This year's Ironman 70.3 World Championship sees a return to European shores with the debut 70.3 Worlds' location of Lahti in Finland.
The lakeside city of Lahti has hosted a 70.3 since 2018, winning fans worldwide for its 3:15pm start time and a finish under the nordic midnight sun. (Sadly, this won't be the case for the 70.3 World Champs event.)
When is the 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Champs?
This year's Championship event, over the weekend of 26-27 August, sits in the middle of an action-packed summer of multisport racing:
- Paris Olympic Games Test Event – 17-20 August
- PTO Asian Open – 19-20 August
- Ironman 70.3 World Championship – 26-27 August
- Super League Triathlon Championship Series – starting on 27 August
- Men’s Ironman World Championship – 10 September
- World Triathlon Championship Finals – 23-24 September
- Women’s Ironman World Championship – 14 October
Who won last year's Ironman 70.3 World Champs?
The USA's Taylor Knibb and Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt took the 2022 titles in St George, Utah.
Where has the Ironman 70.3 World Championship been held?
2006–2010 – Clearwater, Florida, USA
2011–2013 – Henderson, Nevada, USA
2014 – Mont-Tremblant, Canada
2015 – Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria
2016 – Mooloolaba, Australia
2017 – Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
2018 – Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa
2019 – Nice, France
2020 – Taupo, New Zealand – CANCELLED
2021–2022 St. George, Utah, USA
2023 – Lahti, Finland
What's the course for the 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Champs?
The 1.93km swim course
The 1.93km (1.2-mile) lake swim course takes place in Lake Vesijärvi. Starting from Teivaa Harbour, athletes dive from a wooden platform before swimming the three-turn course to finish in the passenger harbour, exiting up the stairs in the shadow of the world-renowned Sibelius Hall.
Ironman says: "This swim exit experience is truly an arena feel and will provide an energy boost as athletes transition to the bike course."
The 90km bike course
Beginning at Lahti Harbour, in front of Sibelius Hall, the 90km (56-mile) rolling bike course leads athletes through the stunning Finnish countryside. Athletes leave the city through a tunnel, before continuing on through the small towns of Kärkölä and Hollola.
Small, rolling hills provide an added challenge and focus, but, says Ironman, "this predominantly fast course will reward athletes that excel in the saddle."
As riders re-enter town, there's a steep incline before the dismount near the Sport and Fair Centre.
The 21.1km run course
The 21.1km (13.1-mile) flat run course consists of two loops and starts indoors within the Sport and Fair Centre where T2 is located.
Competitors then head straight over a 40m long, arched foot bridge into a "fast-lap experience" inside Lahti Stadium. Exiting the stadium, there's a long climb up Salpausselkä ridge before a gradual downhill on the way back towards Lake Vesijarvi.
The run path then revisits the swim start line at Teivaa Harbour and the park-set Pikku-Vesijarvi lake. A brief out-and-back near the popular 'LAHTI' letters photo spot will see runners return towards the Sport and Fair Centre for lap two.
The Championship will ends in "iconic fashion", with a final right turn at the foot bridge, towards the famous Salpausselka Ski Jumps, and into the finish chute.
Which elites are racing the 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Champs?
Both defending champs will be hoping to make it two in a row. The 2022 men's winner Kristian Blummenfelt will have his work cut out, though, having also raced the Paris Test Event and the PTO Asian Open the week prior!
Fighting him for that title will be his teammate and two-time 70.3 world champion Gustav Iden, Lionel Sanders, Sam Long, and Sunderland WTCS winner Pierre Le Corre.
