The Standard Bank Ironman African Championship course will be given a facelift for the race’s 15th edition on April 7 2019 in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The 3.8km swim course remains the same at Hobie Beach.
The change, announced by Ironman South Africa on Friday, comes on the 180.1km bike course and 42.2km run course, which will see athletes taking on the 2018 Isuzu Ironman 70.3 World Championship bike course in reverse. The bike course takes athletes along Marine Drive, proceeding left onto Sardinia Bay Road and right onto Heron Road.
Athletes will turn left onto Seaview Road and continue to the turnaround approximately 1.3km from De Stades Road.
Heading back along Seaview Road, athletes will go through Mount Pleasant on Buffelsfontein/Heugh Road all the way to the Walmer Boulevard–Settlers Highway intersection, where they will turn right back onto Marine Drive.
The bike course consists of two laps of 90.1km.
“The amended course is a much fairer and safer course,” Ironman SA director of operations Paul Wolff said.
Athletes will start the amended run course by heading left onto Marine Drive out of transition turning at the Admiralty WayUniversity Way junction.
Heading back along Marine Drive athletes will turn around halfway up Driftsands Drive.
The run course consists of four laps.