ABU DHABI 9 October 2018: The ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi opens its doors for entrants today, as organisers encourage athletes – from first-timers to seasoned competitors – to join the spectacle when it returns to Yas Island on 8th and 9th of March, 2019.
The event, which is the season-opener of the ITU’s global World Triathlon Series, has seen impressive growth in participation since its inauguration in 2015 – from 1,600 to 2,500 amateur participants – a 56 per cent increase. This makes it the biggest triathlon in the Middle East. Furthermore, with dedicated slots for Special Olympic and Para athletes, it is also the most inclusive triathlon in the Middle East.
The ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi will feature three categories: Elites, Age groupers and Junior races. The Age Grouper races allow amateur triathletes to compete as individuals or as part of a team, across a variety of distances:
Super Sprint (375m swim, 10km cycle, 2.5km run)
Sprint (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run)
Olympic (1,500m swim, 40km cycle, 10km run) distances.
The community can also make the weekend a family affair, with the return of the junior races – a fun event aimed at encouraging youngsters to get active – which feature various races for children aged 5 years and up.
Mini 1km: 1km run for 5 – 8 years
Kids Duathlon: 500m run, 4km cycle, 500m run for 7 – 11 years
Junior Duathlon: 1km run, 7km cycle, 500m run for 12 – 15 years
Junior Triathlon: 120 swim, 4km cycle, 1km run for 9 – 11 years
Junior Triathlon Super Sprint: 400m swim, 10km cycle, 2.5km run for 12 – 15 years
Schools Sprint: 750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run
The ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi allows these athletes a rare experience, as they get to race on the same weekend and the same course as the world’s greatest triathletes who take part in the Elite division. All set to the backdrop of Yas Marina Circuit and the impressive Yas Island, spectators on the day will get the chance to witness world-class athletes who dominate the sport.
