The 70.3 Tri-Cities Bike Course: 2,008 Feet of Climbing, but the Real Problem Is the Wind

The Big Picture

56 miles clockwise, one loop through Richland, country roads, and wine country vineyards. Smooth pavement. The official page lists roughly 612 m (2,008 ft) of climbing; athlete reports range from 550 to 620 m. On paper, it's not a hard bike. It becomes one for two reasons: where the climbing sits and how hard the wind blows.

The Climbing Is All Up Front

Most of the elevation gain is packed into the first 15–25 km (roughly miles 9–15). That means you start uphill, with the typical first-hour race traffic: people hammering, drafting packs, sketchy passes. The classic mistake is getting sucked along. What to actually do:

• Set a power cap (or RPE cap) for the first 25 km and stick to it, even if people pass you.
• The course gives it back: after the opening section there are fast stretches where you make up the time at much lower cost.
• If you're racing on power, think NP for the whole leg, not average power for the opening miles.

Badger Mountain: The Wind Is the Real Opponent

Around km 22 (mile 14), in the Badger Mountain area, the wind often takes center stage. In 2025, reports described headwinds and crosswinds of at least 15 knots on Badger Road. Several race reports note that even the potentially fast section along I-82 served up more headwind than tailwind. In practical terms:

• Train your aero position in gusty crosswinds before race day, not on race day.
• If you're not confident handling the bike in crosswinds, skip the deep-section wheels. A mid-depth front wheel is insurance that costs you only a few watts.
• In a headwind, stay aero and accept the low speed: sitting up costs you more.

Descents and 90-Degree Turns

The most frequently cited technical detail: many descents end in 90-degree turns. You can't carry speed. Two of the three main descents finish this way. The rule is simple: brake early, enter clean, accelerate after. It's not worth the risk for a few seconds. In 2025, rain made the descents slower: if the forecast is wet, add even more braking margin.

What to train in the weeks before:

• Firm but controlled braking coming off a descent, with a slow corner entry.
• Out-of-the-saddle accelerations from 20–25 km/h (12–15 mph): you'll do this repeatedly in the race.
• A few rides in strong wind, if your area has it, to build confidence staying aero.

Gearing and Equipment

With ~612 m (2,008 ft) of climbing over 56 miles you don't need mountain gearing, but the early ramps on cold legs are noticeable. A cassette that lets you spin uphill below threshold is more useful than an 11-tooth top end. Dialed-in brakes and reliable tires matter more than extreme aero, given the end-of-descent corners and the chance of wet roads.

How Long It Takes

Ballpark estimates, not official data: a relaxed finisher might ride around 3:30, a mid-pack goal sits around 3:05, a fast athlete around 2:45, a top age-grouper toward 2:30. The wind can shift these numbers by many minutes in either direction: don't anchor to the clock, anchor to the effort.

The Decision to Make

Before the race, decide three things and write them down: your effort cap for the first 25 km, your wheel depth based on your crosswind confidence, and your descent rule (brake early, always). If strong gusts are forecast on Badger Mountain on race day, the plan doesn't change: only the patience you'll need to stick to it does.