Ironman 70.3 Vichy 2019

Here we are fresh from Ironman Vichy and what a race it was!

The forecast showed it was going to be hot, and it certainly was. It was 36 degrees on race day but still not a non-wetsuit swim. The water temperature stayed consistently low so the 5:45am decision was that it was going to be wetsuit legal. To be honest, I was a little disappointed because I really wanted to swim in my swim-skin but that will wait for the next race of the year I’m sure. All the preparation had been done for this race and the sunny scene was set and we were ready to rock!

The Race

The course at Vichy in France this year had been changed and it now included a very technical, hilly bike course. The morning started well with a perfectly flat and fairly fast swim. Conditions were perfect with a cool air temperature of 8 degrees – glad it was wetsuit legal now!

A smooth transition followed and onto the bike. The bike course was always going to be tough, heat and hills and technical descents. There were lots of accidents on the route for various competitors so that generally slowed us down a little. The hills just added to the event and I personally was very happy with my bike time.

Another smooth transition passed and onto the 21km run. This was hot! Locals showered us with garden hosepipes as it was now mid 30s Celsius. The thing I learned from this run was that I held back a little and didn’t open the taps until 19km.

I finished strong and was 2 minutes off my 70.3 PB. I’m already itching to race again! I'm now back to an 8-week training block until my next race which will hopefully be a non-wetsuit swim. Here's hoping!

About the author: Andy Jones is a triathlete and Sundried ambassador.