The Bike Leg: 90 Flat Kilometers, a Lap on a Race Track, and Zero Breaks from Pedaling

The Course at a Glance

Single 90 km (56.3 mi) loop with a stated 191 m of elevation gain (626 ft). An independent measurement reports 528 ft: however you measure it, it's one of the flattest bike legs on the circuit. The sources agree on one thing: it's fast, but it's no cruise.

The Lap on the Thermal Raceway

The signature section is the exclusive pass on the Thermal Raceway track: smooth pavement, wide turns, high speed. It's where you pick up free seconds by staying aero. Watch out for debris on the ground, though: on a track that hasn't been freshly swept, a flat is always possible. Hold a clean line and keep your eyes up.

Rough Pavement: Be Ready to Be Self-Sufficient

Several race reports mention 10-15 miles of rough pavement: annoying for your hands, saddle, and forearms, but not harmful to the bike. Two practical takeaways. First: carry a full flat kit and your own pump or CO2 cartridges; don't rely solely on mechanical support on course. Second: check that your bottles and bottle cages are tight, because on a vibrating surface, behind-the-saddle bottles launch. Running tire pressure slightly lower than usual helps comfort without costing meaningful watts.

Wind: The Sources Disagree

On the wind, reports don't line up. One mentions a headwind for the last 10 miles, with rising heat; another describes a balanced wind that gives and takes. The honest summary: it's a variable factor from year to year. Don't build your strategy around it, but keep a margin: if you hit a headwind and climbing temperatures in the final 20 km, you'll pay dearly for every extra watt spent in the first hour.

The Real Problem: You Never Sit Up

On a course this flat there are no climbs where you can change position and recover. One report says it plainly: steady speed, but no hills to rest on. Ninety kilometers almost entirely in the aero position requires specific adaptation: if you come off the extensions every ten minutes on your long rides, you'll suffer on race day. Add the U-turns and sharp corners: every re-acceleration is a surge that costs you, especially if you're pushing too big a gear. An easy gear for spinning back up after the turnarounds is worth more than a massive chainring.

Pacing and Nutrition in Aero

On a course with no natural breaks, nutrition needs to be planned at fixed intervals, not "whenever." Practice drinking and eating while staying aero on a vibrating surface in training: it's a technical skill, not a given. Use the litter zones at aid stations for your trash. On pacing: start conservative for the first 30 minutes; your body is coming out of a 14 °C lake and the morning could be around 12 °C. Cold legs don't give reliable feedback on your actual effort.

What to Do Before the Race

Three concrete actions. One: in the final six weeks, include at least two 2.5-hour rides entirely in race position, with full nutrition. Two: prep and practice with your flat kit; changing a tube with cold hands is different from doing it in the garage. Three: decide your gearing and tire pressure for mixed smooth/rough pavement ahead of time, and don't change them during race week. Rough splits range from 2:20 for a top age-grouper to 3:20 for a relaxed finisher: use these as references to calibrate your target power and fueling plan, not to chase average speed in the opening kilometers.