IRONMAN 70.3 Valencia
Course breakdown, historical weather, field analysis, and pacing notes.
Mediterranean racing at its finest — beach, mountains, and Calatrava
Valencia, Spain · April 19, 2027
One of the newest stops on the IRONMAN 70.3 circuit, Valencia has already become one of the most sought-after. A beach swim at Playa de la Malvarrosa, a rolling single-loop bike into the foothills of Sierra Calderona, and a flat run through the Turia Gardens finishing at the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences. Over 3,000 athletes from 60+ countries — and it sells out in weeks.
- Swim
- 1.9 km
- Ocean
- Bike
- 90.1 km
- ↑570m · Rolling
- Run
- 21.3 km
- ↑43m · Flat
- Air Temp
- 7–24°C
- Water Temp
- 17°C
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- SW
Swim Course
Beach swim at Playa de la Malvarrosa
The swim starts and finishes at Playa de la Malvarrosa — Valencia's largest beach. The single-loop 1.9 km course takes place in the Mediterranean with a rolling start. Water temperatures in mid-April sit around 16–17°C, making this a wetsuit-legal swim. The beach setting means a sand entry and exit with plenty of space for spectators along the shoreline. Conditions in the Mediterranean at this time of year are typically calm, though light onshore chop is possible. The beach start and finish keeps transitions compact and the atmosphere electric as athletes emerge from the water to crowd support on both sides.
- Beach start and finish at Valencia's largest beach
- Mediterranean conditions — typically calm with light chop possible
- Wetsuit-legal at 16–17°C — neoprene buoyancy is an advantage
- Single loop with rolling start
Bike Course
Single loop into Sierra Calderona — rolling, scenic, and honest
The 90 km bike course is a single loop that heads northwest from the coast into the foothills of the Sierra Calderona natural park before returning to the city. The first 30 km are fast and flat as you leave Valencia, then the terrain changes as you hit two sustained climbs through the Calderona foothills. These aren't Alpine passes — the gradients are moderate — but with 569m of total climbing, this course rewards athletes who can pace their effort on the hills and recover on the descents. The 2025 edition introduced a faster route variant that reduced elevation by 200m compared to the inaugural 2024 course, avoiding industrial zones and adding a more scenic 12 km section near Olocau. The return to Valencia is generally favourable, trending downhill toward the coast.
- Single loop — no repeated sections, always new terrain
- Two sustained climbs through Sierra Calderona foothills
- First 30 km flat and fast, then rolling through the mountains
- 569m total elevation — moderate climbing that rewards pacing discipline
- Return leg trends downhill toward the coast
Run Course
Flat and fast along the Turia Gardens to a world-class finish
The two-lap run course follows the Turia River path — a converted riverbed that is now one of the largest urban parks in Spain. The terrain is almost entirely flat with just 37m of total elevation gain, making this one of the fastest run courses on the 70.3 calendar. Each lap takes you through the leafy Turia Gardens with partial shade from mature trees, a welcome contrast to fully exposed run courses. The finish is what makes this run special: athletes complete their final kilometres alongside the striking Calatrava architecture of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias — the Hemisfèric, Oceanogràfic, and Palau de les Arts. It is one of the most photogenic finish lines in triathlon.
- Almost entirely flat — just 37m elevation gain over 21 km
- Turia Gardens provide partial tree shade on both laps
- Two laps mean crew and supporter access every 10 km
- Finish at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias — iconic backdrop
Race Day Conditions
Comfortable Mediterranean spring — cool start, mild racing
April in Valencia offers near-ideal racing conditions. Early morning temperatures around 7–10°C warm to a comfortable 20–24°C by midday — warm enough for comfort but well below the heat stress threshold that defines hotter races. Humidity is moderate and wind is typically light at around 10 km/h from the southwest. The Mediterranean climate means rain is possible but unlikely — April averages just 5–6 rainy days. Compared to races in Texas or the tropics, Valencia's conditions are forgiving. The main weather consideration is the cool water temperature at 16–17°C — a good wetsuit and warm clothing in your T1 bag are essential.
Race Field Insights
How the Field Performs
Aggregated from 4,463 finishers (2024–2025)
- Total Starters
- 4,612
- Finishers
- 4,463
- DNF Rate
- 3.1%
- Years of Data
- 2024–2025
- Median Finish
- 5h 30m
Finish Time Distribution
How the Median Finisher Spends Race Day
What Each Pace Looks Like
Fast | Solid | Median | Back of Pack | Slow (P90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 30m 59s | 34m 30s | 38m 03s | 42m 02s | 46m 11s |
| Bike | 2h 26m | 2h 37m | 2h 50m | 3h 06m | 3h 24m |
| Run | 1h 27m | 1h 36m | 1h 48m | 2h 02m | 2h 18m |
| Finish | 4h 35m | 5h 00m | 5h 30m | 6h 05m | 6h 40m |
Related reading
Race Day Weather and What It's Really Doing to Your Pacing Plan
Performance starts dropping over 22°C and humidity makes it worse. How heat compounds across the bike and run — and why the bike hides it.
Read postYour Race Plan Isn't Generic — Why Course Intelligence Changes Everything
Same FTP on two different courses produces two completely different races. Elevation, wind, and shelter change what every watt is worth.
Read postPlan IRONMAN 70.3 Valencia 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.