Wow ... just got back from a tour of the Ironman Japan bike course (thanks to Shane Smith at Tri Travel) and boy is it tough! Even harder than I had expected. Lots of climbing and technical desending is involved which will be made even harder with the constant rain and slick roads. Lucky the race organization has set up "crash barriers" on the sharper corners!
Chris Lieto must have been riding like a steam train when he set the course record of 4.45 ... insane.
I am excited and nervous all at the same time about the course. It seems that if you can be more than 1 minute ahead of anyone you will be out of site! Should be an interesting day in the saddle on Sunday! As if that isn't enough the run course has it's fair share of hills as well. This definitely isn't going to be a "fast" course.
Shane Smith gives us a tour of the bike course
The bike course twists and turns along the rugged coastline
The beautiful Takahama beach ... and yes they are the hills we are riding through!