Next May 22, the island of Lanzarote will once again become the epicenter of world triathlon. 19 years being the center of all eyes and hosting one of the toughest events in the world. The prestige of the Lanzarote event is rewarded every year. This edition breaks registration records again and more than 1,500 triathletes will start.
In its nineteenth edition, the world's toughest long-distance triathlon will have more than 1,500 triathletes on the starting line. A few weeks after the registrations opened, which began once the last year's edition concluded, the organization was forced to close them, as they were overwhelmed with the avalanche of applications. Finally, the registrations closed with 1,571 triathletes.
The country that contributes the most triathletes is Spain with 495 participants. The United Kingdom with 346 triathletes, Germany with 227 athletes and France with 109 participants, are the countries that will have the most representatives in this year's edition. In total, 38 countries will be represented in the Ironman Lanzarote.
Eneko Llanos and Bella Bayliss, start as favorites
Among the triathletes who have confirmed their participation in the Ironman Lanzarote 2010, there are champions from past editions, world runners-up and winners in the Ironman events held worldwide. One of the top favorites to win the final victory is the Spaniard Eneko Llanos. The Basque triathlete was an Olympian in Sydney 2000, winner of the Ironman Lanzarote in 2007 and second classified in the Ironman of Hawaii in 2008.
Also on the starting line will be the Belgian Bert Jammaer, winner of the last two editions of the Ironman Lanzarote. In the women's category, the Scottish Bella Bayliss, winner of the last two editions, is one of the main favorites to win the final victory.
The Lanzarote triathletes will have the objective of playing a more than dignified role and making things difficult for the big favorites. One of the great Lanzarote cards is Gregorio Cáceres. Professional since last year, he has shown an enviable evolution in the last editions. In 2007 he was sixth, the following year he crossed the finish line in fifth place and in the last edition he was fourth. By progression, it would be Gregorio Cáceres' turn to get on the podium.
The eyes of the people of Lanzarote will also be on Nicholas Peter Ward. A priori, he will maintain a great fight with Gregorio Cáceres to be proclaimed the best Lanzarote and best Canary Islander of this edition.
Changes in the route
The Ironman Lanzarote 2010 route will undergo slight modifications compared to previous editions. The section between Nazaret and the Agroindustrial Complex will not be covered in this edition, due to the poor condition of the road.
The bike departure circuit in Puerto del Carmen will be shorter, since then, when arriving at the town of Nazaret, the participants will have to go up to Teguise and then turn to the Monumento al Campesino and travel through the protected landscape of La Geria.
The running route will also undergo slight modifications. The usual four laps that are made on the Puerto del Carmen circuit will be reduced to three. On the first lap, the triathletes will have to reach the town of Playa Honda, and the other two laps, shorter, will be within Puerto del Carmen.
In 2011 the contract for the exploitation of the Ironman in Lanzarote expires
The Cabildo of Lanzarote will continue to bet on the continuity of the Ironman in Lanzarote. Next year 2011 the contract that Club La Santa has signed with the Ironman brand expires.
The director of the event, Kenneth Gasque, recalled that every five years the license with the Ironman brand is usually renewed. Gasque indicated that given the success of organization and participation of the Ironman Lanzarote, the event continues to be held on our island "From Club La Santa we will put all our efforts to continue in Lanzarote and we are confident that it will be achieved," concluded Kenneth Gasque.
For his part, the president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés, confirmed at the press conference presenting the event, that the first institution of the island will continue to bet on the continuity of the event. "From the Cabildo we will do everything in our power to ensure that it continues and we are convinced that it will," explained the president of the Cabildo.
The Ministry of Tourism of the Government of the Canary Islands will contribute 100,000 euros for the organization of the Ironman Lanzarote.
