TRIATHLON

Challenge Wanaka ranked top 10 in the world

Challenge Wanaka is ranked as one of the world’s top 10 most scenic races by US publication, Triathlete Magazine, in its 100 Greatest Races on Earth feature.

Triathlete Magazine is the largest triathlon title in the world with over quarter of a million readers. For a race to be included in its “greatest on earth” feature, participating in it should be a life-changing experience and one that the athlete knows they will never forget. In this first-of-its-kind feature, the Triathlete editorial team selected 100 events that stand out from all the rest in 13 categories representing the full gamut of triathlon—from off-road to women-only to the hardest to the most scenic.

With the 3.8km swim in a crystal clear alpine lake surrounded by mountains, a bike course that takes athletes to the edge of Mt Aspiring National Park and around three lakes and a 42.km run that is 60% off-road along riverside and lakeside tracks, it’s easy to see how Challenge Wanaka has become so renowned on the international circuit after just four years.

Challenge Wanaka was one of three Challenge races to make the grade. Challenge Copenhagen was ranked as one of the top 10 most anticipated new races for 2010. The inaugural Challenge Copenhagen will run through the city centre, finishing in front of the royal palace on August 14 and is the only long distance triathlon in the world to take place in a capital city.

The world’s largest long distance triathlon, Challenge Roth with 4,500 competitors, also makes an appearance in the top 10 best iron distance races in the world.

The next Challenge Wanaka takes place on 15 January 2011 featuring over 1,300 athletes from 25 nations. It is part of the global Challenge Series of long distance triathlons with eight races in Germany, France, Spain, Austria and Denmark, as well as New Zealand. For further information visit www.challenge-wanaka.com or www.challenge-family.com.