Romina Palacio's Gear Setup for IRONMAN 70.3 SP and Kona
The triathlete details her trisuit choice, cycling shoes, bike fit, and hydration strategy for the World Championship in Hawaii.
Romina Palacio reveals her equipment choices for IRONMAN 70.3 São Paulo, using the event as a final testing ground for the Kona World Championship. She breaks down her nutrition, bike setup, and transition choices.
The IRONMAN 70.3 São Paulo race serves as the final major competitive test for Romina Palacio before the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona. In the final phase of her preparation, the Argentine triathlete is using the event in the São Paulo state capital to fine-tune details across equipment, transitions, and nutrition.
Swim and apparel tested and approved
For the swim and the entire race course, Romina relies on the Hydrapex Ultra trisuit in size ultra-small. The suit proved best suited to her body due to its lightweight feel and lasting comfort over long distances, having been used successfully at IRONMAN Brazil in Florianópolis. For Kona, she has set aside a brand-new, identical piece. For goggles, she remains loyal to Zoggs, bringing a fresh pair straight to race day.
Transition dilemma and cycling shoes
One of the main tests in São Paulo involves her cycling footwear choice. After completing her entire recent training block in standard road cycling shoes, Romina is considering wearing them in Kona instead of a triathlon-specific model. The gains in comfort and power transfer outweigh the extra seconds lost putting them on in T1—a detail she put to the test on the São Paulo course alongside deciding whether to ride with or without socks.
On the run, the big update comes in the form of the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3. Having raced in version 2 in Florianópolis, Romina highlighted that the new model delivers greater stability and superior midfoot lockdown, preventing her feet from sliding inside the shoe at race pace.
Aggressive bike setup and dialed-in fit
On the bike, the configuration stands out for its aggressive choices: short 150 mm cranks and a 1x drivetrain with a single 56-tooth chainring. Both the front and rear feature tri-spoke wheels.
Her aerodynamic position underwent recent adjustments with José from Tri Wind, resolving previous hip discomfort. With a more integrated front end and her hands positioned closer together on the cockpit, she found an optimal balance between aero gains and support to sustain heavy power on the pedals.
Carb and hydration strategy for the Kona heat
At 70.3 São Paulo, her bike carries three bottles mounted behind the saddle, each loaded with around 110 grams of powdered carbohydrates (Nutrimax). This safety margin ensures that accidentally losing a bottle won't compromise her fueling plan.
For Kona, the strategy will be even more robust, with the possibility of starting with up to five bottles on the bike to prevent the severe dehydration experienced in previous editions of the Hawaiian race. On the half marathon, Romina aims to sustain between 80 and 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour, carrying three to four 30-gram gel packets in her trisuit's side pockets.