GE Strathcylde Park Triathlon welcomes Paratriathlon to the 2014 Commonwealth Games venue
Created On: 31 August 2012
Top class elite triathletes and paratriathletes will compete in
the iconic Strathclyde Country Park, as the British Triathlon Super
Series returns to Scotland on Sunday 2 September 2012 for the GE
Strathclyde Park Triathlon.
Set in the grounds of the 2014 Commonwealth Games venue, the GE
Strathclyde Park Triathlon, offers fans a first glimpse of
world-class racing four weeks after the Olympic Triathlon action in
London's Hyde Park. This year's event has the exciting addition of
an elite paratriathlon and theScottish Standard Distance Triathlon
Championships.
Due to adverse and unusual weather conditions over the last few
months North Lanarkshire Council have had to close Strathclyde Loch
to immersion sports. Therefore, the swim section of the triathlon
has been cancelled and replaced with an additional run section,
turning the event into a duathlon.
Elite triathletes will start with a 1.3km run before mounting
their bikes for the challenging 21km course adjacent to the Loch.
The final 5km run over two laps of a flat course will be a fast and
furious race around the Loch.
The elite paratriathlon, which is an addition to the established
elite and mass participation races, features a 1.5km run, a 21km
bike course over 4 laps and finishes off with a final 5km run. The
competition, open to all six classifications of paratriathletes,
and will feature top paratriathletes from the around UK.
Scottish paratriathlete, Jane Egan, a world and European
champion, said: "It's so exciting to have the very first
paratriathlon ever held in Scotland as a part of the British
Triathlon Super Series. What with it also occurring during the
London 2012 Paralympic Games, this means there'll be huge amounts
of interest and focus on elite disability sport, which is
fantastic.
"It's going to be brilliant for everyone watching and taking
part, at the venue which will stage the 2014 Commonwealth Games in
just two years' time. I'm sure the atmosphere will be incredible
and the public will get right behind all the paratriathletes.
"One of the most exciting things about this event is having the
multiple different elements in a single day of racing including an
elite paratriathlon, mass participation and age-group competition.
There's something for everyone and I'm delighted it's going to be
happening up here in Scotland."
Competition kicks off in the morning with the mass participation
race, which also includes thetriathlonscotland Scottish Standard
Distance Championships. The races offer triathletes the chance to
compete at the same venue as some of Great Britain's top
triathletes as the elite athlete races follow in the afternoon.
Athletes begin with a 1.5km run, a 40km cycle and finish with a
10km run.
The age-group event is also the second of three qualifiers for
the GE Great Britain Age-Group Team for the 2013 Alanya ETU
Triathlon European Championships.
British terrestrial broadcaster Channel 4 has confirmed it will
screen highlights of the race in an hour show on Sunday 16
September, which will show the GE Strathclyde Park Triathlon high
definition for the first time this year.
Additional information for all the races can be found at www.strathclydeparktriathlon.com.
Tags: news,paratriathlon
