There’s just over a week to go until the first Challenge Bahrain, and the organisers have confirmed the full pro field who’ll be racing for a slice of the whopping $500k prize fund.
Nearly 100 professional athletes will be lining up on 6 December, including both current Ironman world champions Sebastian Kienle and Mirinda Carfrae, and various Olympians and Commonwealth champs.
There are three British men on the start line (Tim Don, Ritchie Nicholls and Fraser Cartmell) and three British women (Rachel Joyce, Jodie Swallow, and Jodie Stimpson on her middle-distance debut). The full pro start list can be found here.
There will also be more than 1,000 age-groupers racing next Saturday, with the course involving a fast flat point-to-point course that takes in a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run, all spread out over a point-to-point course that passes both ancient Mesopotamian sites and high-tech landmarks, and finishes at the F1 motor circuit (maps here).
The organisers have introduced a 20m draft zone for the pro athletes, with 35secs passing time, as well as a separate start for the pro women, and a 30mins gap to the following age-grouper men.
The race gets underway at 7.30am local time (4.30am UK time) on Saturday 6 December, and live online coverage will be broadcast on race day at www.challenge-bahrain.com.bh. 220’s Liz will be there in Bahrain to cover all the action for our website and Twitter.
(Main image: Paul Phillips)
Will you be racing Challenge Bahrain next weekend? Let us know in the comments below!