Challenge Family has started the New Year by announcing a partnership with one of the world’s oldest triathlons to deliver a new event – Challenge Almere-Amsterdam. The Holland Triathlon, based in Almere, has been running since 1981 and now joins other events in the Challenge series, such as the iconic Challenge Roth. In recent months we have seen the Challenge family embark on an array of new event launches including:
- Challenge Penticton in Canada, unveiled last August
- Challenge Vitoria in Spain, which was confirmed in November
- Also unveiled in November was Challenge Rimini in Italy
- The Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest, which came about following a December partnership with Asia’s longest running triathlon
- The Asia expansion continued in December with the new Challenge Taiwan and Challenge Half Taiwan events
The Almere course in Holland is the world’s only long distance triathlon course located below sea level on reclaimed land at the bottom of what was once the Zuiderzee (South Sea), just 25 kilometres from the Dutch capital of Amsterdam.
Still surrounded by water, the course features the typical Dutch landscapes renowned the world over – dikes, windmills, tulip fields and endless straight, fast roads where the battle is between the athlete and the elements.
Almere’s long history of triathlon includes hosting four European Championships (1985, 1991, 1999, 2006) and two World Championships (2003 and 2008) with the race record held by Jan van der Marel with a time of 7:57:46.
René Peters, alderman of the City of Almere, said the city was looking forward to adding a new era to its triathlon history. “Almere and triathlon are strongly linked. Triathlon is the DNA of our community. There are two triathlon clubs, we have the national schools championships, a regional high performance centre and many volunteers. And by joining forces with a cultural festival, the race is a party for everyone.”
Peters added, “In the Challenge Family races, like Challenge Roth, we recognize events strongly rooted in the community. We share that philosophy and together we can build Challenge Almere-Amsterdam into a significant international event.”
“Almere is a city about innovations, it’s incredible what it has achieved during its short lifespan and it’s the ideal venue for a triathlon,” said Felix Walchshöfer. “But what is best of all is something that is absolutely unique to Almere and that is its enduring legacy of triathlon. Older than even Roth in this respect, it is an honour to have such a vital piece of triathlon’s rich history included within the Challenge Family.
“The list of athletes who have raced here reads like a triathlon ‘hall of fame’, along with many thousands of age groupers and we look forward to welcoming many more to the Challenge Family as part of Challenge Almere-Amsterdam.”
The start and finish of Challenge Almere-Amsterdam will take place in the heart of the Almere’s city centre, on the Esplanade, an area renowned for its culture and futuristic architecture. The two-lap swim takes place in the Weerwater, adjacent to the Esplanade. The name means ‘water again’, as this lake was dug after the city of Almere was reclaimed from the Zuiderzee, bringing the water back.
The bike course will take athletes through the province of Flevoland, racing along the former Zuiderzee sea bed, between dikes and windmills. The run course features four laps of 10.5K through the city of Almere, alternating between modern architecture and calming nature and green spaces surrounding the Weerwater.
Race Director, Richard Belderok, said, “Forming a partnership with Challenge Family allows Almere to secure its long lasting history and future of our iconic and typically Dutch race.”
The Challenge Family celebrates the sport of triathlon through its global series of long distance events and festivals that are aiming to change the face of long distance racing around the world with a primary focus on the athlete experience.
Featuring spectacular courses in iconic destinations, Challenge Family events focus on delivering the race of a lifetime to every athlete, and creating a memorable spectator experience that captures all the excitement and emotion of this inspirational sport.
The Challenge Family series currently features 18 events around the world including the world’s largest long distance triathlon, Challenge Roth in Germany. Other Challenge Family races take place in Germany, Austria, Canada, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan and now Holland.
Entry to Challenge Almere-Amsterdam is now open online.
