The strong current in the river. The fast, iconic, cobbled course. Will there be a breakaway on the bike? Who will rise to the occasion over the 10km run? Tens of thousands of fans are ready to line the Paris 2024 Olympic triathlon course as it sweeps through some of the most famous streets of the Paris capital.
From the Seine swim to biking the Champs Elysee and down the Alexandre III bridge to the finish, Paris is set to provide a stunning backdrop for the toughest athletes at the Games to battle for the 2024 Olympic gold. Here’s our breakdown of where to watch and what to expect on 31 July.
The Swim
The two-lap swim has a pontoon start on the western side of the Ponte Alexandre III bridge, number 1 on the far right of the Seine going up to number 55 on the left. Pontoon numbers are chosen by the athletes in order of Olympic Ranking, meaning Beth Potter and Leo Bergere will be first to choose their lines to the first buoy.
That crucial turning point is 440m from the pontoon, where those out front will enjoy fewer limbs and bodies around them but could also feel the strongest effects of the current as the Seine tries to keep pulling them downstream. After another 30m, the next left turn puts the athletes directly into the oncoming current.
After tackling it head-on back to the pontoon, the athletes will then climb the ramp, have a moment to gather themselves and their rivals’ positioning, and then run left and dive back in for the second, shorter lap of 590m.
The Bike
Once out of the water, it is a right turn and up 36 stone steps onto the Ponte Alexandre III and into transition for the first time. Hats and goggles into the box, it is out onto the first of seven laps of this stunning 40km bike course.
Towards and along the Champs Elysees, the athletes will make a turn with the Arc de Triomphe in the background, where spectators can get a great view of the bike and run segments. A right turn then takes them down Avenue Motaignes and then left to Pont des Invalides across the Seine, before probably the best on-course vantage point to watch from, down the Boulevard Saint-Germain before looping left back towards the river and the Alexandre III bridge.
Nearly 27% of each lap is cobbled, taking an extra toll on the arms and legs and making the correct tyre pressure important for maximum grip. The athletes cross the Seine twice per lap, passing through the transition area and the grandstands each time.
The Run
The seventh lap completed, the bikes must be racked and then it is shoes on for the 10km run to Olympic glory. The run follows a similar route to the bike, but heading left down Av Montaigne without the dead turn of the bike and looping back on itself between the Pont Alexandre III and Pont de la Concorde.
Each of the four laps has just over 25% of cobbled surface, and there is just a subtle incline before again they cross the water twice per lap, finally cutting back to the bridge for the final time and down the finish chute to the tape.
An in-depth review of the Paris Test Event can also be found on the World Triathlon Education Hub.
More information for spectators can be found on the official Olympics website.
