The southern town of Playa Blanca will host the VIII edition of the Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote next Saturday, October 5th, which this year has managed to break a new participation record with more than 1,000 registered participants from 57 different nationalities. Among the participants are 54 professional triathletes, such as Emilio Aguayo (ESP), Frederic Funk (GER), Alessandro Degasperi (ITA) and Emma Pallant (GBR), among others.
During the presentation of this competition organized by Club La Santa with the collaboration of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, through the Insular Sports Service and European Sport Destination of Turismo de Lanzarote, as well as the Yaiza City Council, among other entities, the president of the Cabildo, María Dolores Corujo, highlighted that "Lanzarote is a sports destination that is increasingly in demand".
"Our nature offers unique challenges in the world. Coming to compete on our island is to experience it more intensely, so the Cabildo de Lanzarote is proud to collaborate closely with Club La Santa so that this competition, this vital experience, is lived combining the challenge of the test with all the security and the best organization, adding the efforts of the Club, the Security and Emergency Consortium and the volunteers of Lanzarote".
The Councilor for Tourism Promotion, Ángel Vázquez, insisted that the first Island Corporation is "decisively committed to positioning the island as a quality destination related to sports practice and that is why the Ironman 70.3 has the sponsorship of the Sociedad de Promoción Exterior de Lanzarote (SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote) through the European Sports Destination project, because it is a prestigious event that attracts to the island a tourist who generates more spending at the destination than the average".
40 qualifying places for the World Championship
For his part, the technical director of the event, Fabio Cabrera, revealed the new route of the Ironman 70.3, which will go from the 1.9-kilometer swimming segment in the crystal clear waters of Playa Dorada, passing through emblematic places of Lanzarote in the 90.1-kilometer cycling segment such as Timanafaya, Tinguatón, La Geria, Femés, Los Hervideros or El Golfo, to the 21.1-kilometer run along the maritime avenue of the Marina Rubicón port with direct views of the sea and the island of Fuerteventura.
Cabrera pointed out that the Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote "offers 40 qualifying places for the 2020 Ironman 70.3 World Championship, which will be held in New Zealand". According to the organizers, Playa Blanca will receive between 2,000 and 3,000 direct people due to this event. In addition, on Friday, October 4, there will be a test for children between 7 and 17 years old in Playa Dorada, called IronKids.
Security and "international" impact of the event
The mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, emphasized the security device coordinated between the different security and emergency forces "to guarantee the tranquility of athletes, the public and residents", "With enough time in advance we inform our neighbors and businessmen about the traffic regulation and parking restrictions, especially in Playa Blanca, with the purpose of minimizing the inconvenience between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. From here again, thank you all for your understanding," he said.
Óscar Noda valued "the high level of demand for triathletes who have prepared for a whole year to empty themselves next Saturday, October 5 in Playa Blanca" but also "the international impact of the event and the economic impact it leaves on our destination". "It is excellent news for the municipality of Yaiza and for Lanzarote," said the mayor. "The Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote represents a great commitment for the Yaiza City Council" that we assume delighted and responsibly. It is one more example of the confidence that this institution continues to earn," he added.
The mayor of Yaiza also highlighted the preview that will be on Friday at 5:00 p.m. with the IronKids. "The sports events that are held in Yaiza are an incentive for our youngest athletes, about 1,000 boys and girls who train and train in the offer of municipal sports schools that proposes a dozen disciplines. Young people also have their space in the Ironman 70.3. On Friday, October 4, we have tests with swimming and running segments adapted to children and young people from 7 to 17 years of age in Playa Dorada and the promenade," he said.
Óscar Noda also highlighted the work of the Yaiza Sports Council led by Ángel Lago "and all the municipal staff committed to the logistical and organizational aspects of the Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote, because a test of this dimension demands efforts from several areas".
