70.3 · 28 August 2027 · Tennessee, United States
Ironman 70.3 70.3 World Championship Chattanooga 2027
The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship returns to Chattanooga on August 28, 2027. Heads up: the official Worlds page hasn't published course details yet; the data below comes from the regular 70.3 Chattanooga course (same city and venue), which the Worlds should closely follow but may differ from. You swim in the Tennessee River with the current, ride rolling roads in north Georgia, and run two loops through downtown. The dominant theme is heat: official highs of 33°C and water at 26°C, so wetsuits will likely be banned. Times in the profiles are rough estimates, not official data. The wind index is neutral due to lack of specific facts.
Course
Three legs, three different races
Indicative profile · Scheda automatica da fonti pubbliche (2026-11): da rivedere. The organiser publishes the final course in spring: this page updates.
Swim1.9 km
- Rolling start with the current in the Tennessee River, exit at Ross's Landing Park (regular course).
- The current helps: times roughly 15% faster than normal, but it depends on the dam release.
- Average water temp of 26°C on the Worlds date: above 24.5°C wetsuits aren't allowed, so be ready to swim without one.
- The start is about a one-mile walk from transition; shuttles are available. Seed yourself in a realistic wave to avoid traffic in the water.
Bike90 km · 763 m D+
- 91 km with 763 m of gain (official figure from the regular course): hilly, not mountainous.
- 11 miles south, then a 34-mile loop in north Georgia along Lookout Mountain, on rolling roads with excellent pavement; you pass through historic Chickamauga.
- Short but notable climb at Andrews Ln. (roughly miles 27-35): it starts with a 90° left turn at the bottom of a descent, so arrive ready in the right gear.
- Technical first miles: rubber-matted railroad tracks, potholes and a 'bottle graveyard'. Then Hwy 193 with excellent roads.
- Second half is net slightly downhill back to transition: that's where you make up time. Aid stations around miles 11, 15 and 30 (regular race).
Run21.1 km
- Two loops downtown: Riverwalk, Veterans Bridge, North Shore, Riverfront Parkway. 543 ft of gain officially (627 ft per athletes): rolling course, not flat.
- Battery Hill at mile 5: short but steep, and you do it twice. You exit T2 on a slight uphill past the Aquarium: start controlled.
- Riverfront Parkway is shadeless and very hot; the Riverwalk is partially shaded.
- In 2026 there was a temporary detour avoiding the Walnut Street Bridge due to construction: check the final Worlds course.
- Heat management is mandatory: water over your head, ice in the trisuit, walk breaks at aid stations if needed.
Which athlete it takes
| Goal | Swim | Bike | Run | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed finisher | 0:38 | 3:25 | 2:25 | 6:45 |
| Mid-pack goal | 0:33 | 3:00 | 2:05 | 5:55 |
| Fast goal | 0:29 | 2:40 | 1:45 | 5:05 |
| Top age-group | 0:25 | 2:25 | 1:28 | 4:28 |
Indicative splits from recent editions' results, transitions included. The personal forecast, below, compares them with your data.
What the course asks
Stories from the race
The best of the race
A selection of the most watched videos and the most popular photos. The full galleries are at the bottom of the page.
Reviews
Who raced it, what they say
At launch, pages start from syntheses of public race reports, declared as such. Verified reviews come from athletes who receive the invite within 7 days of the race, with the activity recorded on their device.
Structured fields: finish and leg times from your device, wetsuit yes/no, gear, perceived temperature, what you'd do again and what not, «I'd race it again». Free text is the race report. The linked activity makes it verified without exposing personal data.
The form appears here after the race, for those who connected a device or appear in the official results.
Will wetsuits be allowed? Probably not: the stated average water temp for the date is 26°C and above 24.5°C wetsuits aren't permitted. The official call comes on race days: be prepared to swim in a swimsuit or legal swimskin regardless. Will the Worlds course be the same as the regular 70.3 Chattanooga? It hasn't been published yet. Same city and same venue, so it should be similar, but it may differ. Check the official Worlds page when the final course drops and don't lock in your strategy beforehand. Is the swim really faster than normal? On the regular race, yes: you swim in the Tennessee River with the current and race reports show times roughly 15% faster. It depends on the dam release though: use it as a guide, not to build a precise split. How hard is the bike leg? On the regular course: 91 km with 763 m of gain on rolling roads with excellent pavement. A short but notable climb at Andrews Ln. (after a 90° turn at the bottom of a descent) and a second half slightly downhill. Demanding but fast-flowing. Is the run flat? No. Two loops with roughly 543-627 ft of gain, Battery Hill at mile 5 done twice, a slight uphill out of T2 and shadeless sections on Riverfront Parkway. The heat matters more than the elevation. What weather conditions should I expect? Stated averages for August 28: high of 33°C, low of 19°C, water at 26°C. A very hot race: you need acclimation in the weeks before and a water/ice strategy at every run aid station. How do I qualify for Worlds? With a slot among the top finishers in your age group at any 70.3 worldwide. Acceptance must be done in person at the post-race roll-down: if you're not there, the slot passes to the next finisher. Is the swim start close to transition? No: on the regular course it's about a one-mile walk from Ross's Landing Park. There are shuttles, but on race morning things take longer: leave early and decide in advance how you'll get there. What will I find at the aid stations? On the regular course: Maurten gels and solids, PH 1000 and Mortal Hydration; on the bike, aid stations around miles 11, 15 and 30. For Worlds, check the athlete guide. Either way: test everything in training or bring your own. What's the cutoff time and how much does entry cost? Neither figure is available in the sources consulted. Check the official page and the Worlds athlete guide once they're published.
