Ironman China, and Ironman 70.3 China, presented by K-SWISS are all set for 2009 with a
redesigned race course.
“A number of new roads have been finished since last year’s race which gave us the
opportunity to make major improvements to the swim, bike and run courses” says Event
Director, Murphy Reinschreiber.
The course has been moved from the West to the East side of Haikou, enabling a
guaranteed sheltered swim and bike and run courses that completely avoid the main city
traffic.
The brand new swim course is two loops in the clean, slow moving waters of the Nandu
River.
The modified bike course retains the same character as the 2008 course: two 90km loops
with a combination of incredibly clean and wide-open five lane highways and the unique
section through the rural villages. The cultural landscape of Shi Shan and Dao Tan villages
was the highlight of the 2008 course and was hailed by veteran Ironman athletes as being
truly unique in the Ironman series.
The run course has been redesigned for simplicity and diversity of scenery: the simple, flat
3-leg run includes urban and rural sections and finishes in the city’s central East West
park, as in 2008.
“The commitment from the local government of Haikou to this event is fantastic,”
commented Race Director, Tinny Tung. “Haikou city is not only supporting our race plan
but is also investing in this race by building an event-specific transition area, swim start,
and swim finish area. This is great for Ironman China and the long-term development of
the race.”
The inaugural Ironman China took place in 2008 and was won by the two-time Ironman
Brazil winner, Olaf Sebatschus. Belinda Granger took the women’s title in her second
Ironman win of 2008. The Ironman 70.3 China is an age-group only event and was won by
Steven Waite of Australia.
Ironman China will take place on 19 April 2009, the same day as Ironman 70.3 China, and
is the only race venue to host two Ironman events at the same site on the same day.
Website: www.ironmanchina.com.
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