From first-timers to competitive triathletes, all are invited to enter TRI YAS – to swim, bike and run at the world-famous Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. This latest event is helping to put Abu Dhabi on the triathlon map, and follows the growing ambitions of the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon.
Taking place on Friday 14 January, the first day of the weekend in the region, the entire TRI YAS course takes place within the Yas Marina Circuit area – the venue of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. The swim is in the marina, the bike course is on the race track and the run takes place around the outer perimeter of the circuit.
Transition will even be housed in the pits and pit lane to give the full Yas Marina Circuit experience!
Competitors can take part in the full Olympic distance (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run) or the Sprint option (750m swim, 20K bike, 5K run). Competitors can also form relay teams. Those taking part will be encouraged to bring friends and family to join the community of Abu Dhabi in a day-long festival of fun and activities that will surround the event.
Troy Watson, Yas Marina Circuit’s Operations Venue Manager and spokesman for TRI YAS, said “People are used to seeing the world’s most exciting motorsports events at Yas Marina Circuit but this will help open the facility up to the community for something a bit different.”
Watson, himself a keen triathlete and triathlon coach, added: “The way TRI YAS has been designed will appeal to everyone from the most accomplished triathletes, who have been waiting for an Olympic-distance triathlon in the UAE, to people who are generally interested in fitness and want to try out the shorter distances or the relay.”
It is hoped that those who sign up will also use TRI YAS as a ‘warm-up’ for the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon 2011, which will be held on 12 March.
Primed and positioned to be an ‘instant classic’, Abu Dhabi International Triathlon (ADIT) now boasts three race formats. The first formats, unveiled for the 2010 race, are a testing 223K ‘pure power’ course (3km swim / 200km bike / 20km run) and a second 111.5K route (1.5K swim, 100K bike or 10K run), which can be run as a team relay event.
The third addition to the 2011 ADIT line up is the new sprint course, with its 750m swim, 50K bike and 5K run, completed as part of a team or alone. All distances are open to elites and amateurs, a key facet in this event’s aim for a broad appeal.
www.yasmarinacircuit.ae
www.abudhabitriathlon.com
