to dive or jump, as you wish, to start. The swim is a simple out and back so two long straights with a short double turn to tell you you’re halfway. You swim towards a beautiful mountain backdrop on the way out and then back towards the town after.

The water is clean, a deep dark blue colour so you cannot see through it or would call it very clear but it’s a very refreshing swim that’ll make you appreciate the beauty of open water swimming.

There are no dangerous wildlife to be worried about at all.

The swim exit is easy, not a steep bank and not a long run to T1 that is on grass.

What is the Ironman 70.3 Rapperswil BIKE course like?

The bike is a 2 lap course that starts off flat, hits a part with steep hills, you come back down steep but relatively straight not technical ascents.

At the start and the second lap if you are lapping other rides, there is a slight bit of negotiating other riders on the narrower town roads that turn and dip under a bridge as you come out of town. You turn onto a closed highway and any flat loving TT specialists can really start to fly down these next kms.

Your slick aero time comes to an abrupt end as you turn a sharp left into the first of your steep climbs that reach gradient %s in the teens at parts. Advise not burning yourself out in TT but it’s nice to get some momentum to roll more easily up the first 50m.

The first climb is shorter and steeper, the second climb is shortly after and one could claim part of the same section. That one is longer and if you’ve burnt your matches on the first you will feel it on this part. When you crest the longer one you are ready for a section of Kms downhill where you can really focus on getting some energy back into your legs, take on the nutrition and then focus on a speedy and safe descent back. You’ll hit the other side of the same flat highway you came on for an identical feel and then lap back in town and do it all again.

This is the same place as T1 but a different entry point into it.

What is the Ironman 70.3 Rapperswil RUN course like?

The run course is unique and largely flat but presents a few challenges. Straight away there is a short bridge to go over that is a little steep so bear that in mind. Then the starting few kms are on yellowy gravel around fields. This is kinder on your joints than tarmac but can feel more slippy under foot and energy sapping. These kms also seem to be quite a random route so pay attention to the signs. You leave that section and hit the tarmac as you run a section without many people if at all in parallel to train line before you duck under it and head into town.

You will then be winding your way into, up and out of the town centre. This will take you on cobblestones for some parts, pedestrianised parts near shops and bars and then infamously STEPS. These do not last forever but sharply break your stride and momentum. They are a size that you can decide to take them two at a time or one at a time.

The part that is often left out is that you’ve already started climbing to reach these so be prepared that for c. 500m before these you have been going up.

As soon as you are done with the stairs then you are going down.

You wind slightly around a couple of streets before picking up significant pace downhill and you hit a lakeside dirt path. This provides some relief, no crowds and allows you to catch your breath and mentally prepare for doing the lap again. If it is as hot as it can be, like in 2023, then there can be volunteers with some water hoses and temporary showers to help cool you down. The nutrition and hydration stations are well placed on the course.

You can find the course maps on the

Official Ironman site

https://www.ironman.com/races/im703-switzerland/course#run