Posted: May 30, 2007

Triathlon: Austrian IRONMAN 70.3 - Premiere on June 2nd

The preparations for IRONMAN 70.3 in St. Pölten are in its final stages. The registration is closed with a total of 605 athletes from 40 nations. On Friday athletes can prepare themselves at the Pasta Party with a half ton of noodles being served. The IRONMAN 70.3 is only 4 days away and registration has now closed. 605 athletes from 40 nations have signed up for the race. The organizing is in its final stages with only last minute details be seen to now. The TRIANGLE show & sports promotion gmbh company, that is organizing IRONMAN races in Klagenfurt/Austria, Port Elizabeth/South Africa, Nice/France and Monte Carlo/Monaco, is working together with “Bestzeit Veranstaltungs GmbH” - an agency from St. Pölten, to put on the fantastic new event. The starting list consists of Gerardus Schellens (BEL), who ran to his second victory in a row in South Africa this year, and the current Duathlon World Champion Leon Griffin from Australia, who will chasing for the victory as well. The Austrian top-level field is represented by the IRONMAN Austria team-members Norbert Langbrandtner, Werner Leitner, Gernot Seidl, Andreas Di Bernardo and the ‘local hero’ of Lower Austria – Alexander Frühwirth. Norbert Domnik, Daniel Niederreiter and Norbert König will also be waiting for the starting gun. The field of ladies is as exciting as the men’s. Two previous Triangle Events winners, Erika Csomor (HUN), IRONMAN Austria winner of 2004 and IRONMAN France 2006 winner, Edith Niederfriniger (ITA) will both be fighting for the new title. The numbers surrounding the first IRONMAN 70.3 are significant: 600 participating athletes are bringing 2 people with them each, which means overnight stays of 5 400 in total. Every person is spending € 100,- per day, which means a value of € 540 000,-. International distribution agencies bring an advertising value of almost 1 Million Euros. The added value in the region amounts 1,5 Million Euros in total. Besides the economic numbers the amount of product at aid stations and side events is impressive as well. 17 000 litres of water will be given out, 1 100 pieces of chicken and a half ton of noodles will line the stomachs of athletes and 10 000 sponges will be dispersed amongst the aid stations. 1 000 volunteers will be present on Saturday, supporting the organization and procedure of the race. The Austria IRONMAN 70.3 offers 75 slots for the world championship in Clearwater/Florida. The participants are coming from 40 different nations, including New Zealand, Mexico, Israel and South Africa. 64,05 % are Austrians, 11,48% are German athletes and 4,1 % are coming from Italy. The total prize money amounts to $ 25 000 and will be distributed equally across male and female winners at this first Austria Ironman 70.3. Further information and course maps on www.ironman703.at.