The organising team behind Challenge Vichy 2013 has released a further video of this year’s event, which took place on 1 September. Following on from a previous video, made by race volunteer Valentin Roussey, which was a tribute to the work of the event’s 700 volunteers, the latest clip takes in all the atmosphere of the event.
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 a 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!
In the summer of 2012, the European Triathlon Union (ETU) confirmed that Challenge Vichy in France would host the official ETU Long Distance Championships in 2013. This followed the partnership, confirmed earlier in 2012, between the Challenge Family and the European Triathlon Union (ETU). The agreement between the Challenge series race organizer and Europe’s governing body for triathlon saw Challenge Kraichgau and Challenge Roth both host Long Distance Triathlon Continental Championships in 2012.
Challenge Vichy’s swim leg benefits from being between the French city’s 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.
www.challengevichy.com
www.challenge-family.com
