Friday, 01 April 2011 12:48
Cape Town gets famous Challenge series triathlon
Cape Town can expect an economic boom as yet another major sporting event, which attracts a host of international athletes, is destined to take place in the city on the 6 November this year. Challenge Cape Town, an iron-distance triathlon has earmarked the city for its inaugural event on the African continent. The Cape Argus is an associate sponsor of the event, which is destined to become an annual event on the Cape Town sporting calendar.
The Challenge Family selected Cape Town as a possible location after its successful hosting of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. The city is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world. The awesome bulk of Table Mountain, spectacular marine drives that cling to sheer wave-washed mountains, the numerous sandy beaches and rivers, the enchantment of the fruit and wine regions, the rugged west coast together with a mild Mediterranean climate, make Cape Town an idyllic arena for an international triathlon.
The 226km course will take in much of the region’s most spectacular scenery. The 3.8km swim will take place at the Granger Bay on the Atlantic Ocean with its stunning views of Table Bay, Robben Island and Table Mountain. The 180km one-lap bike course promises to be one of the toughest in the Challenge series with over 2,000m of climbing, through the Constantia winelands, including the famous Chapman’s Peak, along the coastal route as it skirts around Table Mountain and heads out to Khayelitsha and the Indian Ocean coastline allowing athletes a taste of the diversity of Cape Town.
The marathon starts at the Green Point Stadium precinct, heads into the City Bowl before climbing up the Table Mountain incline on Kloof Road, up and down into Camps Bay with its white sandy beaches fringed by palm trees, followed by a two-loop run along the Atlantic Seaboard finishing at the Green Point precinct next to the Cape Town Stadium.
The route is novel and testing and based in the heart of Cape Town. It incorporates the cooler waters of Table Bay, the CBD, the wind of the Cape Flats, the entire Peninsula and the steep slopes of Table Mountain. It offers international television crews a visual tabloid of Cape Town like no other.
“Cape Town is often called the Mother City and for good reason,” said Grant Kunneke, managing director of Challenge South Africa and race director of Challenge Cape Town. “This city, which brings you the finest wine, never ending backdrops and rich history, is now adding what will be a new jewel in Cape Town’s sporting crown, Challenge Cape Town.’‘
The hub of the action takes place at the Green Point fields where the sophisticated transition areas and finish will be placed. “We expect a field of about 1 000 participants first time round, a third of them being international athletes who travel the world selecting two or three Challenge events a year. Cape Town is a strong attraction. A media contingent of +-forty sport and triathlon specific journalists and photographers accompany the group as do many of the Challenge Family members who assist in putting on the event”, says Grant Kunneke.
Current SA Ironman champion Raynard Tissink alongside James Cunnama and Challenge Barcelona champion Lucie Zelenkova are confirmed entries for the race. Many more professional triathletes have expressed interest in the new event. Their entries are expected shortly.
The City of Cape Town has welcomed the project and has been hard at work to ensure road closures, athlete safety and spectator participation. The traffic plan has been submitted and accepted and participants are assured of rolling road closures throughout the cycle route.
The Cape Town City Council and its Events Office has been accommodating in planning the logistics of the event. Their assistance has been invaluable and their learnings from the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour place them in a very advantageous position regarding attracting mass participation events.
“Cape Town was the obvious choice for Challenge Family to launch in South Africa,” said Challenge Family CEO, Felix Walchshöfer. “It’s one of the world’s most iconic cities and we are delighted that the city has welcomed us to create what is sure to be a memorable race for all. Where else can a course take in two oceans, the deep rich African culture, all against such a spectacular setting? We are incredibly proud to include Cape Town in the Challenge Family and we look forward to working with all the different communities to make sure it is a huge success for everyone.”
Challenge Cape Town entries open on 31st March 2011 with entry from R2 990 for individual athletes and R4 500 for relay teams. For entries and further information, please visit www.challengecapetown.com.
Challenge Cape Town is part of the Challenge Family series that features 13 races across three continents, including the world’s largest iron distance triathlon, Challenge Roth in Germany. Other races are Challenge Wanaka (New Zealand), Challenge Fuerteventura and Challenge Barcelona (Spain), Challenge Kraichgau (Germany), Challenge Cairns (Australia), Challenge Copenhagen and Challenge Aarhus (Denmark), Challenge Vichy (France), Challenge Walchsee (Austria) and Challenge Henley-on-Thames (UK). For further information, visit www.challenge-family.com.
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