Just did the 2018 race and found it to be a great event. I have a full write up
here.
Otherwise to touch on a few topics, its already sold out, i think sold 75% in the fist week after opening and full sell out 2-3 weeks later. 2018's swim was rougher than usual but the sea on the other days around the race was dead flat so really who knows. Bike course is on great roads and I found it to be wide open. I did not experience the draft fest so cant really speak to the cycle other than as my first IM distance race it was great. The run, is essentially 3 13-14 k laps on mixed surface. Generally road/tarmac with a few bits on packed gravel/sand. I found the run conditions to be very good underfoot. Towards the end of the run it did get tight in some areas but so goes it.
Calella is a great little town, and it was a really nice way to try out the IM distance for me (coming from the UK). Happy to answer any specific questions you might have.
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Taylor Rogers
2024: IM Hamburg