Ironman Jacksonville may not be welcome across county lines in future years.

In a letter obtained by First Coast News, St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick expressed concerns about the recent event and denounced its return to the county.

In the inaugural event, athletes competed in a 112-mile bike course that crossed through parts of Nocatee and A1A in the county.

In his letter, Hardwick addressed concerns about “traffic, safety, quality of life, and overall mobility.”

Hardwick cited congestion at major roads and intersections, including Nocatee Parkway and the area near Davis Park. He said deputies frequently had to stop or redirect traffic because of gaps between groups of cyclists, while unmanned side streets created unsafe merging and increased congestion.

The sheriff also suggested a “more collaborative planning approach” if the Ironman returns in the future, including avoiding peak travel months and improving communication with residents.

Read the sheriff’s full letter below:

Chairman Murphy, County Commissioners, and County Administrator,

The intent of this email is to express my concerns regarding the recent Jacksonville Ironman event and its impacts on traffic, safety, quality of life, and overall mobility throughout our county.

The event generated significant congestion at major intersections, particularly along Nocatee Parkway and near Davis Park, where lane shifts and competing activities created extended delays. Deputies were frequently required to stop or redirect traffic due to wide gaps in cyclist groups, resulting in unpredictable conditions for both drivers and athletes. Numerous unmanned side streets also contributed to unsafe merging and increased congestion. Increased risks are created when high-volume racing activity shares narrow, two-lane community roads during peak weekend hours.

To strengthen community safety and reduce disruptions for any future consideration of this event, we recommend a more collaborative planning approach involving County leadership, public safety partners, event organizers, and community stakeholders. Specifically:

1. Establish early coordination and collective sign-off from all relevant stakeholders before moving forward with major events.

2. Reassess the suitability of routing endurance events through densely populated residential areas.

3. Improve traffic-engineering strategies to reduce road sharing between vehicles and cyclists.

4. Strengthen advanced community notification and create mitigation plans to minimize impacts on residents and businesses.

5. Consider minimizing or eliminating these type events during peak months, i.e. April – August.

We appreciate the benefits major events can bring, but they must be balanced with the needs and expectations of the community. By strengthening approval and planning processes together, especially when adjoining counties host events that directly affect our community, we can help ensure that mobility, safety, and quality-of-life considerations remain central to future event coordination. In closing, I do not support the return of the Ironman event to St. Johns County.

Two Ironman bicyclists were involved in collisions with vehicles in St. Johns County, according to a Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson.

Jacksonville City Councilman Raul Arias, who competed in the event, noted that traffic concerns were widespread.

“I rode my bike for 112 miles, and there was traffic for 112 miles,” he said.

First Coast News has asked Ironman if they have a statement to share regarding the sheriff’s comments. At the time of publishing, we have yet to hear back.

Jacksonville is scheduled to host the Ironman race for at least the next two years.