IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea
Course breakdown, historical weather, and field analysis.
Welsh grit — coastal beauty meets real hills in South Wales
Swansea, United Kingdom · July 12, 2026
IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea brings 70.3 racing to the spectacular Gower Peninsula in South Wales. A sea swim in Swansea Bay, a rolling to hilly bike through the Welsh countryside, and a coastal run. The Welsh landscape delivers beauty and challenge in equal measure.
- Swim
- 1.9 km
- Ocean
- Bike
- 90.1 km
- ↑1045m · Rolling
- Run
- 21.5 km
- Flat
- Air Temp
- 7–28°C
- Water Temp
- 16°C
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- SW
Swim Course
Swansea Bay sea swim
The swim takes place in Swansea Bay on the South Wales coast. This is open sea swimming with Atlantic influence — conditions can range from calm to choppy. Water temperatures in mid-July are around 15–18°C — wetsuit-legal and refreshing. The bay setting with the Gower Peninsula backdrop is scenic.
- Open sea swim in Swansea Bay
- Atlantic influence — variable conditions
- Wetsuit-legal at 15–18°C
- Gower Peninsula backdrop
Bike Course
Rolling Welsh hills and the Gower Peninsula
The bike course heads through the rolling hills of South Wales. This is a hilly course through beautiful Welsh countryside — expect genuine climbing and rewarding descents through valleys and over ridges. The Gower Peninsula's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is stunning, and the Welsh roads, while occasionally narrow, offer an authentic cycling experience.
- Rolling to hilly Welsh countryside
- Gower Peninsula scenery
- Genuine climbing through the valleys
- Authentic Welsh road cycling
Run Course
Coastal run through Swansea
The run follows the Swansea coastline and surrounding area. The terrain includes some undulation, and the sea breeze keeps temperatures manageable. Welsh crowd support is enthusiastic and genuine — the local community embraces race day.
- Coastal running through Swansea
- Sea breeze for temperature management
- Genuine Welsh community support
- Some undulation on the course
Race Day Conditions
Welsh summer — mild, breezy, and authentically British
Mid-July in South Wales offers mild summer conditions. Air temperatures range from 14–21°C. Rain is always possible — this is Wales — but summer weather can also deliver beautiful sunny days. The maritime influence keeps temperatures moderate. Prepare for the full range of British summer weather.
Race Field Insights
How the Field Performs
Aggregated from 6,093 finishers (2022–2025)
- Total Starters
- 6,410
- Finishers
- 6,093
- DNF Rate
- 4.6%
- Years of Data
- 2022–2025
- Median Finish
- 6h 13m
Finish Time Distribution
How the Median Finisher Spends Race Day
What Each Pace Looks Like
Fast | Solid | Median | Back of Pack | Slow (P90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 31m 13s | 34m 26s | 38m 05s | 41m 54s | 46m 06s |
| Bike | 2h 47m | 3h 00m | 3h 17m | 3h 36m | 3h 55m |
| Run | 1h 36m | 1h 47m | 2h 01m | 2h 19m | 2h 37m |
| Finish | 5h 09m | 5h 39m | 6h 13m | 6h 53m | 7h 30m |
Plan IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea with Keiro
Get a complete pacing strategy for every discipline — built from this course, forecast weather, and your fitness.
Independent analysis. KeiroLabs is not the event organizer and is not affiliated with the race organizer.