Challenge Barcelona has become the latest European triathlon to be acquired by Ironman owners WTC, paving the way for Ironman Barcelona and Ironman 70.3 Barcelona later this year.
Race organiser Tritlon Spain, which has hosted the Challenge Barcelona events since 2009, confirmed yesterday that it has been acquired by WTC.
Both new Ironman events will be held in the seaside town of Calella, just 50km down the coast from the city of Barcelona, with Ironman Barcelona to be held on 5 October and Ironman 70.3 Barcelona taking place on 18 May.
Ironman Barcelona will offer a prize purse of €50,000, along with 50 age-group slots to the 2015 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, while Ironman 70.3 Barcelona has a €25,000 prize purse and 30 age-group slots to this year's Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Canada.
Ironman has also indicated that it plans to launch a new long-distance triathlon in Peguera, Mallorca at some point in the future, which will bring the total number of events it operates in Spain to seven, including Ironman Lanzarote, Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote, Ironman Mallorca and Ironman 70.3 Mallorca.
WTC's other recent European acquisitions include Ironman Copenhagen and Ironman Kraichgau, which were previously operated under licence from Challenge Family events.
Registration for Ironman 70.3 Barcelona opened today (16 April) here.
Will you be entering Ironman Barcelona this year? Let us know in the comments below!