Italy’s capital of Rome and the seaside city of Civitavecchia will be the newest additions to the growing list of host cities for the 2016 Ironman European Tour.
Civitavecchia will host the very first full-distance Ironman event in Italy with the Ironman Civitavecchia triathlon on October 16, 2016. Rome will host the Ironman 70.3 Rome triathlon on August 20, 2016.
Ironman 70.3 Rome will take place in the heart of the city, featuring a unique swim in the EUR Lake, a potential event venue for the 2024 Olympic Games. Rome is one of five candidate cities announced by the International Olympic Committee on September 16.
The two new Italian races will join the Ironman 70.3 Pescara triathlon which takes place on June 12, 2016. More details about these two new events, including registration information, will be forthcoming.
"We are looking forward to working with Ironman. The EUR Lake will be a great stage for Ironman‘s swim course and a huge step forward for the Italian triathlon community,” said Luigi Bianchi, president of the Italian triathlon association "FiTri".
Italy has been an emerging market for triathlon with participation numbers in Ironman’s events growing from 500 athletes to almost 4,000 athletes in just five years. More than 1,500 Italian athletes (80 percent of the total field) participated in the sold-out 2015 Ironman 70.3 Pescara triathlon.
In addition, 550 Italian athletes (30 percent of the total field) participated in the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Pula, Croatia event this past September.
"We are excited to bring two new races to the ‘eternal city’ of Rome and the neighboring community of Civitavecchia. Both venues provide an unforgettable scenic landscape. What could be more exciting than riding through the beautiful landscape of Lazio or running by some of the most historical buildings in the world," added Thomas Dieckhoff, CEO Ironman Europe, Middle East and Africa.
