Athletes will start their 112-mile journey by navigating part of The Woodlands, then enter Northern Harris County. Once in Harris County, athletes will navigate two loops on the Hardy Toll Road. Do not worry about the tolls; we have you covered! The majority of the course is closed to traffic and should make for a fast, flat course due to the minimal elevation. Cyclists should be prepared to encounter some wind and be sure to wear sunscreen because this portion of the bike course is entirely exposed. Although there is often wind, the flat course is known for its lightning-fast bike times.
Some people have asked for a GPS route for the course. In my experience, it is not only not necessary but could be distracting. You will be riding within a well-defined route with cones and side roads blocked with police at every intersection.
There are cones all along the route with turn pointers (people) and police at every intersection. Additionally, we will be making two round trips down the Hardy Toll Road so your GPS will not show your progress in the 112 miles. And sometimes there are large gaps between groups of bicycles and your race official will want to do a u-turn to follow another group back the other direction, throwing you off your GPS route.
Most of the time you will be riding near the cyclists and need to keep a close eye on them, in front and behind you, and watch for upcoming corners. Generally, it is pretty easy but at times can be challenging. Which is why I choose more experienced riders for this! I don't ever look at my GPS!
Below is a PDF of the bicycle course route.
Ironman Course Map PDF (3 mb)
And here is a Google Map of all of the events and locations, including the bicycle course. This is interesting as you can pan and zoom into different areas.
