The winners of this December’s inaugural Challenge Bahrain will each get a whopping $100k, as the organisers reveal how they will share out the world’s largest middle distance prize purse in triathlon this December.
With $500k to be shared out between the top 10 men and top 10 women, the remainder will pay down to 10th place as follows: second - $50k, third – $25k, fourth - $12k, fifth - $8k, sixth – $7k, seventh - $6k, eighth – $5k, ninth – $4k, tenth - $3k.
“Tenth place at Challenge Bahrain is the same prize money as a win at other half distance races,” said Challenge Family CEO, Zibi Szlufcik. “Together with our partners in the Kingdom of Bahrain, this highlights our commitment and respect for the professional athletes. This is illustrated outside of Bahrain as well with all Challenge half distance races paying a minimum of US$35,000.”
The massive prize purse has already attracted entries from reigning Ironman world champion Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) and Ironman 70.3 world champion Sebastian Kienle (GER), along with other top pros including Pete Jacobs (AUS), Caroline Steffen (SUI) and Britain’s Rachel Joyce.
By comparison, this year's Ironman 70.3 World Championship (which involves the same distances of 1.9km swim/90km bike/21.1km run) is offering a prize purse of $250k. The longer-distance 2014 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii has a total prize purse of $650k, with the winners getting $120k each.