For anybody who has raced this one. Road bike or tri bike? Are wetsuits allowed? And any insight into the bike course would also be appreciated.
Road bike all the way. The French will go way out of their way to make your stay as uncomfotable as possible. I will not do this race again because of this.
Bike: Tons of switch backs. Practice decents and braking if you can. Your forearms will be shot 3/4 of the way through the bike from constant braking (clinchers will stop you better than a carbon rim). The race starts in the dark. Lots of jelly fish on the two lap swim that brings you back on the beach for a quick sprint before jumping back in for lap 2. The run is a 4 lap deal that takes you on the Formula 1 race course. It is flat for most but there is a monster hill before the finish area you have to climb 4 times. You need pants and a colar to get into the casinos. They will probably recognize you as an American and not let you in for some other reason. Great coffee! Food is ok. The beach where the race starts is a top optional beach. Some nice things to look at and some hurts your eyes.
I agree with the above.
Just add one more detail : bring a big wallet.
Thanks for the feedback. I would think the beach alone would succor all the other discomforts! I chose the race for the bike course so apparently it does not disappoint.
tsdudley-Monaco’s bike course is truely one of the most amazing bike rides I have been on. What makes it more amazing is the locals and the spaniards that love the mountains. They can really fly on the decents that twist and cut back with no guard rail to keep them from a 1000 fall landing on someones roof. Keep that in mind when you look over the edge and see the homes way below. The course has a thousand turns but they are all marked with a IM symbol. Go to the awards ceremony and hike back over the mountain (paved and lit) after to town. Very cool. Maybe start growing facial hair or do something funky with your look so you won’t be tagged American. Bring a camera to take pics of the baddest cars on the planet that line the main strip in Monaco.