EASIER BIKE COURSE
Because the condition of the roads in the bike leg has improved, organizers of the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines decided to utilize the course used in the 2013 edition of the international triathlon event.
In the event’s official website, ironman703phil.com, it showed that the 90-kilometer bike course for the Aug. 2 race will have three turning points, one in front of the Cebu International Convention Center at the North Reclamation Area (NRA) in Mandaue City and two at the end of the South Road Properties (SRP) in Talisay City.
With this layout, bikers will only have to complete four loops between the turning points before heading back to the Shagri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa. This is the same layout used in the 2013 edition of the race.
Last year, the bad road condition along Plaridel Street in Mandaue City, S. Osmeña Road and some parts of the NRA in Cebu City forced organizers to modify the bike course that led to participants having to complete eight short loops within the SRP before heading back to the start and finish area at the Shangri-la.
Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI), the technical team that handles the race, said it had to modify the course last year for the safety of the participants. In that course, participants had to pass through the then dilapidated S. Osmeña Road twice.
This time, though, after the successful concreting job of the Department of Public Works and Highways along S. Osmeña Road and other parts of the bike course, SEI decided to go back to the original plan, which is more convenient for the bikers.
Other than the changes in the bike leg, everything else will remain the same.
The 1.9k swimming course will still be along the Hilotungan Channel in between Mactan Island and Olanggo Island.
The start and transition area will also be split into two. The 21k half marathon run will also be traversing last year’s route.
Around 2,600 participants coming from 52 countries will be coming to Cebu to join this triathlon event that is considered the second best organized Ironman race in the world according to the World Triathlon Council.