A large international triathlon tournament BI GROUP IRONMAN KAZAKHSTAN, and BI GROUP IRONMAN 70.3 ASTANA will be held in Nur-Sultan two years after the start of the pandemic. The sporting event will be held on August 14, QazMonitor reports citing the press service of the Akimat.
Some 2,200 triathletes from 77 countries will take part in the competition. Organizers are expecting large groups of triathletes from Great Britain, India, Germany and Russia. It will be the first tournament in the country after a two-year break.
Each race consists of three stages, held without interruption: a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bike ride, and a 42.195 km marathon race. The Ironman 70.3 series are halved-distance competitions: the 1.9 km swim, the 90 km bike race, and the 21.1 km run.
"Holding such a start contributes not only to the development of amateur sport but also to tourism. For example, a group of 200 triathletes from India is coming, which is already one cabin. The athletes aim to travel around the south of Kazakhstan and get to know the country. I think it's quite a contribution to the city and country budget, taking into account that it's held without any state funds," says Alexey Sidorenko, the race director.
IRONMAN races take place throughout the year in different parts of the world. In each of them, a certain number of places (slots) are raffled off, giving the right to participate in the main start of the season - the IRONMAN World Championship. BI Group IRONMAN Kazakhstan will draw 45 slots at the IRONMAN World Championship 2021 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
"Due to the cancellation of starts in other countries we were able to get the opportunity to draw 45 slots at the race, and they will go to the strongest [athletes]," says Alexey.
The event will be supported by BI-Group Holding, Nur-Sultan City Akimat, and Kazakhstan Triathlon Federation.
