Sport
18 June, 2025
Share the love
A PROPOSAL for Ironman Cairns to alternate the start and finish of the iconic event between Port Douglas and Cairns is open to discussions involving all stakeholders.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the idea of rotating the start and finish locations between Port Douglas and Cairns “hasn’t been formally proposed but (the) council would be open to discussing it with event organisers and the Department of Transport and Main Roads, who control the use of the impacted roads associated with the Ironman triathlon”.
“This change could allow both the Douglas Shire and the broader Cairns region to benefit economically, with the added advantage of potentially reducing road closure times along the Cook Highway," she said.
Tourism Port Douglas Daintree executive officer Emma Tunnock said it was obviously never ideal to have the region’s main access route closed for a full day, “especially as we head into our peak season”.
“However, it’s crucial for us to take a strategic approach to managing disruptions and advocating for our local businesses to ensure the best possible outcomes and ongoing support,” she said.
“Together with Douglas Shire Council we’re committed to gaining a better understanding of the business impacts from this year’s event and exploring ways to better leverage Ironman Cairns in future years.
“While it’s true that the event can bring both challenges and opportunities, with thousands of athletes and their support crews coming into the region, there’s potential for all parties to work more effectively together to ensure Port Douglas and Daintree benefits more fully in the years ahead,” Ms Tunnock said.
However, an Ironman Cairns spokesman said a change of the start and finish venues from Cairns to Port Douglas was unlikely.
“As happens every year the Cairns Airport IRONMAN Cairns team will work with key event stakeholders following the event to identify ways that we can continue to improve what is renowned as one of the best IRONMAN events in the world," he said.
"However, at this stage the event team is not looking to change the footprint of the event, including the start and finish venues.”
People on Facebook have also floated the idea.
Treveen Page suggested that the start and finish of the event should be shared with Port Douglas.
“Cairns wins Port loses, accommodation houses usually have to deal with guests leaving a day earlier or arriving a day later than planned. Add that revenue up, Port Douglas loses, shops and restaurants lose Sunday trade, the market is dead, the only benefit can be to share it Cairns one year, or Douglas the next,” she said.
Grant Knight said it was time for Port Douglas to welcome Ironman back into town.
“Whoever thought it was a good idea to kick them out and still have the road blocked must have had rocks in their head,” he said.
“Bring back the Port Douglas triathlon the week before like we used too, but have it on a Saturday so we don’t impact the markets on the Sunday.
“Then have the bike turn around for Ironman back in the main street and make an event out of it.
“Then Port Douglas is back on the coverage and lots more people will be staying here instead of Cairns. May as well use it to our benefit.”
In the meantime, more than 150 Douglas Shire residents gathered at Craiglie for the annual ‘hype’ party on Sunday to cheer the riders as they turned around on their cycling leg back to Cairns.
The vibe was electric, as locals and visitors gathered to cheer on the athletes. The ‘sign showdown’ was a major highlight, with the sign-making station running at full speed. From witty one-liners to inspiring messages, every sign was a shout-out of support and motivation.
DJ Postie kept the crowd hyped with bumping tunes, and even the cyclists couldn’t help but pedal that much harder as they whizzed past, high on adrenaline and the community’s cheers. Free giveaways of Ironman swag flew off the table, making the crowd even more amped for the race.
Read More: Port Douglas
