After completing Ironman Cascais last year, I’ve been eyeing up Ironman Tours as my next full-distance challenge. There’s something magnetic about racing through the Loire Valley, and after months of research and chatting with fellow triathletes, I’m ready to share everything I’ve learned about what makes this race special.
Let me be honest—I’m still that age-grouper who gets nervous about new courses and obsesses over every detail. But that’s exactly why I think this preview might help you, too.
The Swim: Loire River Magic
The 3.8km swim takes place in the Cher River, and by all accounts, it’s absolutely stunning. The water temperature typically sits around 18-20°C in June, making it wetsuit-legal for most athletes. The current is generally favourable, though it varies depending on recent rainfall.
What I love about river swims is the lack of waves—no seasickness like some of us experienced at coastal races. The start is rolling, which takes some pressure off.
One tip from those who’ve raced here: practice sighting in murky water. The Cher isn’t crystal clear, so getting comfortable with limited visibility during training will pay dividends on race day.
The Bike Course: Rolling Through Wine Country
This is where IM Tours gets interesting. The 180km bike course isn’t flat, but it’s not mountainous either—it’s what I’d call “bike leg PB.” You’ll face around 800 metres of elevation gain, 4.8m per km.
The route takes you through stunning French countryside, past châteaux and vineyards.
Pacing is crucial here. If you’ve done your FTP testing properly, stick to your zones. I’ve learned the hard way that getting carried away early in the bike leg comes back to haunt you later in the marathon.
The roads are generally of good quality, though some sections through smaller villages can be narrow. Aid stations are well-positioned every 20km or so, stocked with the usual Ironman fare plus some local touches.
Nutrition and Hydration Strategy
June in the Loire Valley can be warm, with temperatures potentially reaching the high 20s. Having learned from various IronMan distance races in the sun (Nice, Cascais), I can’t stress enough how important it is to know your sweat rate before race day.
The bike course offers plenty of opportunities to stay on top of nutrition, but the rolling nature means you’ll need to be strategic about when you eat and drink. Practice taking in calories on climbs during training—it’s harder than it sounds when you’re breathing hard.
For hydration, the official Ironman nutrition guidelines recommend 150-250ml every 15-20 minutes, but adjust this based on conditions and your personal needs.
The Run: Tours City Centre Finale
The marathon course is in the Tours outskirts, but on the lovely banks of the Cher River. Don’t expect to run through the historic city centre of Tours, with crowds lining the streets as they do in Tenby.
The run is relatively flat with a few gentle undulations. It’s a multi-lap course, which means you’ll see the finish line multiple times before you actually get to cross it. This can be psychologically challenging, but it also means better crowd support and easier spectator access for your support crew.
Aid stations are frequent and well-stocked. The French volunteers are fantastic, and don’t be surprised if you’re offered some local encouragement along with your sports drink.
Race Day Logistics and Tips
Transition is compact and well-organised in the Parc des Expositions (think Excel London). Bike racking is by race number, so memorise your location—who hasn’t had a panic of losing their bike at an event?
Get your race day checklist sorted well in advance. The race briefing is thorough, in French and English.
The weather can be unpredictable anywhere nowadays, so pack layers for race morning and post-race. I learned this lesson at Weymouth—freezing cold post-70.3 and having to purchase a hoodie and socks from the IronMan village to avoid freezing to death.
Why IM Tours Deserves a Spot on Your List
What strikes me most about researching this race is the balance it offers. It’s challenging enough to feel like a proper Ironman achievement, but not so brutal that you’ll be crawling across the finish line (hopefully). The scenery is spectacular, the organisation is typically French—thorough and stylish—and the atmosphere in Tours looks absolutely electric.
For those of us working our way through our triathlon bucket list, IM Tours offers something different from the more famous European races. It’s got character, challenge, and charm in equal measure.
Whether you’re looking for your first full-distance race or adding another medal to your collection, IM Tours delivers an experience that celebrates everything brilliant about our sport. Just remember to enjoy those castle views on the bike—they don’t call it the Garden of France for nothing.
Now, back to training. Those Loire Valley hills won’t ride themselves!
