Race Course

Please take a look at the Race Course walk-through video on this page for an overview of the course by Race Director, Paul Wolff.

1.9 km Swim

The 1.9km / 1.2 mile swim is an ocean swim. The water temperature should be between 17°C and 24.5°C, therefore wetsuits should be legal. If the temperature is above 24.5°C then wetsuits are not allowed. If it is below 14°C, then wetsuits are compulsory. You will be informed on race day if these rules apply. The course will be swum in an anti-clockwise direction. The first leg will be 300m long – the buoy must be rounded on the right hand side (buoy must be on your left). After turning left around this buoy the next leg is 700m, this buoy must also be rounded on the right hand side. The following leg is 200m long and again you must round the buoy on the right. The final leg before the exit to the beach is 500m long and you need to round this last buoy on the LEFT. The exit to the beach is 200m away. Ensure you are aware of your start times and when to enter the Swim Start area.

The race will now start in 6 waves - please check below section on "Summary of start and cut-off times" for details on cut-offs for each wave per discipline.  

Please Note: These are preliminary start times and can be changed up until race briefing on Friday, 18 January 2013 at 18h00.

Wave 1: 06h45 - PRO Athletes
Wave 2: 07h00 - Age Group Men 18 - 29
Wave 3: 07h15 - Age Group Men 30 - 39
Wave 4: 07h30 - Age Group Men 40 - 54
Wave 5: 07h45 - Age Group Men 55+ & Age Group Ladies
Wave 6: 08h00 - Teams

The cut-off time for the swim is 1h10min from the wave start.

90km Bike

The bike is a single 90km lap course. The first portion is along the Esplanade (beach front) where after the route follows the R72 motorway towards the Nahoon River. The route then turns left and follows the N2 highway towards King Williamstown. It is a continuous climb with a few flat sections to the turnaround point at Berlin just outside East London (45km). The return route is on the opposite side of the N2 highway back to Transition. There will be full road closure.

The gearing that is recommended is 52/38 in the front and 12/25 at the back. Deep sections, discs and bladed wheels will be suitable, but if the wind blows you might battle with a solid. The route will be closed to civilian vehicles. Aid Stations will be available, at the 18km, 45km and 72km marks.

The cut-off time for the bike is 4hr 5 minutes.

If you do not achieve the 4hr 5min cut-off, you will not be allowed to start the run section. Cut-off times will be applied to the entrance of the Transition Area.

21.1km Run

The run route of 21.1 km / 13 miles will consist of two laps of 10.55km each. 

Athletes will leave the Transition Area after the bike and run down past the Orient Theatre, turning RIGHT towards the pier. Run along the pier and turn around the beacon at the end of the pier. Return along the pier and pass the Finish Line chute before heading out along the Esplanade. Continue along the Eastern Esplanade, up into John Bailie Road. At the Aid Station in John Bailie Road, turn right into Turnberry Avenue. Follow the road, which becomes Gleneagles Road once you have passed the entrance to the East London Golf Club, and turn right into Galway Road. The Turn-Around Point will be at the Schenker Aid Station, which is situated at the corner of Galway Road and Epsom Road (opposite the Nutting Badminton Hall).

On your return, you will run past the Finish Line chute and once again continue out onto the pier before repeating the loop. 

There are 4 Aid Stations on the run and you will complete 2 loops before finally making your way to the Finish Line.

The cut-off time for the run is 3hrs 15 minutes.

Please Note: Start and cut-off times can change up until the first race briefing on Friday, 18 January 2013 at 18:00pm.

Summary of start and cut-off times

WAVE 1: ALL PROS
06:30 - Enter Start Pen
06:45 - Swim Start
07:55 - Swim Cut-off
12:00 - Bike Cut-off
15:15 - Run Cut-off

WAVE 2: A.G. MEN 18 - 29
06:45 - Enter Start Pen
07:00 - Swim Start
08:10 - Swim Cut-off
12:15 - Bike Cut-off
15:30 - Run Cut-off

WAVE 3: A.G MEN 30 - 39
07:00 - Enter Start Pen
07:15 - Swim Start
08:25 - Swim Cut-off
12:30 - Bike Cut-off
15:45 - Run Cut-off

WAVE 4: A.G. MEN 40 - 54
07:15 - Enter Start Pen
07:30 - Swim Start
08:40 - Swim Cut-off
12:45 - Bike Cut-off
16:00 - Run Cut-off

WAVE 5: A.G. MEN 55+ & A.G. LADIES
07:30 - Enter Start Pen
07:45 - Swim Start
08:55 - Swim Cut-off
13:00 - Bike Cut-off
16:15 - Run Cut-off

WAVE 6: TEAMS
07:45 - Enter Start Pen
08:00 - Swim Start
09:10 - Swim Cut-off
13:15 - Bike Cut-off
16:30 - Run Cut-off