More Ironman World Championship qualifying slots will be available in Frankfurt (100 slots) in 2013; while Wiesbaden will also serve as a qualifying race for Kona (30 slots). Ironman Zurich will also have an additional 10 slots (60) next year.
At the Frankfurter Sparkasse Ironman European Championship, held on 7 July 2013, there will be 100 qualification slots for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawai’I, awarded to age group athletes. This is up from the 75 offered this year.
The Sparkassen Finanzgruppe Ironman 70.3 European Championship in Wiesbaden (11 August 2013) will be the only European Ironman 70.3 qualification race for Kona, offering 30 slots to athletes. Meanwhile, Ironman Switzerland in Zurich will offer an additional 10 slots, bringing its total to 60.
“After having to take Ironman Regensburg from our race calendar due to difficulties in finding a race date, we are happy to have been able to keep the Kona slots in Germany,” said Kai Walter, Managing Director, Germany, of Ironman brand owner World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). “This emphasizes the value of the Ironman 70.3 European Championship in Wiesbaden.”
The Lord Mayor of Wiesbaden, Dr Helmut Mueller added, “I am very happy about the allocation of 30 qualification slots for our Ironman 70.3. This once again proves the significance that our event in Wiesbaden has in the international race calendar. I am convinced that this decision will have an additional positive impact on the race and the interest in the event.”
Slots for the Ironman World Championship in Kona are highly sought after, with only 1,700 age group athletes lining up at the start in Hawaii each October. Apart from a limited amount of slots that are awarded through the Ironman Kona Lottery and the Ironman Legacy Program, all athletes must qualify for the world championship.
“For now, the increased amount of slots is only for 2013. We consider this a unique chance for athletes in both races,” Walter added.
