Triathlon220 had a Top 20 list this summer of races to do before you die… That is very individual list and is subject to a great deal of individual interpretation. Your geographically position and your nationality probably has a lot to say. If you are from US, you will have a very different list from mine. But it is certainly an interesting list none the less, and one that require a good discussion. I don’t have any plans on doing all 20 races on their list, nor or my own individual list, but I do have some races, that I would really LIKE to do, but it is not a success criteria in itself to do them. I want to do every race best possible if I am on the startlist.
1-2. Racing in New Zealand:
One of them is for sure to travel to New Zealand and do either Ironman New Zealand or Challenge Wanaka, which were raced this weekend. I have never heard a negative thing said about NZ, and the landscapes are scenic, and to race there has to end up being an absolutely fantastic experience.
http://www.challenge-wanaka.com/
http://www.ironman.co.nz/
1-2. Ironman Hawaii – World Championships:
This is where it all started. It is the World Championships on my distance. Every participant is fully prepared and in top condition. Only the best are there. That includes me at some point
http://ironman.com/worldchampionship
3-5. Ironman France – This is personal…:
Done! Check! Delete! Been there! But I have to go again! I did not have a good day, and have unsettled business with Nice. I’ll be back. But this is definitely a race to do before you die.
http://www.ironmanfrance.com/
3-5. Challenge Copenhagen – must do race for a Dane:
Any triathlon race that past by my doorstep is obviously mandatory to go on this list. It will probably be the race, which I will be most prepared for, as I will have the luxury to be able to train on the route almost all year long, and not just the last few days leading up to the race. A mate of mine told me the other day that he thought the bike course was tougher than the profile as the wind is never from behind, but either comes from the front or from the west. But the tougher the bike course is, the better it suits me. The run is in Copenhagen downtown, which definitely does not make it less existing, all though that part really can’t get me going. But an Ironman in Denmark definitely can, and the only question is really, how soon I should give this race some serious violence… ;-) We’ll see.
http://www.challengecopenhagen.com/
3-5. Ironman Germany – European Championships:
This is my main goal for 2010, and I am so much looking forward to experience the atmosphere that always surrounds the races in Germany. And this is the biggest race in Germany, and I am really looking forward to it. It is also the European Championships, which may not be a prestigious title, but it doesn’t make the race less intriguing. The race also attracts some of top triathletes from around the world, and that just adds more hype and excitement to the race and makes it more memorable.
http://www.ironman.de/
6-8. Challenge Roth – Racing in Germany:
There is a great love and passion for triathlon in Germany. The races are extremely well organized. It doesn’t get any better. Challenge Roth attracts some of the best triathletes in the World. There is a solid foundation for some fast splits. There are great traditions in Roth. Roth is a race I would really like to have a crack at.
http://www.challenge-roth.de/de/index.php
6-8. Alpe d’Huez Triathlon – All that history:
Alpe d’Huez is not known for triathlon. But as huge cycling fan, then the opportunity to race it in a triathlon race must not be missed. The surroundings are beautiful and motivating and it will for sure be a day to remember. You swim in a sea 700 meters above sea level, you have to climb two other mountain passes besides the final one up to Alpe d’Huez, and you finish it off with a half marathon in an altitude of almost 2000 meters. I love triathlon.
http://www.alpetriathlon.com/v5/index-site.html
6-8. TriStar Sardinia222 – Spectacular race in Italy:
I love Italy. I consider myself to be half Italian… Ok, maybe not. But I love the culture, the food and the people. I love the variety of the country. There are mountains, ocean, beautiful countryside’s, completely flat areas as well as rolling hills as long as the eye can see. The Ironman race on Elba, which is raced in the start of October, could have gone on the list, if it hadn’t been for the new race in Sardinia, which has just been published. I don’t think that a long distance triathlete should just do Ironman distance races. I believe that physically as well as mentally Ironman races takes the toll out of you, so two shots at an Ironman per year as a starting point is the maximum for me, as I also want to do this sport in many years to come. So new distances and combinations of the three disciplines is very much welcomed to me and the TriStar organizations new races are a great initiative and has all the conditions to become epic! And to do a long distance race in Italy, is a dream for me, and the distance suits me perfectly. Only 2 km. swim, then a hard 200 km. bike and then a fast 20 km. run. Did they have me in mind, when they planned it…
http://star-events.cc/site/index.php/en/trstsdnews
9-12. TriStar111 Monaco – One of my favorite places:
TriStar has replaced WTC as organizers of this epic event, which will see some changes. I was in Nice in March and rode a bit of the route, and it was certainly days to remember. The hinterland behind Monte Carlo is fantastic to ride in, and you really need to focus on the road and not the scenery. The final run is on the Formula 1 route. Wow! This year, with TriStar entering, the route will change, so it will be 1 km. swim, 100 km. bike and a final 10 km. run. I want to do that race!
http://www.220triathlon.com/news/tristar111-monaco-replaces-ironman
http://star-events.cc/site/index.php/en/trstmcnews
9-12. Embrunman – Worlds toughest Ironman…:
There are many different views on which race deserve the title as the toughest IM. Silverman in Nevada in the US could also be a candidate. I believe that the race conditions on race day in each edition decide which race is the toughest. Add some rain, wind etc. to a race like Embrunman, and you may have the answer. We saw that in 2008. I love the Alps. I love the mountains. I love to climb on my bike. Embrunman offers that, so easy choice.
http://www.embrunman.com/
9-12. NORSEMAN - World’s toughest Ironman…:
The picture of me being thrown off a ferry at the crack of dawn doesn’t seem to have the conditions to end up being a picture to save… That must be one cold experience. But that is Norseman for you. The final 17,2 km. of the run will send you up a climb to 1,850 meters…
http://www.nxtri.com/
9-12. Ironman Austria – Klagenfurt has it all:
This is one of those races, where the route and country in itself, doesn’t have enough value to go on my list. But there is so much history, traditions, prestigious, and great athletes that compete, which makes this race unique. Austria is a beautiful country, and it is not as expensive as it neighbors in Zürich… So it will be able to have a few days off after the race, and not go bankruptcy… I have heard the atmosphere is amazing, and the bike route is quite fast, and this could be a race, that I would do in a very few years.
http://www.ironmanaustria.com/
13-15. Abu Dhabi Triathlon – My kind of bike course:
In March 2010 the first edition will take place. The route consists of 3 km. swim, 200 km. bike and 20 km. run. I say again… 200 km. bike! Give it some violence! This is my race. It would both be a great race to do, and an interesting and fascinating country to visit, which is very different from Denmark. The prize money is good, so perhaps a good performance can cover the expenses…
http://www.abudhabitriathlon.com/
13-15. Ironman UK – There is something special about racing in the UK:
I have a well hidden all though innocent love for the Great Britain… The love for triathlon on the island just grows and grows these years… It seems like it is developing into the new Germany… It is raced in the Bolton area near Manchester, so it doesn’t get any better… The UK has several other fascinating races, but for a long distance triathlete, this is the one, I have to do. All though the Olympic Distance race in Hyde Park, London, is close to go on this list…
http://www.ironmanuk.com/
13-15. Racing alongside Lance…:
One of must returning topics in my triathlon discussions is the return of Lance Armstrong. How cool is that going to be! If he stops his pro cycling career after the Tour de France this year, he will be at Hawaii in 2011. But he will need to do a qualification race prior to that. I think he will do the Tour de France in 2011 as well, so 2012 should be the year where Lance returns, and that is going to create some great exposure and hype. And it would be a dream to race in the same race as him. And especially if it could be his first race back… Wow.
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