IRONMAN 70.3 ErknerVerified
IRONMAN 70.3 Erkner: 88 km bike leg, 77 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
Two laps totaling 72 km along the Spree on newly paved straight roads into the open Brandenburg countryside; the official description is flat and fast. Under 100 m elevation gain. Mid-September on the outskirts of Berlin is cool. There are almost no gradient decisions to make the whole way, so the focus is aero position and nutrition.
Source: Adapted from the official course description (the course page on ironman.com)
The terrain on this course
- Flat (±1.2%) makes up 99%
- 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 09-13): 14.1°C · Wind 3.1 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”.