Ironman announced today the addition of two new races to the 2016 European Tour, Ironman Weymouth and Ironman 70.3 Weymouth triathlons. The inaugural races will take place concurrently on Sunday, September 11, 2016 with registration for both events opening on Monday, November 9, 2015.
With the addition of these new races, the United Kingdom now hosts six Ironman races, tied with Spain for the most of any country in Europe. The additional UK races include the Ironman UK, Ironman Wales, Ironman 70.3 UK and Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire triathlons.
The UK has seen a rapid growth in athlete participation and the demand for racing in the UK has never been higher. In 2015, every event in the UK sold out in record time with 50 percent of entries being first time Ironman participants.
“Our events in the UK have not only become key dates on the Ironman calendar but also with the communities in our host counties. The races have a huge positive economic impact to the area and Ironman aims to foster the development of the sport in the community,” said Thomas Dieckhoff, CEO for Ironman Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We are pleased to welcome these two new races along with Race Director Alan Rose of Just Racing UK to the Ironman family.”
The swim will take place in Weymouth Bay, with the stunning backdrop of the Jurassic Coastline. The bike course will offer speed, hills and the charm of the Dorset Countryside. The multi-lap run will take athletes around the town, harbor and the historic Weymouth seafront, where sailing competitions took place during the 2012 Olympic Games.
“It is great news that Weymouth has been chosen to host two Ironman events. We have a number of sporting events held in the borough throughout the year that attract large crowds and support our local economy. I am sure that these triathlons will be another huge sporting success to add to the list of great events,” said Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Tourism and Culture Briefholder, Cllr Jason Osborne.
"The county council is delighted with this news. It shows that Dorset has a lot to offer for this kind of event. We look forward to working together to ensure that both residents and competitors are kept safe and have an enjoyable experience during the race," added Cllr Peter Finney, Dorset County Council's Cabinet member for environment.
The event will mark the first time both an Ironman and an Ironman 70.3 race are held on the same day in Europe.
Ironman Weymouth will have 30 qualifying slots to the 2017 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i.
Ironman 70.3 Weymouth will have 30 qualifying slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. Professional athletes will compete for a total prize purse of $15,000 USD with the race offering P-500 KPR points as well.
