Challenge Family is heading to North Brazil for the first time with this weekend’s inaugural Challenge Maceió on Sunday 23 August. Challenge Maceió, Challenge Family’s second race in Brazil, together with Challenge Florianópolis, launched in December and reportedly sold out in under a month.
With its flat, fast course, Challenge Maceió comes at the end of the Brazilian winter season. Calm and clear water is expected, with a flat fast lane of the highway for a fast bike course and a half marathon by the beach.
With great options for the entire family, nature has been generous with this piece of land in Brazil: with stunning paradise beaches, considered by Travel & Leisure Magazine as one the most beautiful secret beaches in the world.
Challenge Maceió offers swimming in a sheltered bay by reefs, with warm, clear water. Coming out of the water, a highway runs along the beach, crossing farms of coconut trees and rivers on the cycling course. On the run course, athletes will enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of the city, crossing the beaches Pajuçara, Ponta Verde and Jatiúca, partly under the shade of a coconut grove. Crowd support is expected, particularly in front of main hotels of the city.
Besides the main half distance race (which consists of 1.9K of swimming, 90K cycling and a 21.1K run), there will be a sprint distance race with 750m of swimming, 20K of cycling and 5K running; and the 5K Challenge Women run/walk is on offer as well as a Junior Challenge for children aged 7 to 15.
On 29 November, Challenge Florianopolis returns. Responsible for organizing both events, Carlos Fernando Menezes, Director of Dash Sports notes that the expansion by Challenge Family is a milestone for the sport in Brazil.
“Maceio, next to Florianopolis, are two cities with unique structures for sport. Challenge Family already has more than 40 events around the world and settling in Brazil supports the country’s potential to continue encouraging the industry,” Menezes said.
Challenge Maceió is, together with Challenge Florianópolis in Brazil, part of the Challenge Family global triathlon series. This latest expansion in Brazil to two Challenge branded events closely follows the recently announced Challenge Americas Championships in Knoxville, USA, in May 2016. Both Maceio and Florianopolis will be qualifiers for the 2016 championships.
