Oceania Triathletes Given Fast Track to 2020 Ironman Champs

Friday 10 May 2019, for more visit www.ironman.com/worldchampionship70.3taupo

Oceania Triathletes Given Fast Track to 2020 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Taupō, New Zealand.

New Zealand and Australian triathletes looking to qualify for 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupō have been given a huge boost today, with news that all IRONMAN 70.3 Oceania races in the lead-up have doubled their qualifying slots for the November 2020 event.

With over 5,000 athletes expected to descend on Taupō for the 2020 70.3 World Championships on 28 and 29 November next year, IRONMAN has moved to cater for the extra demand from Oceania athletes wanting to race at a ‘home’ world championship, without the expense of travelling overseas to try and qualify.

IRONMAN Oceania Managing Director Dave Beeche says the ‘Fast Track to Taupō’ campaign is the start of an exciting time for the sport in this part of the world.

“IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship events attract a huge following from international athletes looking to tick off a bucket list event and destination, and Taupō certainly fits that bill with its long association with the sport and reputation as the home of IRONMAN in New Zealand.

“But equally there is a surge in athletes from the home country or region wanting to share in the celebration, to race in front of family and friends and achieve a world championship goal on home soil, so demand for those qualifying spots is going to be at an all-time high.

“Essentially the doubling of qualifying capacity at all Oceania events makes it easier for Kiwis and Aussies to target an event close to home, race well and qualify for 2020. But demand will be through the roof and events will sell-out, we advise everyone to put those plans in place quickly and map out their course to IRONMAN 70.3 2020 World Championships sooner rather than later.”

The offer covers all nine Oceania 70.3 events, starting with IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast on September 8 2019, and includes both New Zealand events at IRONMAN 70.3 Taupō (7 December 2019) and Nutri-Grain IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand (also in Taupō, held in conjunction with Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand on March 7, 2020). The final qualifying event is IRONMAN 70.3 Cairns on June 7, 2020.

The promotion means IRONMAN 70.3 Taupō this December will have a whopping 100 qualifying slots available, plus a further 25 Women for Tri slots. Entries are already tracking superbly for the December event, having already surpasses the total entries entireties received in 2018. With this news likely to see the race fast track towards a sell-out.

IRONMAN 70.3 Taupō Race Director Wayne Reardon says Fast Track to Taupō will further underline the popularity of the 2019 race as athletes look to book a spot at the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship race and be part of the celebration.

“As soon as Taupō was confirmed as the 2020 IRONMAN 70.2 World Championship host, demand for the 2019 race skyrocketed, from overseas athletes looking to gain experience and qualify on the actual race course, but also from New Zealanders wanting to soak up a World Championship atmosphere in front of family and friends in familiar surroundings.

“The doubling of qualifying spots will only further underline that popularity and encourage more entries, but also means we can reward more athletes and potentially more New Zealanders with a place on the start line in 2020.”

The spots are not exclusive to Oceania athletes though, with internationals sure to target the extra qualifying opportunities at one or more of the nine events in the region, ensuring that the training programmes of thousands of Kiwis and Australians have just taken on an extra edge as they dream of a start at IRONMAN 70.3 Taupō in 2020, wearing the black and white of New Zealand or the green and gold of Australia.

2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, Oceania Qualifying events and slots:

For all entry information, visit www.ironman.com/worldchampionship70.3taupo

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