Heard the course for the WC will not be the classic Marbella course? anyone has info?
on the classic course, how “technical” (if at all technical) are the descent?
Looks like the average water temp is 18-19 C in November so im guessing no risk of non-wetsuit race?
On the usual course there are some fast descents, but I wouldn’t call them technical - I was able to eat a fair amount on the downhill.
Normal course is not technical just scary fast, not something i enjoy on my wobbely felt b14. Felt lige going down on a piece of rubber 
Is it still going to be in Puerto Banus (Marbella) ??
I have an AirB&B booked in Puerto Banus right by transition so if it is a totally different course in a new Marbella location, I’m screwed. Hopefully it’s just a change in the bike course like Nice was for Worlds 70.3
Ironman website still says the Ironman Village and swim are at Puerto Banus! I wsa just looking around for AirBnB’s and hotels near there this weekend
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I live in Marbella and have done the original course several times. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to connect.
I am also an Ironman U certified and Tridot Coach and will plan course recon weekends or midweeks after the summer on the final course designed. Let me know if you are interested in joining one one of those.
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I’m going to Marbella but I haven’t had the best experiences descending - my only major crash came on a fast, cornering descent. Granted there was gravel and a car took up half the road at the last second so I didn’t take the best line there. I also live in a relatively flat area compared to the mountains we’ll be riding in Spain, so I don’t have a ton of opportunities to practice descending. I can repeat climbs or climb on the trainer, but sustained fast descents are a different thing entirely!
If I ride my tri bike, it has carbon fiber rim brake wheels which further makes me concerned haha.
Given these challenges, any tips on how to prepare for the long descents that will likely be part of the final course?
I rode the Marbella 70.3 course that is available on Rouvy.com. It did not look like there is anything really technical on the long descent back to town before T2. But that’s on a video screen not real life.
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Yep, the downhills are more long, sweeping, fast corners, rather than switchbacks or something like that requiring heavy braking. That’s if the course doesn’t change for the worlds anyway!
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I just did a reconnaissance ride of most of the bike course today. If the route stays on the A-355, it’s not techical- as said, longer sweeping corners on the descents and very good pavement (when compared to Ontario roads). There is little flat road- either up (and up and up) or down.
There is little to no shade and wind seemed to swirl- headwinds/tailwinds depending on the peaks. It was hot today (~25°) so likely more temperate in November.
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Having done the first (?) installation of 70.3 Marbella in 2019 (?) and being now qualified for Worlds in November I remember the bike course as non-technical, but the final descent down to Puerto Banus as scary. We came of the plateau, descending back towards the sea and had pretty strong winds. IMHO it is still 100% a TT course, unless they change something dramatic.
By the way, if you happen to travel internationally and are flying through FRA: The space for bikes on planes is crazy low. For example, LH (probably the code sharing airline for a lot of international fliers) has a single flight to Malaga per day and takes five bikes. I had to move my flight to Malaga forward a few days and the return flight back a few days. So make sure you confirm with your carrier and be prepared for the worst (whatever that means)…
Presume this is pretty close:
I did the course on Rouvy and was fine with a 34x28 small gear but sometimes on rouvy I can get away with harder gearing (even though I have my weight entered correctly). Do you think I should put the 34x32 on. For context I split 2:42, 2:37 (froze), 2:42 in St George, Lahti and Taupo respectively, racing now in 60-64 so not as fit as I was in St. George and Lahti.
As for Ontario roads vs Spain, well that’s another completely insane topic and we can go down the path of our boy in Queens park and his war on cyclists
More or less this, except they are splitting a section of the climb/descent, climbing through Ojén, not up the main road. This offers some respite for a couple of km down through and out of the town (effectively flat).
Key long climb is about 500m in 10km, with the last 200m of climb in 2km. Coming back (ie from the half way turnaround) the climb is more gradual. The eye-watering descent back down to Marbella (motorway junction) is on the main road.
Course has been published (RwGPS says 1526m in 90.0km):
200m in 2km at the end of the climb is hard for a tri. If you are doing 10kph at that point you are doing a VAM of 1000m. That’s solid in a straight out hill climb. I just climbed Alpe d’Huez this morning and any time it was in the 10-12 percent range. I kept going to click for another gear and realized I was in my 34x34 smallest gear on the rental bike. It’s a non topic for pros and younger age groups but it’s going to chew out all the middle age women and above and older male age groups…I will go with my lightest options and will only start the climb with one bottle partially filled and refuel at top
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Coming from an area where my rides are on long and straight roads with practically zero elevation, I’m just glad the descents in Marbella don’t look like they have any hairpins. Run course looks nice though, some coastal views and a section through the town with just a bit of elevation to keep things interesting. I’m getting excited to race.
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From what I found on Garmin, 1485m
I am still deciding whether to take a disc or just go with 50mm wheels 
Pro Tri News pod take
at 56:10
For those traveling into Spain via Lufthansa, I hope you reserved cargo space for your bikes on your flights or else you may be renting something in Marbella.
Indeed - I did spent 80min with a super helpful representative on the phone to get my travels sorted out and now I am flying a lot earlier and returning later via Munich, which feels a bit stupid given that I do live about 30min away from FRA…
Makes me wonder why there aren’t any bike shipping companies in Germany. Should be straightforward to load a truck at a couple of stops and just drive the bikes down to Marbella…