Ironmen!
This year, Middelburg has no less than nine participants in the Isuzu Ironman South African Championships.
In addition, there are four participants in the shorter version of the competition on April 19.
Participants
Middelburg’s Tiger van Wyk is one of the participants.
Our Ironmen and Ironwomen are Cobus Fourie, Tiger van Wyk, Wihan Jacobs, Kobie Pruis, Pieter Heyns, Chantelle Honeyborne, Danie du Plessis, and Herman van Niekerk.
The so-called shorter Ironman, the 5150, is being attempted by Andrew Thompson, Lizelle Bekker, Marnus Bonsmam and Liesl Jacobs.
Postcard-perfect beachside destination
According to the Ironman website: “The Ironman Championship pulses with South African spirit, experience the breathtaking courses and feverish support at this postcard-perfect beachside destination. A course that has stood the test of time, seen Ironman royalty wow the epic crowds and had thousands crowned with the ultimate title in endurance sport.”
21 Years
2026 will mark the race’s 21st year, with Middelburg’s Cobus Fourie having finished all 21.
The 3.8km (2.4 miles) swim course will return to its roots with a two-lap course, separated by a short Australian exit. Athletes head out of the iconic Hobie Beach, swimming in the direction of the Algoa Bay Harbour, before returning to the support of the crowds lining the walls of the beach to either start the second lap or exit onto the next leg of the course.
Bike course
The bike course is one of the most spectacular courses on the world circuit.
This three-loop 180km (112 miles) bike course will take athletes back to where it all started, with a combination of steady to challenging sections of the course and some faster descents. Athletes will ride along the picturesque beachfront section of Marine Drive, through the city and surrounding villages to the turnaround point. The return journey adds in the sweeping views of the ocean, the rugged coastline and adjacent countryside, taking them through quaint villages all the way back to Hobie Beach, to either start the next lap or transition onto the run course.
Run course
The flat four-loop 42.2km (26.2 miles) run course takes athletes along Nelson Mandela Bay’s beautiful spectator-lined beach front. Participants enjoy a mixture of city and ocean views as they complete four laps before returning to the beach section to make their way to the Hobie Beach finish line.
