After the success of the 2013 edition of Challenge Vichy where 1400 triathletes landed in Auvergne, France, for two event distances (Half and Full) the organizers have decided to add an Olympic Distance event to next year’s line-up, which takes place across the weekend of 30-31 August 2014.
The new Olympic distance triathlon (swim 1500m, bike 40K, run 10K) will be held on 30 August 2014. The Challenge Vichy and Vichy Half Triathlon will be held on 31 August.
“Our goal is to make Challenge Vichy a meeting place for all triathletes at the end of the season,” said Gael Mainard, Race Director.
“We have included a wider range of courses so that clubs can come with all of their members. Challenge Vichy will now also include an Iron Distance, a Half Distance, an Olympic Distance, a Family Distance of a 5K run and a Junior Challenge. We also plan to add an open swim water course. This is to put a beautiful weekend into perspective.”
Registration for next year’s event has been open since 15 September 2013. The first change in event pricing will be on 15 October 2013. Although, this year, a new system of reimbursement has been put in place in case of cancellation.
The organising team behind Challenge Vichy 2013 recently released a video of this year’s event, which took place on 1 September.
The clip 16 minute clip is a shortened version of a film to be broadcast on French TV. It takes in the tense event build-up in the early morning hours of darkness, set to the sound of atmospheric opera, through to more up-beat bike and run sections. It finishes with all the emotion as athletes cross the finish line – particularly one athlete who is clearly worse for wear after a crash, but very happy to finish!
Challenge Vichy’s swim leg benefits from being between two bridges that cross the Allier River making it easily accessible to spectators to see all the action.
The 180K bike takes competitors through the forest before emerging with a breath-taking view of the Auvergne volcanoes and countryside with its iconic wheat fields and sunflowers. Finally, the predominantly flat run goes between the city parks and along the banks of the Allier River.
