IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand・TaupōVerified
IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand・Taupō: 89 km bike leg, 645 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
One 90 km loop: from Kaimanawa Reserve along Rifle Range Rd and Broadlands Rd, down View Road to the Aratiatia dam, then climbing back up State Highway 5, with the return on country roads such as Homestead, Halcrow and Vaile. About 500 m of elevation gain. Early March in Taupō is late summer, cool and windy.
Source: Adapted from the official course description (the course page on ironman.com)
The terrain on this course
- Flat (±1.2%) makes up 55%
- Main climb 13.7–14.9 km: 52 m of gain (avg 4.1%)
- Main climb 15.5–17.4 km: 85 m of gain (avg 4.6%)
- Main climb 76.5–79.0 km: 68 m of gain (avg 2.8%)
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 03-06): 12.7°C · Wind 2.8 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”.