Home > Feature

Penticton 2017 race courses revealed

Course maps for the long course triathlon, aquathlon, sprint and standard distance duathlons and cross triathlon.

March 28, 2017
Share on SMS

ITU Multisport has revealed all the race course maps for the events that make up Penticton 2017, the inaugural ITU Multisport world champions taking place in August this summer. Athletes from around the world will come to Canada to race in the duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, cross triathlon and long course triathlon world championship events in one of the most prominent triathlon regions in the country, with many athletes expected to race multiple events across the 10-day festival.

Here are the course maps (pending final approval) and some quick info about each of the five events:

Long course triathlon

  • A 3 km swim, 120 km bike, 30 km run. The Aquabike course is the same minus the run.

The looped swim takes place against the beautiful backdrop of Penticton's mountains

The bike course has some climbing with a max elevation of almost 500 metres. bike route is a trek through vineyards, farmland and lakes. The back side of the course takes in some stunning scenery.

The run course is entirely spectator-friendly and will be sure to have cheering crowds lining the downtown streets near the finish line.

Aquathlon

  • A swim run comprising a 1 km swim and 5 km run
The course uses the same swim start in Okanagan Lake and a 2-loop run through the downtown streets of Penticton, with cheering spectators the entire way.
The course uses the same swim start in Okanagan Lake and a 2-loop run through the downtown streets of Penticton, with cheering spectators the entire way.

Sprint Duathlon

  • 5 km run, 20 km bike, 5 km run

The first and second run courses are the same, two-looped courses used by the aquathlon.

Standard duathlon

Cross triathlon

See notes below on bike course.

The off-road run utilizes Penticton's Kettle Valley Rail Trail

  • The Cross Triathlon bike course will take place in the highly acclaimed 3 Blind Mice Trail system, an impeccably kept trail section on Crown Land  in Penticton.
  • The Cross Triathlon course has revealed the swim, run and start/end of the bike course. All but approximately 12km of single track has been released. It will be a looped course.
  • The Cross Triathlon bike course will be similar to the bike course at the test event last summer at Challenge Penticton & Canadian National Championships. This course had no issues in 2016 and received excellent feedback from athletes and race organizers.
  • The Cross Triathlon bike course is on environmentally sensitive land, and we’re working with several major stakeholders including the Province of British Columbia, The City of Penticton, the Ministry of Environment, International Triathlon Union and PACA Penticton on preserving the land, caring for the trails and ensuring the future use for other mountain bikers and cross triathletes. Being that there could be upwards of 600 athletes using the course, one of the only ways we can get the use of the land is to agree and adhere to all the standards being set by all major stakeholders.
  • The Cross Triathlon bike course will have the safety of the athletes at front and centre.The course was short last year and we were required to adjust it according to ITU World Championships standards.
  • ITU has approved and endorsed the bike course for 2017.