Decided your A-race this summer? This could be a contender for all you middle distance athletes: the new Ironman 70.3 Durban.
The race will start on 2 August with a 1.9km swim off the city’s world-famous surfing beaches, followed by a 90.1km bike which takes athletes past the iconic Moses Mabhida stadium which was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The race will finish with a 21.1km run along Durban’s Golden Mile.
(Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons)
“The popularity of triathlon in South Africa is on the rise – and athletes have long awaited the introduction of an additional race in the region,” said Keith Bowler, Managing Director for Ironman South Africa. “Durban is a great location that is also one of the original South African triathlon hotbeds, with the South African pioneers of the sport thriving in the 1980s."
This year’s Ironman 70.3 Durban will have 30 qualifying slots for the 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Championship, taking place in Australia’s Sunshine Coast, and there will also be a total prize purse of US$50,000.
Registration will open on 2 February at 1pm UK time, and more info can be found at www.ironman.com/durban70.3.
Check out Joe Beer's new year training plan for middle distance racers here.
Will you be entering Ironman 70.3 Durban? Let us know in the comments!