Challenge Family has announced a partnership with the world’s oldest triathlon outside of Hawaii. The Holland Triathlon, based in Almere, has been running since 1981 and now joins the other great legacy events of the sport, Challenge Roth, Challenge Penticton and Challenge Phuket as Challenge Almere-Amsterdam on 14 September 2013.
The Almere course is the world’s only long distance triathlon course located below sea level on reclaimed land at the bottom of what was once the Zuiderzee (South Sea), just 25 kilometers from the Dutch capital of Amsterdam. Still surrounded by water, the course features the typical Dutch landscapes renowned the world over – dikes, windmills, tulip fields and endless straight, fast roads where the battle is between you and the elements.
Almere’s long history of triathlon includes hosting four European Championships (1985, 1991, 1999, 2006) and two World Championships (2003 and 2008) with the race record held by Jan van der Marel with a time of 7:57:46.
One of those athletes is renowned Dutch triathlete, Rob Barel, Olympian, multiple European and National Champion as well as Long Distance World Champion.
The start and finish of Challenge Almere-Amsterdam will take place in the heart of the Almere’s city centre, on the Esplanade, an area renowned for its culture and futuristic architecture. The two-lap swim takes place in the Weerwater, adjacent to the Esplanade. The name means 'water again', as this lake was dug after the city of Almere was reclaimed from the Zuiderzee, bringing the water back.
The bike course will take athletes through the province of Flevoland, racing along the former Zuiderzee sea bed, between dikes and windmills. The run course features four laps of 10,5k through the city of Almere, alternating between modern architecture and calming nature and green spaces surrounding the Weerwater.
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam takes place on 14 September 2013 and entries open today, 8 January at www.challenge-almere.com.
