IRONMAN announced today the launch of IRONMAN® 70.3® Ecuador, the sixth IRONMAN branded race in South America and the first in Ecuador. The inaugural race will take place on August 9, 2015 in the city of Manta, located on the Pacific Ocean coast.
“With great enthusiasm we announce the first IRONMAN 70.3 race in Ecuador,” said Steve Meckfessel, Managing Director of Global Race Operations. “The growth of our sport in South America has been impressive. We have triathletes traveling from all over the world to compete in our IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events and we are excited to add another race in this region.”
The IRONMAN 70.3 Ecuador triathlon begins with a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) swim in the warm blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Murciélago Beach. Athletes will then embark on a one-loop, 56-mile (90 km) bike course that travels along the coast and then inland into the Pacoche National Park. Finally, a two-loop, flat and fast 13.1-mile (21 km) run course offers beautiful ocean views and a lively finish line just off of the beach at Playa Murciélago.
“The launch of the inaugural All You Need Is Ecuador® IRONMAN® 70.3® Ecuador triathlon in the city of Manta is a dream-come-true for our country and a great opportunity for all the athletes interested in competing in an IRONMAN® 70.3® event in a South American destination,” said Marialuz Arellano, representative of Sportime, the leading sporting event company in Ecuador and operator of IRONMAN® 70.3® Ecuador. “Our country is becoming a must for international sports tourism and we are certain that participants in the first annual race will be greatly impressed by the beauty of the surroundings and the excellent race conditions that Manta has to offer”.
The event will offer mild weather conditions along with an enthusiastic community, creating an unforgettable race experience. Manta is a city of great socio-economic development, served by an international airport, a very active maritime port and first-class hotels.
As a tourism destination, Ecuador offers the unique opportunity to visit the world famous Galapagos Islands and Quito, the capital of the country and the first city in the world to be named to the UNESCO´s World Heritage List. Manta is the country’s largest growing coastal city and a tourist attraction in its own right. Located a few kilometers from Parque Nacional Machalilla, Manta offers its visitor’s uninhabited beaches, tropical dry forests and the opportunity to watch humpback whales as they swim off the coast of the beautiful Isla de la Plata.
The IRONMAN 70.3 Ecuador triathlon will offer a $50,000 USD professional prize purse and 30 age-group qualifying slots for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in 2016.
Manta will also host an IRONKIDS® event on August 8, 2015.
To register, visit Ironman’s website here.
