The Castle Triathlon Series will be offering another new half iron distance event, ‘Le Gauntlet’, at the Château de Chantilly Triathlon in 2013. Taking place just north of Paris, France, on Sunday 25 August 2013, it will consist of a 1.9K swim, 90K cycle and a 21K run.
This latest event announcement follows the confirmation last month that the Hever Castle Triathlon will host The Gauntlet – on Sunday 29 September 2013.
As with its English counterpart, Le Gauntlet in France is positioned as being perfect for those who wish to upgrade from the Olympic distance or simply take on a new challenge. As the organisers note, ‘The stunning venue and scenic grounds set the scene for a motivating event nurturing your most extreme triathlon ambitions.’
Le Gauntlet is suitably named in keeping with the castle theme, as it not only symbolises a protective glove used as a form of armour during historical battles, but celebrates the expressions ‘running the gauntlet’ (originally running the gantlope), which means running between two confining rows of adversaries, and ‘throwing down the gauntlet’.
The Château de Chantilly course has a strong off road run element but is kinder than the Hever Castle course to competitors with a flatter cycle and run. The 1.9K swim in the Grand Canal offers the ultimate backdrop of the Chateau. Once out of the estate grounds the cycle course circumnavigates the Foret de Chantilly and Forêt Domaniale d’Ermenomillean with an equally stunning 45K loop.
Culminating in a two 10.5K lap run course, competitors will take in the vast estate park designed by Le Nôtre for the Grand Condé at the end of the seventeenth century and the contemporary gardens including castle Jardin de Anglais.
The Gauntlet expects to draw in elites and keen triathletes, with a significant prize fund for the top winners of €5,000 up for grabs.
The Castle Triathlon team noted, ‘Our research among serious triathletes told us that there were many of you interested in taking part in such a significant race but there is a limited offering in the region, with the nearest long distance race a few hours away in Paris.’
By growing its selection of race distances, the Castle Triathlon Series hopes to offer fans a complete portfolio of distances, ‘suiting all triathletes, from cradle to grave.’
If the event is well received and timings allow, the organisers will look to offer a further offering of half iron distances at the other castles in the series and even look to host a full iron distance in the not too distant future.
www.castletriathlonseries.co.uk
