Triathlon: Challenge Vichy
When: Sunday, August 21, 2011
Where: Vichy, France
Divisions: Professional, Age Group, Relay
Website: www.challengevichy.com
Challenge responds to athletes demand for a long-distance Challenge race in Frances with the addition of the new Challenge Vichy race, a Full Iron Distance race set to take place in August 2011. The new triathlon race will be staged over a 3.8km swim/180km cycle/42.2km run in the Auvergne region in central France, based at the Centre Omnisport Pierre Coulon along the Lac d'Allier.
Unfortunately the new event replaces the half iron distance Challenge France event staged in Niederbronn-les-Bains. "We are really pleased to offer a long-distance option for athletes in France," said Challenge Family CEO Felix Walchshöfer. "Challenge France in Niederbronn-les-Bains was a great event for us, and we are grateful to the team for organising it for us in recent years."
The new race in Vichy will be organized by former professional triathlete Gael Mainard, who retired from the sport in 2006 after finishing 2nd and 3rd in the French national championship and with top finishes in many international long-course triathlons. The swim will be staged in the Lac d'Allier, a 2.5km-long lake that will allow spectators to follow their athletes throughout the course. The two-lap bike course is largely flat, with a few small climbs in the Allier and Puy-de-Dôme departments, with sights that include France's only volcanoes (the Volcans d'Auvergne) and the Randan forest. The flat four-lap run course will go through the parks of Vichy and along the Allier River.
The Challenge Vichy race is the third new Full Iron Distance race added to the 2011 race schedule by the Challenge Family this year, the others are Challenge Cairns (Australia) and Challenge Henley-on-Thames (United Kingdom). In 2011 the Challenge Series will have 10 races in various countries.
The finish line, transition area, pasta party, expo and swim race will based at the Centre Omnisport Pierre Coulon along the Lac d'Allier, allowing for a central location for all major athlete activities. And when the racing is finished, athletes can recover by visiting the various mineral springs in the region or savouring some of the region's most famous cheeses, including cantal, bleu d'auvergne and saint-nectaire.
Registration will open soon with the field size limited to 2000. Entry fees will be 300€ for individuals and 400€ for relay teams. To learn more, visit the race website at www.challengevichy.com or www.challenge-family.com.
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