Team Parcours Member Ian Dickens Talks Ironman 70.3 Swansea And Qualifying For World Championships
We love hearing from all our athletes who ride Parcours wheels, but especially out Parcours Ambassadors. It’s even better when we get to be at races and events in person, to meet up and watch our Ambassadors (and Professionals of course) race, and see our Parcours wheels getting out and about around the triathlon and cycling worlds!
A few weeks ago, we headed to IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea, as only really just a little down the road from Parcours HQ, so a good chance to be at an event, and also where we knew some of our Parcours athletes were racing. Not only did Parcours Professional Athlete – Lizzie Rayner go and win the Professional race, one of our Ambassador team members – also completely crushed it! No spoilers here! Ha ha!
Read below for how Ian Dickens race went in Swansea...
Swansea 70.3 – Sometimes Patience Wins
If you’d told me 12 months ago I’d be writing this after Swansea, I’d have smiled politely. Last year I was in hospital instead of on the start line, so simply returning this year already meant a lot.
Why Swansea? Because it’s one of my favourite races. I’ve raced here before and always loved the course, the crowds and the atmosphere. Missing the race through illness last year made coming back this time even more special.
A few weeks earlier, Bolton had given me confidence that my fitness was returning, but training hadn’t been perfect. Between recovering from illness, work and life in general, it hadn’t been the smoothest build. That said, years of consistent training meant I knew I had a solid base to rely on.
My goal was simple: qualify for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
It was going to be a hot race and Kona had taught me one of the biggest lessons of my racing career. After losing 9kg and needing two IV drips, I promised myself I’d never make those mistakes again. This time I respected the heat, trusted my pacing and had the confidence to hold back early, knowing it would make me faster overall.
That’s easier said than done. Every instinct tells you to chase the people riding past you. This time I let them go.
The swim was solid for myself, and put me exactly where I wanted to be. The bike was all about discipline—sticking to the power plan, resisting the temptation to overcook the climbs and arriving in T2 feeling like I still had a race left in my legs. By the run, the strategy started paying off. Instead of hanging on, I was moving through the field, and that’s a much nicer feeling!
For Swansea I raced my Giant Trinity fitted with Parcours disc and Chrono front, and they were faultless all day. Fast on the rolling roads, incredibly stable on the descents and in the crosswinds, and confidence-inspiring when the course became more technical. The best equipment is the equipment you stop thinking about because it simply lets you focus on racing, and that’s exactly how they felt.
One of the highlights of this season has been becoming part of Team Parcours. The opportunity to ride world-class wheels is fantastic, but what has impressed me even more is the support behind the brand. From technical advice before races to making every athlete feel genuinely valued, it’s been a brilliant team to be part of.
It was also fantastic to see Amy and Dov, from Parcours, out on the course. Their encouragement during the race gave me a real lift, and having Team Parcours out there supporting us created a genuine team atmosphere that made the weekend even more enjoyable.
The support around Swansea was, as always, incredible. From the crowds out on the bike course to the atmosphere through the city and along the finish chute, it reminded me exactly why this is one of the best races on the UK calendar.
The best part? Watching the race unfold exactly as we’d planned. I wasn’t the fastest athlete in the field, but years of consistency, patient racing and trusting the process meant I was the fastest where it mattered—in the 55–59 age group. Qualifying for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and topping my AG,made it one of the most satisfying races I’ve ever had.
With Swansea behind me, the focus now shifts to two races I’ve been looking forward to all year: the legendary Alpe d’Huez Long Course, followed by the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice. I can’t wait to see what’s next!!
