Once again, an international championship will take place in Herning when the European Half Distance Triathlon Championship takes place in the city on Saturday June 10, 2017.
After two successful years with the triathlon event Challenge Billund-Herning, the organizers, RaceMakers, have succeeded in securing the ETU European Half Distance Triathlon Championship for Denmark and Herning. The athletes will swim 1.9 km, bike 90 km and run 21.1km during the race.
"With Challenge Herning and our Nordic team we are establishing excellent portfolio of high quality races in the region.” Says Zibi Szlufcik, CEO of Challenge Family.
The European Championships hosted by Challenge Herning is organized by RaceMakers in collaboration with the European Triathlon Union, The Danish Triathlon Federation, Sport Event Denmark, and the Municipality of Herning.
“By joining forces and making use of the competences that characterize the Challenge Family organization alongside the federations, Sport Event Denmark and the Municipality of Herning, we have an incredible opportunity to create a much larger event than what would otherwise have been the case,” says Claus Vesterby, Event Director and partner of RaceMakers.
“Through the championship, we attract the entire European elite to Denmark. And because we have an open race, everyone is welcome to participate and compete against the top athletes within this field. If you train properly and it’s your day, everyone has a chance of standing on the podium,” says Claus Vesterby.
“Hosting the official European Championship Half Distance in Denmark is a privilege and commitment to a long and lasting partnership with the European Federation, the governing body of our Sport and National Federation of Denmark,” says Zibi Szlufcik.
”A European Championship in triathlon has the ability to bring together elite and age group athletes. We have previously seen it during other big international triathlon events in Denmark, and we saw it very notably at The World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen in 2014. Elite and age groupers in the same race creates a completely unique and dynamic experience,” says Lars Lundov, CEO in Sport Event Denmark.
Lars Krarup, the Mayor of Herning, sees the European Championship as a fine opportunity to display the area.
“In and around Herning, there are many scenic areas. The contestants will swim in our wonderful Lake Fuglsang, go on a bike ride through our beautiful nature, which the spectators will be able to enjoy on the sidelines along the route. Finally, they will reach the finish line at the city square in the Half of Herning. In connection to this, we are planning a major celebration where everyone can follow the participants during the race and finish with music and a party. I’m positive that we will have a great Championship,” says Lars Krarup.
Claus Vesterby says that the choice of Herning as the host city was an easy one.
“It is an honor to have been selected to arrange an event on this scale in Herning. We have had so much support and so much experience from large championships to draw on that we never questioned that Herning should be the host city,” says Claus Vesterby.
“The welcoming culture of the amazing People of Denmark, hosting Venue of the Sport City Herning as well as the endless beauty of the nature are perfect surrounding for a world class event,” says Zibi Szlufcik
This year Denmark has already been the host of the European Championships in duathlon (run/bike/run) and in August, the city of Fredericia will host the Nordic Championships for the Olympic triathlon distance.
“In 2017, the federation is excited about the European Championships for the popular middle distance hosted by the energetic city Herning and organized by RaceMakers and well-assisted by the local triathlon clubs”, says Morten Fenger, CEO for the Danish Triathlon Federation and continues: “In 2018, we continue the success – this time with the Multisport World Championships on Funen. What characterizes these international championships on Danish soil, is that we have split our focus in two. First, to demonstrate the strength of the Danish elite on an international scale. Second, to ensure that age group contestants have an incredible experience at the Championship – because only through this we can succeed in spreading the word about the Danes’ new favourite sport - TRIATHLON”.
Athletes from 31 countries competed this year and the expectations for next year are even bigger. We are looking forward to host the largest triathlon event ever in this part of Denmark.
Registration for the ETU European Half Distance Triathlon Championship hosted by Challenge Herning is available on the webpage www.challengedenmark.dk on Tuesday June 28.
