IRONMAN World Championship · KonaVerified
IRONMAN World Championship · Kona: 181 km bike leg, 1222 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
Start in Kailua-Kona with a short loop through town, then head north on the Queen K Highway, past Kawaihae and up to the U-turn at Hawi: a long gentle climb on the way out paired with the notorious Mumuku crosswind gusts, and often a headwind on the way back. No shade anywhere across the lava fields; heat and wind are both built into the power plan section by section.
Source: Compiled from the official route and public race information · every course rechecked before launch
The terrain on this course
- Flat (±1.2%) makes up 56%
- Main climb 4.8–7.2 km: 60 m of gain (avg 2.4%)
- Main climb 125.2–126.7 km: 67 m of gain (avg 4.5%)
- Main climb 149.5–151.3 km: 55 m of gain (avg 3.1%)
Speed score
Rolling terrain is where you overspend without noticing: 20 extra watts on every little rise adds up and empties your legs for the back half. Let power touch the top of the range on the small stuff and leave it there.
Historical race-day weather (around 10-11): 26.5°C · Wind 2.1 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”.