The Davao 70.3 Bike Course: Flat on Paper, Not on Race Day

The course in two lines

90 km over two laps along the Davao City Coastal Road, with turnarounds at the Inawayan bridge on the MacArthur Highway and the Bucana bridge in the city. Official elevation gain: 485 m, terrain listed as 'Mostly Flat'. Fresh, smooth tarmac, views of the bay and the mountains. Heads up: this is the revamped course from 2026, designed to take advantage of the new coastal road. Race reports from 2018 refer to a different course.

What the elevation profile doesn't show you: the wind

In the 2018 edition (on a different course) several reports mention a strong headwind on the way out. We don't have specific wind data for the new course, but the geometry is clear: an exposed out-and-back along the coast, twice. That means four stretches where the wind changes face.

The practical takeaway is simple: ride to watts, not speed. If on the outbound leg of lap one you're doing 28 km/h instead of your usual 34, don't chase the head unit. Hold your target power, absorb the slow stretch, bank the free speed on the way back. Anyone who hammers into the headwind on lap one pays for it on lap two and especially on the half marathon.

Pacing in the heat

Expected highs of 31°C with tropical humidity. Heat drives your heart rate up at the same wattage and raises the cost of every mistake. Simple rule: start a few watts below your usual 70.3 target and reassess halfway through lap two. On a flat course the temptation to stay aero and push is strong; you don't win the race on the bike here, you manage it. The real race starts in T2.

Nutrition taped down, not tucked in

In 2018 several athletes lost gels and bars on rough sections from behind-the-saddle storage. The new Coastal Road tarmac is described as smooth, but don't take the risk: tape gels to your top tube, put rubber bands on rear bottle cages, do a real-road test before you go. Losing your nutrition plan at km 20 in a hot race is the fastest way to wreck your run.

On bike aid stations for the new course, the information isn't available in the sources consulted: check the number and locations in the Athlete Guide and build your bottle plan accordingly.

Gearing and equipment

With 485 m over 90 km you don't need climbing gears: this is a course for fast wheels and holding your aero position for long stretches. If you're torn between comfort and aerodynamics, aero wins here, but only if you can hold the position for nearly three hours in the heat. Test it in training on long rides.

What to do now

• Test: a 2h30 ride at race watts, overdressed or in the hot hours, with your full nutrition plan. If the plan holds up there, it holds up in Davao.
• Decision: set a power ceiling for the outbound headwind leg and write it on your handlebars.
• Equipment: test your gel and bottle setup on a stretch of cobbles or rough road.
• Plan B: if the wind is stronger than expected, add 5 minutes to your expected bike split and don't touch the watts. You make time back on the run, not by hammering into a headwind.