New Ironman Announced in South Africa
Ironman has announced its addition of South Africa’s second Ironman, the Standard Bank Ironman 70.3 Durban triathlon which will take place on August 2, 2015.
Durban, located on South Africa’s west coast in the KwaZulu-Natal province, is known for its warm, subtropical climate and world-famous surfing beaches with a unique cultural and urban diversity. Durban was recently named one of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the World.
The race course will be set along Durban’s Golden Mile with stunning beaches, allowing athletes to cycle and run past the iconic Moses Mabhida stadium which was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“We are very excited to announce Ironman 70.3 Durban,” said Keith Bowler, Managing Director for Ironman South Africa. “The popularity of triathlon in South Africa is on the rise – and athletes have long awaited the introduction of an additional race in the region.”
“Ironman has paved the way for long-distance triathlon in South Africa,” said Thomas Dieckhoff, CEO Ironman Europe, Middle East and Africa.
He continued, “The development of our races has been breath-taking and it reflects on the great work of our team as well as the power of our brand. We are excited to see that more and more international athletes choose to race in South Africa and that our South African athlete base has grown tremendously over the past decade. Today’s announcement of the Standard Bank Ironman 70.3 Durban is another big step to provide many more athletes with an opportunity to experience the atmosphere and quality only an Ironman can offer.”
The 2015 Standard Bank Ironman 70.3 Durban will have 30 qualifying slots to the 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Championship taking place in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Professional athletes will compete at Durban for a total prize purse of US $15,000.
Registration for the Standard Bank Ironman 70.3 Durban will open on February 2, 2015 at 14:00 CET.
