IRONMAN 70.3 ColomboVerified
IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo: 90 km bike leg, 81 m of climbing. Elevation profile, what the terrain asks of you, the weather this race day usually brings, and how to pace this course.
Course intel
Three loops, 90 km, on fully closed roads through central Colombo, past the port, the parliament district and the main avenues, with an aid station every 15 km. Completely flat (under 100 m of elevation gain), and the organizers position it as a course for personal bests. Late August in Sri Lanka is southwest monsoon season: hot and humid with occasional showers, and heat is still the biggest cost, so lower your intensity.
Source: Adapted from the official course description (the course page on ironman.com)
The terrain on this course
- Flat (±1.2%) makes up 96%
- No significant climbing: what matters is handling the wind and holding your power steady
Speed score
The wind here is part of the terrain: ride the headwind sections to your range, not to the speedometer, and in crosswinds relax your upper body and stay low. The plan already has wind in every segment, so just ride the numbers.
Historical race-day weather (around 08-22): 28.2°C · Wind 2.5 m/s
0 to 100, and the higher it is the easier it is to post a good time. Points come off for terrain, for corners, and for the heat and wind this race has actually had over the last five years at the same time of year. Full explanation in the article “How the course score works”.