On the weekend of September 21-22, 2024, Cervia will host the 7th edition of IRONMAN Italy, an iconic triathlon brand born in the 1980s on the Hawaiian island of Kailua-Kona. After its Italian debut in 2011 in Abruzzo with the 70.3 distance, it found ideal conditions in Emilia Romagna to grow and become the most attended IRONMAN race in the world.
The relationship between the "Romagna" and the American brand began in 2017 and will continue until 2028. Three races in two days (the full distance on Saturday and the half distance/5150 combo on Sunday) will be accompanied by the legendary Night Run on Thursday (5 or 10 km with over 5000 runners) and IRONMAN Kids, a format dedicated to the youngest participants.
IRONMAN: road bike vs triathlon bike
The IRONMAN circuit comprises three types of races:
- Full Distance: 3.8 km swim / 180 km bike / 42.195 km run;
- Half Distance: 1.9 km swim / 90 km bike / 21.097 km run;
- 5150 (Olympic Distance): 1.5 km swim / 40 km bike / 10 km run.
In an IRONMAN race, the bike course can be tackled with either a road bike or a triathlon bike. The choice depends on various factors such as the athlete's race strategy, course characteristics, riding proficiency, and the type of bike frame they currently possess.
To begin with the basics and make an initial differentiation, a road bike offers greater versatility and comfort (suitable for routes with technical climbs and descents). On the other hand, a triathlon bike is optimized for aerodynamics and speed, making it preferred for long distances where the course may include stretches in a time trial position (with forearms on the aerobars). This helps triathletes reduce wind resistance and maximize efficiency during the extensive hours spent cycling. However, analyzing the cyclist's position on the bike, both the triathlon and time trial frame impose a less natural posture compared to a road bike. Here, a key factor comes into play: biomechanics. Let's discover why.
The importance of biomechanics
In a video published on Triathlete Italia's YouTube channel (Italy's leading triathlon magazine), Niklas Quetri - a bike fitter from Vicenza who has been assisting both professional and amateur athletes since 2009 in finding the optimal riding position - explained the role of biomechanics in choosing a bike for an IRONMAN race: "Throughout the season, triathletes often use both road and triathlon frames. Even though the time trial and triathlon bike are increasingly effective, newcomers (or athletes with less experience) prefer to use their road bike with clip-on aerobars, partly due to cost considerations. In such cases, I advise getting accustomed to spending as much time as possible in the time trial position. It's especially important to use a time trial saddle instead of a road saddle to avoid discomfort caused when rotating the pelvis into the time trial position".
And then there's the adjustment of pads and aerobars, two accessories that need to be applied and adapted to a road bike: "There's no absolute measurement for setting the height of elbow pads relative to the handlebars - Niklas explains - because the key is to ensure the athlete can comfortably rest on their forearms without feeling the need to reach for the handlebars. However, this depends on the athlete's physical build. That's why it's crucial to correctly position oneself on the bike, even in a hybrid setup like combining a road frame with time trial accessories".
Bike training for an IRONMAN race
The lower and more aerodynamic position of a time trial and triathlon bike may be less comfortable over long distances or in strong crosswinds. A road bike, on the other hand, has a more upright position that ensures better control and comfort on varied terrain and in adverse weather conditions. Is this enough to choose one over the other? Not quite. One should train to use both.
Training on the bike for a long-distance IRONMAN race should initially be done with a road bike. Then, a few months before the race, switch to a triathlon or time trial bike. Since not everyone has two frames, an optimal strategy could involve having two seat posts - one with a road saddle (for the road bike) and the other with a time trial saddle (for the road bike with adapted pads and aerobars) - allowing for two configurations.
The efficiency of a triathlon and time trial bike increase when pedaling in a time trial position. The same applies when choosing a hybrid setup. However, it's clear that one should choose the right routes (which can sometimes be boring) and avoid city routes with roundabouts and traffic lights. There's always an alternative; for example, training in a time trial position on a smart trainer to adapt as much as possible to riding with forearms on the aerobar pads. Although this method does not improve handling skills. In the case of IRONMAN Italy, however, handling is a factor that can be overlooked because the course is mainly flat. Let's discover it together.
Guide to choosing a bike for the course of IRONMAN Italy Cervia 2024
Situated along the Adriatic coast, Cervia offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural richness, making it an ideal backdrop for an epic competition. The bike course for IRONMAN Italy 2024 is well-tested and predominantly flat, where headwinds (in some sections) could pose an additional challenge. However, the sweat and effort are rewarded with breathtaking landscapes including the famous Cervia salt flats with pink flamingos, picturesque countryside stretches, and the legendary climb to the medieval village of Bertinoro, the balcony of Romagna: 8 kilometers of ascent (to be tackled only once in the 70.3) with an average gradient of 3% and a maximum of 13% over nearly 250 meters of elevation gain. For cycling enthusiasts, this is the same stretch encountered for the first time in the long route of the Nove Colli cycling race.
Bike selection by Bikeroom for IRONMAN Italy 2024 race weekend
If you're looking for the perfect bike for the IRONMAN Italy 2024 race weekend, Bikeroom has exactly what you need!
- IRONMAN Italy 2024 (full distance): to conquer the 180 km bike course of the full distance, choose from our selection of time trial and triathlon bikes and beat the clock!
- IRONMAN Italy 2024 (half distance): for the 70.3 race in Cervia, the bike course is the same as the full distance, but with only one lap to complete. In this case, a lightweight and aerodynamic road bike could be the winning solution!
- IRONMAN Italy 2024 (Olympic Distance): the bike segment of the 5150 IRONMAN Cervia is a non-drafting race over a completely flat 40 km course. Therefore, the options are either a road bike or a triathlon bike (potentially with lenticular wheels). Our recommendation is a road bike with highly advanced racing characteristics like the Bianchi Oltre RC 2023 from Team Arkéa-Samsic Pro Cycling: maximizing integration and aerodynamics for a 45-second advantage over a 40 km course at 250 Watts!
