This is a preview of the race – click here to read about a record-breaking win for Georgia Taylor-Brown as well as a repeat success for Vincent Luis.
It couldn’t have gone much better in this race 12 months ago for one of triathlon’s most famous couples Georgia Taylor-Brown and Vincent Luis.
And both are back for more this week against small but select fields in Bahrain.
Read on to find out all you need to know ahead of one of the last big races of the season.
Date, start time and how to follow live
It takes place in Bahrain on Friday December 5, and while there is no live broadcast coverage, you’ll be able to follow the event with the trusty IRONMAN tracker.
The Pro Men will start their race at 0620 local time on Friday, which corresponds to 0320 in the UK and 2220 Thursday on the East Coast of the United States. The women will start three minutes later at 0623 – 0323 in the UK and 2223 Thursday on the East Coast.
Pro Women racing at IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain
Taylor-Brown is the most decorated Olympic female triathlete with the full set of gold, silver and bronze, and she won in Bahrain in eyecatching style last year on what was her middle-distance debut.
She clocked a seriously fast time as she came home ahead of German duo Tanja Neubert and Caroline Pohle and though she’s called 2025 a “gap year” at the start of the new Olympic cycle, she has raced most weeks recently.
November saw her take fourth in the IRONMAN 70.3 Worlds and the same position at Dubai T100 before running out the dominant winner of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon in Thailand.
Just four women line up against her and they are headed by fellow Brit India Lee. It’s been something of an up-and-down season for her but she’s still managed to win twice (IRONMAN Les Sables and 70.3 Loire Valley) as well as notching third place at French Riviera T100.
Marlene De Boer (NLD) is another two-time winner in 2025 and she also claimed a top 10 at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona.
Aussie Natalie Van Coevorden was second here in 2022 and fourth last year – and she’s only been outside the top five once in eight races in 2025. The field is rounded out by Rachael Tatko (USA).
Pro Men racing at IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain
France’s short-course legend Luis has had an injury-marred campaign but ninth at the 70.3 Worlds and fifth in that chaotic men’s T100 race in Dubai suggest he’s getting back towards his best.
He’s strongly hinted that 2026 could be his last year racing before retirement and both he and GTB head to Bahrain en route to the T100 Grand Final in nearby Qatar next week.
70.3 Bahrain often sees an exciting middle-distance debutant and this year is no exception as WTCS and Supertri short-course star Vasco Vilaca (POR) steps up in trip.
There are 10 men on the start list and another better known for his short course pedigree is Chase McQueen (USA).
Pieter Heemeryck (BEL) saw his campaign start in the worst possible fashion with a bike crash before IRONMAN New Zealand but hopefully the year can end in much better fashion for him.
The course at IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain
The one-loop 1.9 km (1.2 mile) swim starts at the water in front of the “Reef Island”. Athletes follow the rectangular “L” shaped swim layout that leads along a series of left turns and back to the lagoon’s bank before they head into the transition.
The one-loop 90 km (56.1 mile) bike course consists of a single lap starting from transition at The Reef Island. Athletes pass the iconic landmarks World Trade Centre and the Bahrain International Circuit and then are back to the Reef Island.
The four-loop 21.1 km (13.1 mile) run course starts at the “The Reef Island” and leads athletes towards the Financial Harbour and then back to the Reef Island in the heart of the city. Spectators can cheer on the athletes all the way back to the finish line at “The Reef Island.”
