Race Reviews: Ironman Aix en Provence 70.3

Ironman Aix en Provence 70.3 course review - what is it like?

General

Ironman Aix en Provence 70.3 is a rollercoaster of a course with challenges that make it tougher than it seems on paper.

• T1 + T2 are in different locations

• Swim is in a man made lake, out and back almost, water is not clear

• Bike has some challenging climbs & technical parts, whilst it has some great scenery

• Run is a rollercoaster that feels always up or down on road and dirt paths

Climate

The climate can be temperamental, it can be very wet and rainy as it was in 2023 and it can feel quite humid. Disc wheels are also forbidden because of the likelihood of high winds

What is the Ironman Aix en Provence 70.3 SWIM course like?

It is a ‘beach’ start with several given the green light at the same time.  The swim is a simple out and back so two long straights with a short double turn to tell you you’re halfway.

The water is not the most favourable, it is quite dark blue and brown in colour.

There are many buoys that can help you keep straight. On the way back you can start to head slightly left towards the swim exit.

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

The temperature is likely to be in the mid teens.

T1

The swim exit is difficult, there is a very steep grass bank immediately as you get out. If it’s raining it can be quite slippy but just be prepared for it.

It’s a relatively long run to the transition zone in a car park on a carpeted path.

The ground underfoot is tarmac.

What is the Aix en Provence 70.3 BIKE course like?

The bike is a 1 lap course that takes you from the countryside and ends in the centre of the Aix town. It’s a difficult course as far as bike legs go. Disc wheels are typically banned due to potential for high winds. It starts relatively quick with smooth roads on highways before it gets more rural, undulating and surfaces change with a few potholes and gravel appearing.

One of the most technical sections is around 52km, it is not very steep but it is descending enough you can carry speed and it is along consecutive quick left to ride turns that feel like you’re slipping down a snake. On my ride, it was very wet and I passed two people who had come off.

The big climb to ensure you save energy for comes around 67km and lasts c.3km with 5-10% gradients.

The climb itself is quite an enjoyable parcours that makes it a nicer climb to conquer and once you’re done there is 20km left. This is majority downhill and you can get some time back however it is not ALL downhill to Aix now, there are still a couple of pitches left to get over so bear that in mind.

T2

This is a longer transition as far as they go, spaced out across one car park and another area within a cluster of buildings before you then leave them for the run. The ground surface is tarmac.

What is the Ironman Aix en Provence 70.3 RUN course like?

The run course does justice to it’s categorisation of Rolling. It’s a 2 lap run course that goes through the very centre of town, winds through an older part of town and hits parks on the outskirts. It never feels like it is flat at any part but there is a definite feel that the first half of the course is more ascending and the final part of the course is descending.

You go through town slightly ascending before a good straight downhill towards the park areas where you can certainly pick up pace, relax and get your mind in the right place.

This continues into a park where you go down hill on mud based dirt path which is shaded if it’s hot and/or raining. A tight turn over a small bridge in the park and you ascend arguably the most difficult part which is the same mud path surface with a steep pitch to get out of the park. Cresting that gives you relief as you come back to the road, it is still an incline but with it being flatter and surer underfoot it feels great and I feel like it’s a moment you can dig a little deeper because it’s not too long before you reach a swooping downhill road that takes you back into town, the crowds, the atmosphere. This is all centred around a big roundabout like a beating heart to the race. Whether it’s lap 1 or the end it feels great and gives you a moment to get your head in check or give everything you have left. Just remember that getting there you have to do a short out and back from the roundabout  to then go back around it and shoot off to the finish line.