Boulder Gives Go-Ahead For Ironman

Local government in Boulder, Colo. has given approval for World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) to work towards hosting an Ironman in the city starting in 2014. City officials met late Tuesday night and decided to welcome a full-distance Ironman to complement the longstanding 70.3.

“City council gave the pretty strong go-ahead last night; the city manager gave the go-ahead at close to midnight,” said Barry Siff, former race director and race owner who is vested in the Ironman corporation.

The event is slated for Aug. 3, 2014 according to Siff, who worked closely with city government while operating the 5430 Sports triathlon series in Boulder, which he owned, and serving as local chairman of the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge. He has no current role with city government.

“Credit goes to [race director] Dave Christen, who is an absolutely outstanding, creative, innovative and upright race director who took it on and he deserves all the credit in the world,” Siff said.

The proposed course includes a one-loop swim around the Boulder Reservoir and a one-loop bike course through the rolling farmland northeast of Boulder, stretching through Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties.

Accommodating a 112-mile bike course is no small task for a city, and Siff credits the groundwork laid by Ironman 70.3 Boulder and the 5430 series, which he sold to WTC in 2009, for earning the city’s trust by producing quality events, as well as the large location population of triathletes.

“I think the city has always recognized itself as the mecca for endurance sports and is opening its arms a little more these days to larger events,” Siff said. “I think we’ve got really good people in place and a city that recognizes what we’re all about. From what I understand of the route, I don’t think the impact on the city will be all that dramatic, so it’s palatable… Dave knows what he’s doing and designed a course that fits within the realm of Boulder.”

In addition to his interest in WTC, Siff works with the HITS event series.

PHOTOS: 2012 Ironman 70.3 Boulder

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