A large part of triathlon’s charm is found in the breathtakingly beautiful bike leg venues that soften the pain of high performance efforts at the limit of human capability. Davide Giardini broke two hours at Ironman 70.3 Texas. Andrew Starykowicz keeps knocking on the door of a sub-4 hour Ironman bike split. Daniela Ryf relied on many women's best bike splits for her unprecedented perfect season. And Jan Frodeno always rode near the front for his wins at Frankfurt, Zell Am See and Kona. But even the 16-hour Ironman finishers found solace and inspiration on triathlon’s great bike courses.
All photographs © Timothy Carlson
Riding along the ocean on the 2015 Ultraman Day 2 bike course.
Age groupers climbing Olde Stage Road on the Boulder Peak bike course.
2015 Ultraman winner Michael Coughlin cools off on the Day 1 climb.
The steep downhill on the Boulder Peak bike course has a 35 mph speed limit for safety.
Paul Ambrose rides the Ironman 70.3 Boulder bike leg.
Ironman World Championship leading men’s bike pack at Mile 37.
Heather Jackson climbs Beach Hill at Wildflower Long Course.
Alicia Kaye rides for a twilight photo shoot near Gun Barrel, Colorado.
Jochen Dembeck of Germany strives to stretch out his back while in the most aerodynamic position on Day 2 of Ultraman.
Wildflower Olympic distance cyclists climb in a pastoral setting.
Michael Owen rides past Aloha Theater on the Ultraman Day 1 bike course.
Daniela Ryf’s dominating 4:50:46 bike split at Kona – including 2 kilometers on a flat – was emblematic of her perfect season. Here she takes in some needed calories.
Kevin Willis of Canada rides through Hilo on the Ultraman Day 2 bike leg.
Jeremy Howard attacks a long climb 80 miles into the Ultraman Day 1 bike course.
Lionel Sanders rode a race-best 2:04:46 bike split on his way to 3rd place at Ironman 70.3 California.
Riding above Lake Nacimiento at Wildflower Long Course.
Riding through a tunnel of trees on the second day of the 2015 edition of Ultraman.
Alicia Kaye rode a women’s best 2:15:40 on her way to a victory at Ironman 70.3 Boulder.
Adam Fox rides past some bright red tropical flora on the 90-mile Day 1 bike leg at Ultraman.
A string of age groupers climb a short hill at Boulder Peak.
