Race in ParadiseSet in the heart of Tropical North Queensland, there’s nothing quite like racing in paradise at Cairns Airport IRONMAN 70.3 Cairns. From the moment you fly in over the iconic Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, the only place in the world where two World Heritage areas meet, …
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Race in Paradise
Set in the heart of Tropical North Queensland, there’s nothing quite like racing in paradise at Cairns Airport IRONMAN 70.3 Cairns.
From the moment you fly in over the iconic Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, the only place in the world where two World Heritage areas meet, you’ll know you’ve made it to a paradise. With a course built for the ultimate racing experience, crowd support like no other, and an electric atmosphere all week long – you’ll see why athletes flock to Cairns each year to see what the big show is all about.
Take a palm-tree lined, white sandy beach start line, add on a completely closed coastal highway with breathtaking views of the Great Barrier Reef for your ride, and finish it off with a flat and fun run course down the main strip of Cairns lined with cheering supporters and pumping atmosphere – you’ve got yourself a course made for racing.
Swim
The 1.9km ROKA Swim course is situated at the stunning location of Palm Cove. The course is a single lap course that goes from Swim Start off Williams Esplanade to Swim Exit which is further North towards transition. The course has been pulled closer to the shore than previous years to lessen the effects of any potential winds and make for a smoother swim. We have also added more buoys to help with you with sighting while out on the course. IRONMAN 70.3 athletes will start their swim by heading out and turning right at the first white turning buoy, from here on out, all other buoys will be on your left-hand side. Athletes will continue to follow the buoys turning at the pink-coloured buoy until they reach Swim Exit and leave the water into T1.
Swim start will be a self-seeded Rolling Start with four starting zones which you will choose based on your estimated swim time.
Bike
Your 90km ZOOT bike course will see you exit T1 at Palm Cove and begin to head North onto the Captain Cook Highway towards Port Douglas. Along the way, you will venture up to the iconic Rex Lookout soaking up breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and seaside rainforest that Tropical North Queensland and IRONMAN Cairns is famous for. You will then turn at Yule Point at Thala Beach and head back towards Palm Cove. After cycling past Palm Cove and head slightly inland all while continuing south. You will then turn onto Yorkeys Knob Road and re-join the Captain Cook highway down into Cairns CBD and into T2 at Fogarty Park.
Run
Your 21.1km HOKA Run Course will be a 2-lap course along the beautiful Cairns Esplanade. The course will go in an anti-clockwise direction allowing you to soak up the electric atmosphere of TriClub Village and the new Cairns Esplanade developments on each lap before hitting the finish line, giving you a crowd experience rarely seen at other IRONMAN events around the world.
Aid stations will be provided approximately every 2km. Aid stations will provide you with the hydration and nutritional support you need to get to the famous red and black carpet.
Swim: OCEAN
Bike: ROLLING
Run: FLAT
High Air Temp: 82 °F / 28 °C
Low Air Temp: 65 °F / 18 °C
Avg Water Temp: 74 °F / 23° C
Airport: CNS
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