World's top triathletes to vie for Abu Dhabi crown

Abu Dhabi: Around 50 of the world's top triathletes along with nearly a 1,000 other age-groupers will usher in the city's inaugural $250,000 (Dh919,500) Abu Dhabi International Triathlon (ADIT) to be held here on March 13, 2010.

Close on the heels of Sunday's astounding success of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) announced the latest international sporting event which will kickstart the season for the world's Ironman events that follow.

Faisal Al Shaikh, Head, Major Events Division, ADTA said, "The staging of our own triathlon, with its enhanced race format, will give us additional power in the adventure athletics arena and builds on the platform that we have created, both locally and internationally."

A first prize money of $50,000 has been earmarked each to the men's and women's category winners of the professional event, which consists of a three-kilometre swim, followed by a 200-kilometre cycle and finishes with a 20-kilometre running leg. Second placed in both sections will get $20,000, third $15,000, fourth $10,000, fifth $7,500, sixth $5,000, seventh $3,000, eighth $2,000; ninth $1,500 and 10th $1,000.

Shorter version

A shorter version of 1.5-kilometre swim, a 100-kilometre cycle and a 10-kilometre run will also be run simultaneously and will be open to the public with a total purse of $20,000.

"The course has been designed by triathlon specialists to ensure both professional and amateur athletes are challenged yet exhilarated by what they see and by the terrain they cover. This will be a unique, world-class event promising an incomparable level of competitor experience and excitement," said Jon Hazan, ADIT's Operations Director.

Faris Al Sultan, the 2005 Ironman World Championship winner and captain of Team Abu Dhabi Triathlon — the international triathlon squad backed by ADTA said he was excited about this new event.

"The course, whilst extremely demanding, will avoid the longer-term punishing results on an athlete's body, which means a quicker recovery. I have personally trained along parts of this route and know that it will be both challenging yet exciting," the ace triathlete said.

Some 1,000 places are available for the inaugural ADIT, charged at $150 for the long-distance and $96 for the shorter event prior to December 31, 2009. Prices from January 1, 2010 will be $180 and $123 for the long and short distances respectively.