Men's start list for 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Champs
1 Blummenfelt Kristian, NOR
2 Kanute Ben, USA
3 Iden Gustav, NOR
4 Funk Frederic, DEU
5 Taagholt Miki, DNK
6 Laundry Jackson, CAN
7 Bendix Madsen Thor, DNK
8 Long Sam, USA
9 West Jason, USA
11 Le Corre Pierre, FRA
14 Nieschlag Justus, DEU
15 Montraveta Moya Jordi, ESP
17 Sanders Lionel, CAN
18 McKenna Steven, AUS
19 Teagle James, GBR
20 Koolhaas Menno, NLD
21 Azevedo Filipe, PRT
23 Stepniak Kacper, POL
24 Phillips Mike, NZL
26 Bogen Rico, DEU
27 Loeschke Franz, DEU
29 Magnien Dylan, FRA
30 Engelhardt Adriano, CHE
31 Moody Jack, NZL
32 Mann Nicolas, DEU
33 Margirier Mathis, FRA
34 Hanson Matt, USA
35 Aernouts Bart, BEL
36 Trautman Matt, ZAF
37 Stratmann Jan, DEU
38 Keulen Youri, NLD
39 Rodriguez Hernandez Tomas, MEX
40 Fabian Alessandro, ITA
41 Hoffmann Jonas, DEU
42 Stojanovic Ognjen, SRB
43 Salvisberg Andrea, CHE
44 Dubrick Marc, USA
45 Kibby Mitch, AUS
46 Ulloa Martin, CHL
48 Costes Antony, FRA
49 Quin Charlie, AUS
50 Gillespie Dylan, USA
51 Amorelli Igor, BRA
53 Sosinski Jack, AUS
54 Lewis Joshua, GGY
55 Deckard Robbie, USA
56 Gunderson Jørgen, NOR
57 Fuentes Gonzalo, ESP
58 Sperl Maximilian, DEU
60 Thompson Nick, AUS
61 Mattox Miguel, USA
62 Wylde Kye, AUS
63 Goodwin George, GBR
64 Varga Richard, SVK
65 Zorgnotti Benjamin, PYF
Challenging the 2022 women's winner Taylor Knibb will be five-time Ironman world champion and five-time Ironman 70.3 world champion Daniela Ryf, as well as multiple half-Ironman winners Paula Findlay, Emma Pallant-Browne, Jackie Hering, Holly Lawrence, Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews.
Women's start list for 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Champs
1 Knibb Taylor, USA
2 Findlay Paula, CAN
3 Pallant- Browne, Emma GBR
4 Ryf Daniela, CHE
6 Lawrence Holly, GBR
8 Hering Jackie, USA
9 Philipp Laura, DEU
11 Jewett, Tamara CAN
12 Reischmann Anne, DEU
15 Matthews Kat, GBR
16 Pierre Marjolaine, FRA
18 Salthouse Ellie, AUS
19 Lewis Danielle, USA
20 McBride Rach, CAN
22 Pohle Caroline, DEU
23 Oliveira Pamella, BRA
24 Bergsten Anna, SWE
25 Ueda Ai, JPN
26 Mitchell Olivia, IRL
28 Clavel Charlene, FRA
29 Buckingham Lucy, GBR
30 Lee India, GBR
31 Stage Nielsen Maja, DNK
33 Simmonds Imogen, CHE
34 Watkinson Amelia, NZL
35 Priarone Giorgia, ITA
38 Jansen Laura, DEU
39 Berry Hannah, NZL
40 Morier Emilie, FRA
41 Kleiser Daniela, DEU
42 Bailly Alexia, FRA
43 Noguera Raja Anna, ESP
44 Lucas Lottie, ARE
45 Kivioja Kaidi, EST
46 Curran Kate, GBR
47 Pohjalainen Tiina, FIN
48 Gerß Lisa, DEU
49 Guerard Justine, FRA
50 Bishop Sarah, USA
51 Iemmolo Julie, FRA
52 du Luarte Eloise, FRA
53 Addie Laura, GBR
54 Paskiewiez Nikita, FRA
55 Higgins Brittany, USA
56 Stolf Bruna, BRA
57 Cymerman Amy, USA
When does the 2023 Ironman 70.3 Championship start*?
*All times below are local, which is 2hrs ahead of the UK.
Saturday 26 August
7:30am: Elite women start
7:32am: Physically challenged, intellectual disability and handcycle women
7:45am: Age-group women – first wave
Sunday 27 August
7:30am: Elite men start
7:32am: Physically challenged, intellectual disability and handcycle men
7:45am: Age-group men – first wave
How to watch the Ironman 70.3 World Championship
The Ironman 70.3 World Championship will be streamed live from Finland and will be available to watch via OutsideWatch with updates available on the Ironman YouTube Channel and Facebook Live.
You can also follow all the action on the Ironman Athlete Tracker App.
Top image credit: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images for Ironman
