IRONMAN has confirmed the addition of a new IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon in the city of Valdivia in the Los Ríos region of Chile. The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Valdivia triathlon is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 17, 2024. General registration for the new event will open on November 15, 2023.
The new IRONMAN 70.3 Valdivia event joins IRONMAN 70.3 Pucon in Chile – and goes up against Challenge Family, which has Challenge Coquimbo-La Serena and Challenge Puerto Varas in the country.
“We are thrilled to return to Chile with this new IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon in this exciting South American destination,” said Joanna Jordan, Vice President – Managing Director of Latin America for The IRONMAN Group.
“Valdivia will be a fantastic racing venue with both stunning scenery and numerous indulgences making this a perfect location for an IRONMAN 70.3 event. With an abundance of outdoor activities, shopping options, delicious cuisine and cultural landmarks, this Chilian landscape will offer our athletes a truly eclectic race experience. We are proud to partner with WORLD CENTRIC GROUP to bring the IRONMAN 70.3 brand to Valdivia.”
The IRONMAN 70.3 Valdivia triathlon will kick off with a 1.9 km (1.2-mile) swim in the waters of the Calle-Calle river, passing the area’s Cau-Cau Bridge. Once out of the water athletes will embark on a 90 km (56-mile) bike course that will traverse a route that passes Parque Saval towards the town of Máfil.
Athletes will finish their race with a 21.1 km (13.1-mile) run course that visits the scenic urban landscapes of Valdivia, and passing once more over the Cau-Cau, Calle-Calle and Pedro de Valdivia bridges before culminating in a finish line experience in the heart of Valdivia.
“The IRONMAN 70.3 Valdivia seeks to integrate and unite the national triathlon community and provide participants and their companions with a renewed sporting experience,” said Guido Cornejo, Managing Partner of the event production company World Centric Group, which owns and will operate the new event.
“For World Centric Group it is a great challenge to organize and produce this mega sporting event. The support given to us by the authorities of the Municipalities of Valdivia and Máfil, and The IRONMAN Group commits us to holding a quality event. We are sure that we will respond to those expectations.”
Carla Amtmann, Mayor of Valdivia, said “We have proposed to put Valdivia in the eyes of the world, and it is a commitment that we fulfill with actions.
“We want everyone to come and enjoy this enviable environment. Valdivia looks forward to receiving this important international sporting event with open arms. We are working to build the best version of Valdivia to receive athletes from all over Chile and the world, along with their teams. Without a doubt, this will provide a considerable economic injection from an event never seen before in Valdivia.”
Valdivia is located in the south of Chile, 850km (528-miles) from Chile’s capital city, Santiago. The area is known for its German ancestry, breweries, and culturally rich heritage.
Valdivia has become a national tourism destination, surrounded by natural landscapes, including rivers, lakes and forests. These features and modern infrastructure offer a setting for hosting sporting events, with scenery for swimming, biking, and running. The city is also home to Austral University, Feria Fluvial, the city’s large, covered market, beaches, hiking trails, and more.
