New stage for Ironman China

Posted by By Gary Roethenbaugh at 11 June, at 00 : 00 AM Print

Ironman China and Ironman 70.3 China will now take place at the new venue of Jixian, Tianjin Province, on 22 May 2011. The move to this venue heralds an exciting new era for Ironman China.

The host city of Jixian, Tianjin Province, is located a convenient 50-minute drive east from the Beijing International Airport (PEK),making the 2011 event easily accessible to China’s growing triathlon participatory base and other major international cities.

There are more than 40 triathlon clubs within driving distance of the venue and it is also within a day-trip of sections of The Great Wall and other China attractions.

The selection of a May date will take advantage of the pleasant late spring climate in Northern China, with expected maximum temperatures approaching 28C/82F. Weather patterns in this part of China leave virtually no chance of the sort of high temperatures that unluckily dogged the race in Haikou, the race’s previous venue. The Jixian region also hosts The Great Wall Marathon each year in early May.

Jixian is a clean-air and clean-water venue. The swim is in a reservoir offering controlled swim conditions. The two-loop bike course will circle the reservoir and possibly skirt The Great Wall. Details regarding the swim, bike and run courses will be announced in early June.

Organisationally, there will be a combination of some old and new faces at the race’s helm. The race is licensed to Accel-O, which will oversee operations of the event.

Ironman China will feature 50 qualifying slots to the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship, held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The Ironman 70.3 China event includes 25 qualifying slots to the 2011 Ironman World Championship 70.3, and is also an official qualifying event for the 2011 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship.

Further race information, including course maps and online registration details, will be announced in the coming weeks at Ironman.com and IronmanChina.com.

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