New Ironman triathlon event for next summer
A NEW Ironman triathlon event is coming to Swansea in 2022, it has been confirmed.
The event – made up of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run – will take place on August 7 next year and offer competitors a picturesque course which will boast views across one of the most scenic parts of Wales, including Swansea Bay, Mumbles and the Gower Peninsula.
The decision to host the triathlon in Wales’ second biggest city was an “obvious choice” according to Ironman organisers, due to the area’s “scenic beauty, rolling green hills and sweeping waterfront”.
Officially titled Ironman Swansea 70.3 – it will also offer qualifying slots to the Ironman 70.3 World Championship which takes place the following August in Lahti, Finland.
It’s hoped that bringing such a popular race to the area will act as a huge catalyst for the growth of triathlons and fitness in general, as has been seen previously in Pembrokeshire thanks to the Ironman Wales event in Tenby.
“We are really excited about the addition of an Ironman 70.3 race in Swansea as our athletes have been eagerly anticipating the establishment of such an event in Wales for some time. Swansea was an obvious choice with its outstanding natural beauty and a thriving tourist destination, catering to both internationals and locals alike,” said Declan Byrne, regional director of the UK and Ireland for The Ironman Group.
“Our hope is that it will have the same positive impact on the region as Ironman Wales has had on Pembrokeshire.”
Ironman 70.3 Swansea will be part of a series of events that will celebrate para sport in the UK, and a World Triathlon Para Series event will be held in Swansea the day before on Saturday, August 6, utilising some of the same courses that Ironman athletes will experience, while a wider para sports festival will be held in the city throughout the week leading up to the main event.
What will the route be for Ironman 70.3 Swansea?
Athletes will take on a 1.2-mile (1.9km) swim at the Prince of Wales Dock before cycling a one-loop 56-mile (90km) bike course The course will see them cycle through Mumbles along roads that hug the Gower’s coastal clifftops before cycling out through rural Swansea and heading back along Swansea Bay into the city They will then return to Swansea as they prepare for transition to the Maritime Quarter beside the Rive Tawe Finally, athletes will take on a 13.1-mile (21.1km) two-loop run course which takes them from the city centre, out past the new Swansea Arena, towards Mumbles before heading back towards the finish line at the Marina “I’m delighted that the Welsh Government has been able to support Ironman 70.3 and that Swansea has been announced as one of the new events in Europe,” said deputy minister for arts and sport, Dawn Bowden.
“Wales has a long relationship with Ironman, with the success of Ironman Wales being a catalyst for the growth of the sport in the area. This event will further raise Wales’ profile as an events host and provide an economic boost to the region. I am also pleased with the collaborative work that is taking place with British Triathlon and Disability Sport Wales and in relation to other events that are happening at the same time in Swansea.”
Swansea council leader Rob Stewart said: “Competitors, friends and supporters will be assured of a warm welcome in Swansea. It will be the perfect match of a sport that’s booming and a city that’s going places thanks to its people, culture, location and its £1bn city centre regeneration.”
Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration, and tourism, added: “Ironman 70.3 Swansea will draw thousands of spectators, many Welsh athletes among those coming from many other places, and it will bring a welcome uplift for our fantastic tourism and hospitality sectors.”
General registration for the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Swansea will open at 2pm on Tuesday, November 16.