Gearing up for a grand test of will and endurance, the IRONMAN 70.3 is finally making a comeback in Cebu—this time, to include newly opened infrastructure across the ‘Crown Jewel’ of Asia.
Thousands of athletes will look forward to a new challenge as the bike leg for the triathlon event will be situated in the new Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) which links Cebu City to the Municipality of Cordova. The new bridge—highly considered to be the newest landmark of Visayas, boasting the title as the longest and tallest bridge in the country—spans 8.9 kilometers and has an elevation of 476 feet.
The return of IRONMAN 70.3 in Cebu will mark the first-ever participation of Cordova as a major route in the race. The bike race stretches at 90km long starting at the Mactan Newtown grounds all the way through CCLEX and SRP via Cordova’s newly completed Pilipog-Gabi coastal road.
“More than a test of endurance, we are excited for the race to prop Cordova onto the international stage. We have been hard at work to complete the Pilipog-Gabi coastal road just in time to accommodate our athletes as they traverse Cebu. We would like to thank our DPWH headed by Engr. Daisy Toledo for their never-ending support and prompt response in regards to the Pilipog-Gabi coastal road project,” says Cordova mayor Cesar Suan. The Pilipog-Gabi coastal road project was in development after the completion of CCLEX in order to further improve accessibility and alleviate traffic in this area of Cebu. This will be the first time for both the coastal road and the CCLEX bridge to function as a route for a triathlon event.
With close to 2,000 athletes registered to participate in the individual or relay category of the race, the upcoming IRONMAN 70.3 has been a collaborative effort from both public and private sectors in Cebu.
“We are glad and excited to be back in Cebu to hold our hallmark IRONMAN 70.3 race. As we prepare for a grand return following our 2-year hiatus from the pandemic, we also look forward to show our athletes another side of Cebu that they have never seen,” says Princess Galura, General Manager of Sunrise Events.
The Megaworld IRONMAN 70.3 race day will be at the dawn of August 7, 2022 starting at the Mactan Newtown. Besides its bike race, it will feature a swim course spanning 1.9km and a run course of 21km.
