Start Times, Live Coverage, and Viewing Options

IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside kicks off on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 06:40 PST, with the professional men setting off first, followed closely by the women.

Global Start Times

• Pacific (PST): 06:40
• Eastern US (EST): 09:40
• United Kingdom (GMT): 13:40
• Central Europe (CET): 14:40

How to Watch Live — for Free

IRONMAN has made significant strides in production quality this season. The Geelong broadcast showcased notably improved filming and tracking, and that raised bar carries into Oceanside. The IRONMAN Tracker remains the essential companion for race day data, though detailed splits — including for the swim — can now be found directly within the live coverage itself.

Set your alarms, bookmark your platform of choice, and settle in for what promises to be a spectacular day of racing.

Men's Race Preview: Blummenfelt Leads Norwegian Assault on California Classic

The Norwegian Trio: Three Champions, One Race

Norway's grip on professional triathlon has been nothing short of extraordinary, and Oceanside 2026 could be the ultimate showcase of that dominance. Three athletes who stood on the podium at the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice are all toeing the line in California:

• Kristian Blummenfelt — Fresh from his Geelong victory and entering the race as the clear favorite.
• Casper Stornes — The reigning IRONMAN World Champion.
• Gustav Iden — Returning from injury niggles that kept him out of the Geelong and Gold Coast trips to Australia.

Stornes led the incredible Norwegian clean sweep in Nice ahead of Iden and Blummenfelt, making this one of the most formidable collections of talent ever assembled at a single 70.3 start line.

Blummenfelt: Favourite with Unfinished Business

Blummenfelt arrives in Oceanside as the man to beat — and he has personal motivation beyond pure competition. A puncture wrecked his chances here last year, yet he still clocked a 1:07:19 half marathon split, a time that underlines just how dangerous he is when everything goes to plan. With that mechanical disaster in the rear-view mirror and a commanding Geelong performance as the launching pad, Blummenfelt arrives primed.

The only variable to monitor is jet lag. The travel from Australia to California is significant, and that long-haul factor applies equally to Blummenfelt and Knibb on the women's side. History, however, suggests that elite athletes of this caliber manage such logistics with precision. If you're looking to optimize your own race-day nutrition and recovery like the pros, proper supplementation can make all the difference.

The Absent Lion — and What It Means

One notable name is missing from the start list: Canadian star Lionel Sanders. 'No Limits' has been synonymous with Oceanside, having claimed a fourth victory here last year and an astonishing eight podiums from eight starts at the race. Sanders is being strategic this season, however — he won 70.3 Dallas-Little Elm just two weeks ago and has IRONMAN Texas on the horizon in mid-April. Careful season management is keeping him away, and it's hard to argue with the logic.

His absence does open the door for others — and that's where things get interesting.

American Hopes: Long and Von Berg

Sam Long and Rudy Von Berg carry the flag for home nation hopes. It's a seasonal reappearance for Long, who won three Stateside 70.3 events last year and will be looking to kick his 2026 campaign into gear. Von Berg was runner-up here 12 months ago but showed a slightly off-color performance — finishing seventh behind Sanders in Dallas recently — and will be hunting redemption.

The Dark Horse: Jonas Schomburg

Keep an eye on German competitor Jonas Schomburg, who has the ability to genuinely disrupt proceedings. His swim and bike strength could allow him to build a significant gap before the run, making him a realistic podium contender if the Norwegian trio don't manage to establish collective control.

Women's Race Preview: Can Anyone Stop Taylor Knibb's Oceanside Dominance?

Knibb: The Benchmark

Taylor Knibb is the woman to beat — full stop. Her record speaks for itself: two from two at Oceanside (2022 and 2024), multiple 70.3 World Championship titles, and T100 Championship credentials. She looked to be on cruise control for much of the T100 Gold Coast opener last week before claiming a composed victory.

The question hanging over her Oceanside campaign is the same one facing Blummenfelt: how much will the long-haul travel from Australia affect her? It's a genuine variable, but Knibb's track record of performing across different continents and race formats makes it difficult to bet against her.

Findlay: Defending Champion Hunting History

Paula Findlay (CAN) arrives as defending champion and is chasing something historic — a third Oceanside crown. The only blemish on her remarkable 2025 season was the 70.3 World Championship in Marbella; she won all five of her other 70.3 races. That form makes her an extremely dangerous opponent, and there's growing speculation that this could be the year she steps up to full-distance racing — a move that, if Solveig Løvseth's experience is any guide, could be electrifying.

Løvseth: The Norwegian Wild Card

Speaking of which: Norway's Solveig Løvseth made one of the most stunning transitions to full-distance racing in recent memory during the 2025 season. She posted the fastest debut time when finishing third at IRONMAN Hamburg, then followed it up with victories at Lake Placid and the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii. That's not a résumé — that's a statement.

