Published February 24, 2011 04:13PM
A preview of the 2011 TriGrandPrix Race Series.
The TriGrandPrix Race Series kicks off May 22 with TriGrandPrix UK, a 1.9K swim, 90K bike and 21K run, to be held at Emberton Park in association with Big Cow Events. Scottish pro Fraser Cartmell, the 2010 winner of the race and a three-time Ironman 70.3 UK champion, will be defending his title against stiff competition this year. Also competing in the race will be Kiwi Kieran Doe, the 2009 ITU Asian Long Distance Champion and winner of the 2010 Ironman 70.3 Calgary, as well as Nick Saunders, Tom Sturdy and Rasmus Stubager. In the women’s race will be Julia Grant, Heleen bij de Vaate, Kelly Crickmore and Alison Rowatt.
The second race of the season, TriGrandPrix Basque Country on June 11 (a 2.5K swim, 82K bike and 20K run), will be the 25th running of the race. The race, held in Zarautz, Spain, will include 2010 winners Eneko Llanos of Spain and Catriona Morrison of Great Britain defending their titles. The biggest draw at the TriGrandPrix Basque Country will be the head-to-head battle between German Timo Bracht, the winner of the 2009 Ironman European Championship, and Llanos, who holds the course record. Also racing in Basque Country will be Mathias Hecht, Kieran Doe, Mikel Elgezabal, Peru Alfaro and local star Jon Unanue.
Jose Torres, TriGrandPrix’s chief of operations, said in a press release, “We are delighted that the two champions of 2010, Eneko Llanos and Catriona Morrison, will be defending their titles this year in Zarautz.”
The total of six races in 2011 will also include:
TriGrandPrix Navarra
July 3, 2011
Aritzaleku, Navarra, Spain
1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run
TriGrandPrix Ireland
July 23, 2011
Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Ireland
1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run
TriGrandPrix Valencia
Sept. 11, 2011
1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run
TriGrandPrix France
Oct. 2, 2011
Ciboure, France
1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run
The distances listed for each event are the “main event,” or the race at which pros and age-groupers receive points toward the championship. Most of the TriGrandPrix race “experiences” include a half-iron, Olympic, sprint, super sprint and a kid’s event, as well as relays.