ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships are this weekend

This weekend, the ITU and the International Powerman Association (IPA) host the 2015 ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships in Zofingen, Switzerland.

Age-group, PT1 to 5 and elite titles are on the line September 5-6 over the challenging course. The favourites in the elite race are last year’s champs, former British cycling star Emma Pooley and France’s Gael Le Bellec. The challenging course comprises a two-loop 10km run, a three-lap 150km bike, followed by a two-loop out and back 30km run. On the line for the pros is 50 000 USD.

This weekend’s race marks the 27th running of Powerman Zofingen.

The elite women race on Sunday, September 6 at 8:00am, while the elite men will race at 9:00am. Here is a break down of the courses this weekend from triathlon.org

First Run:
10 km
Two laps of nearly 5 km (45 per cent paved, 55 per cent unpaved). Total height difference 260 m.

Bike
150 km
Three laps of 50 km, with a total height difference 1600 m. Ideal gearing is 39 x 23 for strong cyclists or 39 x 25. Climbs are rather, descents are  long. Roads are only partially closed to traffic.

Second Run
30 km
Two laps on an out and back course. There is a climb at the beginning if each lap (25 per cent paved, 75 per cent unpaved). The run also cuts through 40 per cent of wooded area. The last three km are downhill to the finish line.