Oceanside is her 2026 season opener as she builds toward IRONMAN Texas, with the Pro Series a genuine focus this year. With bibs #1, #2, and #3 going to Knibb, Findlay, and Løvseth respectively, the podium picture may well mirror the start list order — but the order in which they cross the finish line is far from predetermined.

Depth in the Field

The 31-woman field has genuine strength beyond the top three. American Jackie Hering — who was pipped at the line by Findlay here last year — returned to winning ways in Dallas a fortnight ago and cannot be discounted. She knows this course, knows what it takes to compete at the front, and will be motivated to go one better than her 2025 Oceanside result.

Oceanside's Challenging Course: Where Races Are Won and Lost

The Swim: Salt Water and Harbour Walls

A rolling start sends athletes into a single-loop 1.9km saltwater swim through Oceanside Harbour. The rolling format means athletes self-seed and start in waves, reducing the physical battle of a mass start while still rewarding strong swimmers with cleaner water and better positioning heading into T1. For those looking to improve their open water performance, investing in quality anti-fog swim goggles can make a significant difference in visibility and confidence.

The Bike: Camp Pendleton and the Climbs of San Mateo

The bike course is where Oceanside earns its reputation for difficulty. Athletes leave Oceanside Harbour and head toward Camp Pendleton — an active US Marine Corps military base — passing through stunning California coastal countryside before venturing inland to face a trio of climbs including San Mateo Hill.

This is a hilly, honest bike course that rewards power and punishes those who go out too hard. The introduction of the new 20-metre draft zone regulation adds a fascinating tactical dimension this year. The increased distance required between athletes changes how packs form and how solo efforts are managed — it could have a significant impact on which athletes arrive into T2 with their legs intact. Serious triathletes looking to optimize their bike performance should consider a quality Shimano groupset upgrade for smoother shifting and better power transfer.

The Run: Fast, Flat, and Frenetic

After the punishment of the bike, athletes return to the harbour for a two-loop, out-and-back run along the harbour front. It's a relatively flat and spectator-friendly course — and for athletes, it's a chance to empty the tank with everything they have left. Given the quality of runners in this field, the half marathon could produce some extraordinary splits. Proper hydration is crucial for maintaining performance, especially in California's climate — consider using electrolyte supplements to stay properly fueled throughout the race.

More Than Just a Race: The IRONMAN Pro Series and Season Stakes

What Is the IRONMAN Pro Series?

The IRONMAN Pro Series is the umbrella competition that ties together IRONMAN's professional racing calendar across a full season. In 2026, it encompasses 16 events — six full-distance IRONMANs, eight IRONMAN 70.3 events, plus the IRONMAN World Championship and the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.

The series rewards consistency across the season rather than single peak performances. Athletes count their best five scores, with a cap of three full-distance results eligible. This system rewards versatile, durable athletes who can perform at the highest level across multiple race formats and continents. For more details on how the series works, check out our comprehensive guide on triathlon prize money and rankings.

Points and Prize Money

The financial stakes at Oceanside are significant:

• $50,000 event prize purse for professionals racing on Saturday
• $1.7 million USD season-ending bonus pool for the overall Pro Series

Here's how points are allocated:

Points for all other finishers diminish based on time deficit to the winner — at a rate of one point per second behind first place, with no minimum floor. Every second counts, which makes racing aggressively for time — not just position — a strategic imperative.

The Season-Ending Bonus Pool Breakdown

• 1st place: $200,000
• 2nd place: $130,000
• 3rd place: $85,000

An Oceanside victory delivers 2,500 points and a slice of the $50,000 prize purse — but perhaps more importantly, it establishes early momentum in a points race that will be fought over months and across continents. Early-season form has a way of setting psychological as well as mathematical advantages.

Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2026 is shaping up as one of the most compelling races of the early season — and possibly of the entire year. Here's what to watch for:

• Norwegian dominance vs. international challengers: Can Blummenfelt convert Geelong momentum into Oceanside glory, or will Stornes and Iden complicate matters within their own team dynamic?
• Knibb vs. Findlay vs. Løvseth: Three of the most formidable women's athletes on the planet all chasing the same finish line.
• The jet lag factor: Long-haul travel from Australia could be the decisive variable in both the men's and women's races.
• The new 20-metre draft zone: A genuine tactical wildcard on what is already a demanding bike course.
• Pro Series implications: Saturday's result doesn't just determine a race winner — it shapes the entire 2026 season narrative.

The racing starts at 06:40 PST on Saturday, March 28 — set your reminders, open the live stream, and fire up the IRONMAN Tracker. This one won't disappoint.

Whether you're watching as a fan or preparing for your own triathlon journey, races like Oceanside remind us why this sport continues to captivate athletes and audiences worldwide.

Follow live coverage at https://proseries.ironman.com, on DAZN, or via the embedded YouTube stream. For ongoing race analysis, results, and professional triathlon coverage, visit TRI247.