Some things take a little time, and five years after its last edition in 2016, the Balearic island of Mallorca will once again host an IRONMAN event. After its five-year hiatus, IRONMAN Mallorca returns on May 15, 2021.
Originally held in September, from 2014 to 2016, the event will now move to the spring. It serves as a season-opener for the IRONMAN European full-distance racing series, taking place one week after the Zafiro IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca on May 8, 2021. The race will bring the total number of IRONMAN races in Europe to 18.
“We have always had a special appreciation for Mallorca, since we introduced IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca almost ten years ago,” said Stefan Petschnig, Managing Director of IRONMAN Europe, Middle East & Africa.
“Moving the event from September to May will provide athletes with a great way to race early in the season in what is arguably one of the best IRONMAN locations in world.”
Including the returning IRONMAN Mallorca, Spain now has four IRONMAN events:
- Club La Santa IRONMAN Lanzarote (May 22, 2021),
- IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz (July 11, 2021) and
- IRONMAN Barcelona (October 3, 2021).
In addition, Spain will also host four IRONMAN 70.3 events:
- IRONMAN 70.3 Marbella (April 25, 2021)
- Zafiro IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca (May 8, 2021)
- IRONMAN 70.3 Barcelona (October 3, 2021)
- IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote (October 9, 2021)
“Mallorca is a sustainable and safe destination and has established itself as an excellent host for holding sporting events such as IRONMAN races,” added Andreu Serra, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Consell Insular de Mallorca.
“We are excited to once again become one of the select few locations in the world to host both an IRONMAN and an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon. We are very much looking forward to creating a prime example of a public-private partnership that will ensure a safe and enjoyable racing experience for our guests.”
Bàrbara Rebassa Bisbal, Mayor of Alcúdia, said “IRONMAN Mallorca is an outstanding international sporting event and has the full support of the Alcúdia City Council. I would like to thank The IRONMAN Group for their trust and support. This once again places Alcúdia on the international map. I would also like to thank the local community for their unparalleled support of the event.”
IRONMAN Mallorca starts with an one-loop 3.8km (2.4-mile) swim in Alcúdia Bay that has seen some fast times in in the past. Athletes then make their way on to the one-loop 180km (112-mile) bike course that takes riders from Port de Pollença to the sights of the Serra de Tramuntana, and from there to the east of the island before returning to T2 in Port d’Alcúdia.
The fast four-loop 42,2km (26-mile) run course leads athletes on an out-and-back route along Alcúdia bay before they finish their race a mere stone’s throw from the water’s edge.
The fastest times at IRONMAN Mallorca were posted by two Germans: Timo Bracht crushed his competition with 8:17:22 hours in 2015, the same year fellow countrywoman Daniela Bleymehl made it to the top podium by completing the course in 9:23:19 hours. There have been hometown heroes as well: Spaniard Carlos López Díaz won the 2016 edition of the event.
Air temperatures in Mallorca in May are expected to be around 23-24 degrees Celsius (73-75 degrees Fahrenheit), water temperatures generally hover around 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit).
The 2021 IRONMAN Mallorca triathlon will offer 40 age-group qualifying slots to the 2021 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i. General registration for IRONMAN Mallorca 2021 will open on November 5, 2020 at 14:00 CET.
