Future and Rodale both unveil new triathlon magazines in the UK

24/02/2009

UK triathletes will shortly have three dedicated magazines to choose from as Future Publishing and Rodale Publishing both gear up to tackle the needs of the UK multisport community.

An article in the Guardian newspaper noted that Future’s foray into triathlon marks the company’s second magazine launch for 2009. Future is readying the April launch of Triathlon Plus, the latest monthly magazine for UK triathletes. Triathlon Plus joins well established and leading UK triathlon title, 220 Triathlon, on the newsstand. The third title vying for the attention of UK triathletes is Triathlete's World, the new publication from Rodale Publishing, the same team behind the success of Runner's World magazine.

Future’s new magazine shall be produced in Bath and edited by Mat Brett, former editor of rival 220 Triathlon magazine, as well as an editor of Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus.

Future trialled the new magazine in January and decided to push ahead with the launch to capture a slice of the rapidly growing triathlon market. The 148 page Triathlon Plus goes on sale on 7 April 2009, with a cover price of £3.99. Its initial print run will be about 50,000.

Simon Wear, Chief Operating Officer at Future, said the publication would offer something "new and different".

"We believe there is now a real appetite among both consumers and the industry for a magazine that provides high-end design and editorial content, and our track record in cycling gives us the ideal credentials to do this."

Wear added that, "The specialist skills embedded in the structure of Future lend themselves perfectly to creating a great magazine packed full of tutorials, reviews and features."

Rodale believes that its Triathlete's World title will be the first triathlon magazine specifically targeted at the newcomer to the sport who is worried about the transition from a single endurance activity such as running or cycling into the swim/bike/run challenge of triathlon. Triathlete's World offers health, fitness and nutrition advice around a core of easy to follow training programmes, product buying guides and event information.

The availability of three magazine titles dedicated to triathlon is a testament to the importance of triathlon as one of the fastest growing participation activities in the UK, and as London steps up to host triathlon in the 2012 Olympics.

The three UK titles join US magazines, such as Triathlete, which can be found in dedicated UK triathlon retailers, alongside a number of dedicated triathlon websites, such as the popular online community at Tri247.com.

Future reported a 1% year on year increase in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2008. Its cycling portfolio includes Cycling Plus, Procycling, What Mountain Bike, Mountain Biking UK, bikeradar.com and cyclingnews.com. Tthe company does not publish any running titles.

The sport of triathlon was added to the Olympic programme in Sydney in 2000. Since then, race participation has doubled in the UK. The London Triathlon is the biggest in the world with 13,000 participants, and last year the UK saw 650 registered triathlon events.

www.futureplc.com
www.rodale.com
www.220magazine.com
www.tri247.com

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