Abu Dhabi: The East Plaza (Public Beach) on the Corniche will be a hive of activity on Saturday, when more than 2,000 athletes will compete in the fourth edition of the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon.
Competition in the ‘long’ course, ‘short’ course and ‘sprint’ events will see three previous Abu Dhabi champions and 43 world championship winners, along with 84 Ironman winners and other stars bidding for a slice of the $230,000-plus prize money on offer.
The men’s field includes London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee, Eneko Llanos and Frederik Van Lierde — as well as Conrad ‘The Caveman’ Stoltz, Chris McCormack and Bryan Rhodes, while in the women’s section Australia’s Nikki Butterfield is hoping to become the first female to make it back-to-back wins since Julie Dibens in 2011. Caroline Steffen of Switzerland, Australia’s Melissa Hauschildt (nee Rollison) and New Zealand’s Jo Lawn, along with Indian first-timer Anu Vaidyanathan, are the other highlights in the women’s pack.
With $50,000 up for grabs the winners in the men’s and women’s long course races, a gruelling contest is on the cards as the field negotiate a 3km swim in two laps, a 200km bike ride and then a 20km run over two laps.
The short course includes a 1.5km swim, 100km bike and 10km run, while sprint course participants will do a 750m swim, 50km bike and 5km run.
“We are extremely encouraged that we have once again attracted a world-class field and a record number of first-timers and amateurs. To watch this event go from strength-to-strength each year is highly gratifying, both for the sport’s development and for the emirate’s burgeoning credentials as a winter training destination,” said Faisal Al Shaikh, Director of Events Bureau at the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which is behind the event.
“Having nearly tripled the number of participants in just four years is a great testament to how much work is being done to build the sport locally and internationally, as well as the spirit of the triathlon community.”
Before Saturday’s international event, the Kids Duathlon will be held on Friday to woo the region’s budding triathletes to enter the sport and encourage healthy living. The race, which starts at 9.30am, consists of a 200m swim and 2km run for the 9-12-year-old category, and a 300m swim and 2.5km run for 13-16-year-olds.
The Abu Dhabi International Triathlon on Saturday begins at 6.30am and the first male elites are expected to cross the finish line at 1.30pm.
