Marbella hosts the 70.3 World Championship

On the 8th and 9th of November, Marbella was the stage for triathlon’s 70.3 World Championship, bringing together professional athletes and thousands of age groups from over a hundred countries. The event took place over two days on the same course - among the girls who competed on the Saturday were our athletes Lizzie Rayner, Hanne de Vet, Paula Findlay and Jeanne Collonge among the elite, and among the boys competing on the Sunday, MIguel Hidalgo and Max Neumann. 

The route began at the picturesque Levante beach, which was filled with people from the early hours of the morning flocking to watch the triathletes begin their single 1.2 mile loop in the clear waters of the Mediterranean. The low water temperatures meant triathletes were required to wear a wetsuit.

After T1, the triathletes went straight into the gruelling bike stage: 56 miles with a total elevation gain of 5857 feet, a route starting at Puerto Banús, flanked by palm trees and villas facing the sea, before curving inland. The road marked the beginning of the ascent: a long and constant slope towards Ojén, with winding roads and mountainous landscapes combining olive trees, limestone and Mediterranean winds. After reaching the highest point of the route, the descent continued down through the whitewashed villages of Monda and Coín, where the panoramic views and technical sections demanded precision and control before returning to the coast. The journey back to Puerto Banús, with its marina in the background, marked the entrance to T2 and the beginning of the most decisive part of the race.

The two-loop, 13.1 mile run took the triathletes from the transition to the Marbella Promenade, with scenic views along the seafront accompanied by the sound of waves and shouts of encouragement from onlookers. The route alternated between open stretches by the Mediterranean and twists inland, crossing the elegant Golden Mile before returning to the Puerto Banús Marina where one of the most emblematic parts of the race awaited them: the pier jutting out into the sea.

In the women’s category, Lucy Charles-Barclay showed us once more why she’s one of the world’s best triathletes, followed by Taylor Knibb, both managing to make up for their performances in their most recent race in Kona.  

Lizzie Ryanair finished the race in 8th position followed by Hanne de Vet in 9th place. Jeanne Collonge finished 18th and Paula Findlay was forced to pull out of the race after suffering an injury in the bike stage.

Among the men was Belgium’s Jelle Geens who defended his world title with a precise and strategic performance, beating Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt in the sprint. Casper Stornes, Nice world champion, completed the podium, demonstrating his excellent physical form.

In the men’s race, Miguel Hidalgo shone in 12th place while Max Neumann failed to complete the bike stage.