International Triathlon: Auckland Reaffirms Event Reputation

3 April 2014

For immediate release from Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon, Auckland. For further information visit www.triauckland.co.nz

Auckland Reaffirms Its Event Reputation with International Triathlon This Weekend

Auckland City will this weekend reverberate to the sound and sight of the world’s best triathletes racing in the opening round of the World Triathlon Series at the Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon Auckland with a weekend of family focused entertainment, interaction and a world class sporting spectacle.

Event organisers have condensed the programme down this year in the fourth edition of the event, with all elite and age group racing taking place on Sunday at the Queens Wharf and downtown CBD venue, with age group racing in the morning extending along Tamaki Drive to just before Kelly Tarlton’s.

Saturday is set aside as a great family day, with live bands, the Sport and Lifestyle Expo (open from 11am Saturday in The Cloud), and the Westpac & Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust Open Day on the northern end of Queens Wharf from 11am. This will include live rescue demonstrations with paramedics being ‘winched’ from the sea off the end of the Queens Wharf.

Saturday will conclude with a swim/run (Aquathlon) event from 4pm, with competitors swimming between Queens and Cooks Wharves and running on a course that takes them towards and onto Cooks Wharf and then along Quay Street (no road closure) before finishing on Queens Wharf.

Sunday is race day, with age group events from 7am on Sunday morning (with over 1200 participants), and including in the programme for the first time this year the Queen Street Golden Mile events, interspersed throughout the triathlon programme on Sunday. The elite ITU World Series races are at Midday (women) and 3.30pm(men) with the best fields ever assembled in this country set to battle it out over the 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run – on a multi-lap course that provides spectators with great and close viewing around the course.

Event Director is Dave Beeche from Lagadere Unlimited Oceania, delivering the event on behalf of Triathlon New Zealand, anticipates a busy and colourful weekend for everyone to enjoy.

“This is a truly international event and brings to Auckland the best triathletes in the world, as well as providing a great opportunity for people of all abilities and backgrounds the chance to compete in their own event on the same weekend. Triathlon New Zealand is hosting its national standard distance championships on Sunday morning, this too has brought many visiting athletes and supporters to the city for the weekend in a boost to the local economy.

“The elite fields are superb, the best you will see outside of the Olympic Games with the big names in the sport here to compete in Auckland. Spectators will be amazed at how close and how often they will see the athletes on a tight, technical and multi-lap course that gives them a fantastic appreciation for the sport and the elite competitors.

“The City and its businesses and residents have been wonderful to work with, as have the local agencies and stakeholder groups affected by the event. We have changed the course slightly this year to accommodate concerns from last year, with less of Tamaki Drive in action during age group racing and road closures applying on the Sunday only. We look forward to delivering a world class spectacle for Auckland and invite everyone to ‘come play in the city’ and be a part of a vibrant and truly international event, one that will be broadcast around the world showing off our country and the city of Auckland.”

Queens Wharf is headquarters for the event, hosting the Sport and Lifestyle Expo across the entire weekend as well as the elite transition area, finish line and free (first in first served) grandstand alongside the blue carpeted finish area with a live giant screen broadcasting all the action from around the course. Athletes will pass through this area on each of the 8 laps on the bike and 4 laps on the run.

Queens Wharf and surrounding areas will have plenty of food and drink options for everyone, and interactive displays and exhibitions throughout Queens Wharf and at the Expo in The Cloud. Visitors and spectators are encouraged to use public transport into the city or check for public parking advice on the website.

There is a free online Spectator Guide and Event Programme with all relevant information at www.triauckland.co.nz or CLICK HERE

Road closures commence at 10pm on Saturday night, with areas affected including in the central downtown CBD (including Queen Street, Albert Street, Customs Street, Quay Street and surrounding areas). Ngapipi Road and Tamaki Drive are also affected on the Sunday morning, with full details including timing and parking restrictions available online at www.triauckland.co.nz or by CLICKING HERE

ENDS

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