The IRONMAN Group has announced that Klagenfurt, Austria, and Lahti, Finland, have been named finalists to host the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon. The championship will rotate back to Europe after last playing host to the event in Nice, France, in 2019.
The 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship will be a two-day event, a format that was first adopted in 2017 when the event was held in Chattanooga – with the professional women and age-group women racing on one day and the professional men and age-group men racing on the other.
“The evolution of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship has been considerable; and as we return to Europe in 2022, we have two locations in Lahti, Finland and Klagenfurt, Austria that have shown they deserve this opportunity to host the world’s best,” said Andrew Messick, President & Chief Executive Officer of IRONMAN.
“Not only do these cities have the ability to provide our athletes extraordinary race experiences, venues and local culture, they are sure to attract athlete’s family and friends from around the world. Just as the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship showcases world-class competition, it is important that we continue to select venues from around the globe that meet the standards these top performers deserve.
“We look forward to the final process playing out as we determine who will be selected as the host city for the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon.”
The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship began in Clearwater, Florida in 2006 and since that time, has toured destinations around the world with stops in:
- Henderson, Nevada (2011-13);
- Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada (2014);
- Zell am See-Kaprun, SalzburgerLand, Austria (2015);
- Queensland, Australia (2016);
- Chattanooga, Tennessee (2017);
- Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa (2018); and
- Nice, France (2019).
This year, the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship will move to Taupō, New Zealand – a venue that has been playing host to IRONMAN events for 20 years. In 2021, the event will rotate back to the US where St George, Utah, will host the two-day championship event.
“We are thrilled to welcome the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship back on European soil in 2022,” said Stefan Petschnig, Managing Director of EMEA for The IRONMAN Group. “Both, Lahti and Klagenfurt would be deserving of a world championship event.
“They have shown outstanding commitment to host this unique two-day race and I would like to congratulate all involved on their respective bids and the high-quality events they have provided athletes both past and present.”
Klagenfurt, Austria
Located on the eastern shore of Lake Wörthersee in the southern Austrian province of Carinthia, Klagenfurt has been a staple on the IRONMAN calendar since 1999. Playing host city to the popular IRONMAN Austria-Kärnten, Klagenfurt lures athletes with its picturesque backdrops between Lake Wörthersee and the Southern Alps.
“IRONMAN Austria has been successfully held in Klagenfurt for more than twenty years,” said Maria-Luise Mathiaschitz, Mayor of Klagenfurt.
“The event has an excellent international reputation. The people of Klagenfurt are triathlon fanatics and ensure a fantastic atmosphere along the race route, supporting the athletes all the way to the finish line.
“This unique atmosphere, the perfect conditions, and an internationally successful organising team make Klagenfurt the perfect event location for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in 2022.”
Lahti, Finland
Situated in Southern Finland, Lahti is the gateway to Finnish Lake District and located less than an hour from Helsinki. The community currently hosts the Nokian Tyres IRONMAN 70.3 Finland triathlon, which in just two years has become a favourite on the European IRONMAN 70.3 calendar.
“The City of Lahti is known as an organiser of international big sports events,” said City of Lahti Mayer Pekka Timonen. “Although this reputation has mainly been gained through winter events, Nokian Tyres IRONMAN 70.3 Finland, organised twice in Lahti, has shown that Lahti is a full-blooded triathlon city.
“The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships 2022 in Lahti would be a great thing for Finland, for the city of Lahti as the European Green Capital 2021 as well as for the local and global triathlon culture in Scandinavia and northern Europe.”
Athletes can compete at these finalist venues in advance of having an opportunity to qualify for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship as general registration for the 2020 event in Lahti, is open now while limited entries through travel partner Nirvana are available for the 2020 IRONMAN Austria-Kärnten.
The Nokian Tyres IRONMAN 70.3 Finland triathlon takes place on Saturday, June 27, 2020. IRONMAN Austria-Kärnten is scheduled for Sunday, July 5, 2020. Both events will also take place in 2021 and 2022 prior to the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship giving athletes additional opportunities to compete on world championship-calibre courses.
For the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, IRONMAN expects approximately 250,000 registered athletes from around the world to compete at any of the more than 120 events in the global IRONMAN 70.3 Series in locations such as New Zealand, Slovenia, Germany, Argentina, and Philippines to earn a coveted slot.
In addition, each age-group champion at the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in St George, Utah will automatically qualify for the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
www.ironman.com/im-austria
www.ironman.com/im703-finland