The Q&A is fed by reviews and the rulebook: every answer says where it comes from.
Preparation tips
What to do from today to race day
At every run aid station: water over your head, ice in the trisuit and in your hands. Those who manage the heat gain minutes in the second half.
Don't count on the wetsuit. Do open-water sessions without neoprene and consider a legal swimskin.
The climb starts with a 90° left turn at the bottom of a descent: shift before the turn, not during it.
On the regular course you'll find Maurten gels and solids, PH 1000 and Mortal Hydration: try them in training or bring your own.
The swim start is about a mile from transition: whether you take the shuttle or walk, leave with plenty of time.
Check-in at Ross's Landing Park
Go early to avoid sun and queues. At bike check-in, inspect transition and memorize the entry/exit routes.
Tire inflation
Pumps available in transition: inflate on race morning, don't leave your tires at full pressure overnight in the heat.
Accommodation
Many hotels are within walking distance of the start; alternatively Airbnb or parking garages further out.
Qualification
Slots go to the top age-groupers at every 70.3 worldwide; acceptance must be done in person at the post-race roll-down.
Guides and deep dives
Everything you need before you register
One article per topic, written from the sources listed at the bottom of the page and updated every edition. AI syntheses are declared as such.
Race Day at Chattanooga: Timeline, Common Mistakes, and Plan Bs
From bike check-in to a non-wetsuit rolling start: how to build a surprise-free morning at a race where the heat decides everything.
Logistics · 3 min · AI synthesis70.3 Worlds Logistics in Chattanooga: Lodging, Transition, Qualifying
Sleeping within walking distance of the start, check-in at Ross's Landing, the mile between swim start and transition: what to plan for and what's still unknown.
Run · 3 min · AI synthesisThe Half Marathon in Chattanooga: Two Loops, Battery Hill, and Serious Heat
It's not flat and it's not cool: 543-627 ft of elevation gain, exposed stretches with no shade, and average highs of 33°C. The temperature sets your pace.
Bike · 3 min · AI synthesisThe 70.3 Worlds Bike Course in Chattanooga: Rolling, Technical, Fast in the Back Half
91 km and 763 m of climbing on the regular course: how to manage power, Andrews Ln. and the tricky opening miles.
Gear
What age groupers ride and what this course asks for
At Kona, age group average
Latest Kona bike count (2026): about ≈2,260 age-group bikes, pros excluded. Shares of bikes counted.
World Championship athletes are qualified and more performance-oriented than the average field here. Source: Slowtwitch, compiled with volunteers and IRONMAN access. Slowtwitch
Wheels for this course
A rule of thumb from this course: 8.5 m of climbing per km and low wind exposure. It is guidance, not a count. (rolling)
Front wheel
50-65 mm deep
Rear wheel
Disc, or a deep wheel (60-80 mm) if you prefer
Tyres
28-30 mm, tubeless if possible. Choose pressure by weight and road surface, not by habit.
Check the weather and the wind forecast on race week: on windy days, drop a depth step on the front wheel.
Race kit
Fuel and pack, nothing forgotten
Work out carbs, fluid and sodium for this course, split into bottles, gels and bars, then tick off everything to pack from passport to Vaseline.
Start at 60 g/h if you have not trained your gut, 80-90 if you have. Never try new products on race day.
Hot course: drink to thirst plus the amounts shown, favour salt, and use ice and water on the run.
Before the race
Carb load
560-700 g carbs per day for the last 1 day(s)
Breakfast, 3 h before
70-140 g carbs, low fibre, familiar food
On the bike 3:00
Every 20 min · 23 g carbs and about 233 ml
On the run 2:05
Every 20 min · 17 g carbs and about 200 ml
Whole race
After the finish
70-84 g carbs and about 21 g protein within the first hour
General guidance for healthy adults, not medical advice. Adjust with your coach or dietitian and rehearse it in long sessions.
Sources
Where what you read comes from
Race reports, blogs, videos and threads that tell 70.3 World Championship Chattanooga. Linked, never copied: they feed the syntheses, the FAQ and the Q&A.
Your plan for Ironman 70.3 70.3 World Championship Chattanooga
Connect what you have, the course does the rest
First today's form and the forecast for the three legs, then a preview of the week built on the 70.3 World Championship Chattanooga segments and your routes. The account comes after, if it convinces you. Until 31 December 2026 everything is free: we're in alpha.