VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship coming in hot!

Our district will be absolutely buzzing as we welcome thousands of world-class triathletes from all corners of the globe for the first ever VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event in New Zealand.

An IRONMAN 70.3 is a triathlon race that consists of a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike ride, and a 21.1km run. The ‘70.3’ refers to the distance in miles covered across the race. The IRONMAN 70.3 is half the distance of the IRONMAN event Taupō hosts in March every year.

The economic impact created by the event will be huge, with around 6000 athletes, as well as their supporters and families, not forgetting all the international media we will have in our backyard. It’s a big deal.

This will be the biggest IRONMAN event ever held in our country and an amazing opportunity for us to extend our legendary hospitality to athletes and visitors.

Why is this event different to your regular IRONMAN?

Top competitors from around the world

Athletes have qualified for this event by competing in one of the qualifying 70.3 races around the world. To attend this event, they needed to finish top in their age group or pro field. So they are all top-notch athletes.

Two-day event

Male and female athletes will compete on separate days – females first on 14 December, followed by the males on 15 December.

Different course
The swim course will start at Taupō Yacht Club, swimming for 1.9km parallel to the foreshore, exiting on to Lake Terrace, opposite Kaimanawa Reserve. With the support of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa this is going to be an epic way for the athletes to start their race.

The bike course is different from previous IRONMAN 70.3 events, with a 90km loop course taking competitors along State Highway 5 and back along Broadlands Road, through the beautiful geothermal landscapes of the Ngatī Tahu and Ngati Whaoa ancestral lands.

The run course stretches along the lakefront to Mapou Road in Rainbow Point, turning around heading back to town, running down Ferry Road into Taupō Harbour. Athletes will run the Loop course twice before finishing at Tongariro Domain.

Don’t forget to find a great viewing spot along the courses so you don’t miss any of the action.

How will this affect me?

Taupō is going to be bustling as we see more people out and about shopping, eating, enjoying what Taupō offers, and of course we will see the athletes training across our rohe.

There are going to be roads closed before, during and after the event. Check them all out here www.taupo.govt.nz/ironmanroadclosures. Being a two-day race, closures will be across both Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December.

What can I do to get prepared?

• Get ready for town to be busy
  There will be extra traffic and competitors training in the lead up to the event so plan ahead. Allow yourself extra time to get from A to B and plan your route. Full list of road closures is available here – www.taupo.govt.nz/ironmanroadclosures
• Get your dump run in
  Broadlands Road Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre will be closed during the races. The road will be busy with athletes training on the course pre-event too. Best to get that dump run in early or hold it until after the event!
• Get a supermarket shop in early
  Save yourself a job and stock up before the bulk of athletes arrive. A lot of them will be self-catering in the lead up to the event, as they will be sticking to a strict race fit diet. If you are a banana lover, you might just want to grab some extra green ones!
• Taupō Library closed
  Drop off and pick up your favourite reads early as the library will be closed on Saturday during the event.
• Start making your supporter signs!
  We have a reputation of being the best IRONMAN supporters in the world. The enthusiasm our community brings to this event through volunteering and supporting is legendary. These events could not happen without you – thank you!
• Get the kids writing “With Love from Taupō” letters to the triathletes
  We need you Taupō rohe kids! Can you write a personal message of support to IRONMAN competitors, sharing local knowledge on the best things to do in the Taupō District? These letters are always a huge hit with the athletes. With more athletes competing this year, we need even more letters than ever!
  Have a chat to your child’s teacher, kaiako, learning support person or head to www.taupo.govt.nz/ironman for more info.
• Volunteer
  Have some spare time over that weekend and fancy being part of something special? The team at IRONMAN are looking for volunteers to help in different roles throughout the event weekend. Find out more at www.taupo.govt.nz/ironman
• Give our customer services team a call
  Our Taupō Customer and Visitor Information Centre will be open, but you will find it much easier to call us on race days. We’re available 24/7 on the phone at 0800 ASK TDC or 07 376 0899.

Where can I find out more about the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship?

🏃🏽 Event info IRONMAN: www.ironman.com/im703-world-championship-2024
ℹ️ Taupō District locals need to know: www.taupo.govt.nz/ironman
🏖️Visitor tips from Love Taupō: www.lovetaupo.com