Ironman Lanzarote is known as one of the toughest courses that covers the distance.
Photo: Competitive Image
Though it was still a mass start format, athletes were asked to self-seed by expected finish time. Photo: Competitive Image
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In Lanzarote it is truly a mass beach start. The men and women pros are off together and then about 20 yards back the age-group athletes hit the water.
Several Ironmans have switched to a rolling start, but Lanzarote has so far continued with the mass start.
Though it was still a mass start format, athletes were asked to self-seed by expected finish time.
Age-group athletes head to the Fire Mountains, named for the active volcanoes on the island.
One of a few spots on the bike course that the age-group athletes can get a glimpse of the pros.
The run course for 2017 was changed from 3 laps to 2, the first lap being 30 km and the final lap 12 km. The course is mostly along the Atlantic Ocean.
Local spectators lined the course along the run.
While the medal isn’t the end goal, it does commemorate a hard day of work.
All World Athlete Brian Fogerty of the U.K. celebrates his finish.
A great day for Reece Barclay from the U.K.
This Danish athlete had energy to spare crossing the line.
Athletes often hang out at the finish to wait for their significant other. Reece Barclay only had to wait a few minutes for his girlfriend and winner Lucy Charles.
There are some things that are more important than crossing the finish line and getting your medal.
But crossing the line is still a pretty big deal!
Javier Perez Garcia – YOU are an IRONMAN!
While some are crossing the finish line, others are heading to the dismount line in T2 with the run still ahead of them.
The two-lap run course provided spectators a chance to see their athletes and the athletes the important boost they need on the run.
The two-lap run course provided spectators a chance to see their athletes and the athletes the important boost they need on the run.
The two-lap run course provided spectators a chance to see their athletes and the athletes the important boost they need on the run.
Families joined in for the final few meters before entering the official finish line chute.
The two-lap run course provided spectators a chance to see their athletes and the athletes the important boost they need on the run.
The two-lap run course provided spectators a chance to see their athletes and the athletes the important boost they need on the run.
The two-lap run course provided spectators a chance to see their athletes and the athletes the important boost they need on the run.
Ironman Lanzarote, one of the longest-standing Ironmans in Europe, is known as one of the toughest courses that covers the distance. On Saturday, 1,600 athletes took on the brutally hot course for bragging rights and a shot at one of 40 qualifying slots to the 2017 Ironman World Championship. First competitors took to the two-lap swim course at Playa Grande, Puerto del Carmen. Then it was onto the toughest part of the day—the bike course. It’s well known for strong winds and leads athletes around the island with over 2,551 meters of climbing. Finally, the two-lap run course led competitors along the flat sea front of Puerto del Carmen, toward the airport and back.
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