IRONMAN is adding to its 2022 global race calendar with the IRONMAN 70.3 Erkner triathlon in Brandenburg, Germany, joining the IRONMAN 70.3 series.
Having taken on popular local event, the Erkner Triathlon, the IRONMAN Europe notes that IRONMAN 70.3 Erkner will continue to build upon the legacy of the Erkner Triathlon with next year’s event held on Sunday, September 11, 2022.
General registration opens on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. The event is located on the south-eastern edge of Germany’s capital Berlin. The small town with 12,000 inhabitants will also host a 5150 Triathlon Series event as well as a 4:18:4 Short Course triathlon on Saturday, September 10, 2022, ‘creating a festival race weekend’.
“We are delighted to be further growing the IRONMAN brand in Germany with the announcement of IRONMAN 70.3 Erkner in Brandenburg,” said Thomas Veje Olsen, Head of Operations for The IRONMAN Group in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
“Together with the organizers of the former Erkner Triathlon we will place our shared passion and love for the sport of triathlon to continue to create an exceptional event for our athletes. We are excited to be working with the team from Erkner, and together we are certain to take this triathlon festival to the next level.”
Marko Manthey, organizer of the Erkner Triathlon, said “It is an honour and a privilege to work with the German team of The IRONMAN Group on the new IRONMAN 70.3 Erkner. The family character of the race will remain as the course will continue to lead through charming terrain.”
Athletes joining IRONMAN 70.3 Erkner will start their race at the Dämeritzsee, a lake located in the southeast of Berlin. One half of the Dämeritzsee lies in Berlin city territory and the other half in the state of Brandenburg.
Athletes then transition onto the newly designed one lap 90 km (56 miles) bike course that leads along the Spree River. At the Scharmützelsee, athletes will take the road leading back to the transition zone.
With straight roads, IRONMAN adds that the bike route offers a flat and fast course. The final 21,1 km run (3-loops) will guide athletes through the city of Erkner, passing the marketplace of Erkner and the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Museum, a memorial to the poet and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Gerhart Hauptmann.
IRONMAN 70.3 Erkner will offer qualifying slots to the 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship taking place in Lahti, Finland on August 26-27, 2023.
