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Top 5 Triathlon races in Europe
I started doing Triathlon back in 2012 when I signed up for 70.3 Aarhus, Denmark. I was so bad that I thought "I can do better than that" and signed up for the following year straight away.
It's hard for me to describe this feeling I got at the end of the race, but I just remember how special it felt and for this reason, I recommend it to everyone because it's one of the few times I've felt anything like it.
Since then I have been motivated by my "bad" results to push even harder and reach the next goal. I set new goals for myself every year and by 2019 I had reached my ultimate goal - IRONMAN Kona - The World Championships in IRONMAN.
What's my next goal? Improve my "bad" time in Kona.
On my journey to reach my goals I have done a lot of races around the world to practice my transitions and my mentality leading up to a race and during the race.
I will now tell you a little bit about my Top 5 races around Europe. I have done sprints, Olympic distances, half Ironmans and full Ironmans as a part of my training.
Let's get to it!
5. Club La Santa IRONMAN Lanzarote
I had to put Ironman Lanzarote on the list for many reasons. First of all, it's announced as the hardest Ironman in the world at that time (still is as far as I know) and it's the challenge and the fairness I love about it. Nobody can draft in this race, because of the climbs. twists and turns.
This is NOT a flat bike course!
Lanzarote Ironman is one of my favourite races in Europe because it is brutal. It's hot and windy. All. The. Time.
This is the only IRONMAN in the world that is not hosted by IRONMAN itself. Club La Santa is a sports resort in Lanzarote and they started this IRONMAN in 1992. And what's so great about that?
Well, it means its easy to bring the whole family with you for this race. There's a lot of things they can do, but also, you now have the chance to explore the course and do the last preparations before the big day. And after the race its also a perfect place to completely relax.
Read more about it here
4. Volcano Lanzarote - Olympic Distance
This is a great race because everything is so close together. The atmosphere is great and the race is well planned.
The swim is in the lagoon, the bike course is two loops of 20 km and the run is 2 loops of 5 km up to the next town and back.
The heart of this race is Club La Santa. You live 1 minute from the start line and 1 minute from the finish line. It's uncomplicated and a great holiday at the same time!
Read more about it here.
3. Klagenfurt IRONMAN - Austria
If you haven't been to Austria, now is the time to combine your sport with a holiday. Klagenfurt IRONMAN is at the beginning of July, so the weather is beautiful and the scenery is amazing.
The race is great because the area is wonderful. You will swim in the most fantastic lake that ends up in a small stream that leads to T1. In this narrow part of the swim, your family and friends and all the supporters are standing so close to you that the swim feels so intense and its something I have personally never tried before.
The bike course is beautiful and more or less flat and the run course is great because the huge park that you run through multiple times is filled with supporters and your friends and family have something to do, to kill time between your visits.
It's hard for me to describe this feeling I got at the end of the race, but I just remember how special it felt and for this reason I recommend it to everyone because it's one of the few times I've felt anything like it.
Read more about it here
2. 70.3 Mallorca
If you like biking, then Mallorca is probably one of the best places to do it. The same goes for triathlon. There are great open water swimming opportunities in Alcudia where the 70.3 Mallorca
is taking place.
It's a great place and race because there are so many hotel options close to the start and finish line. The bike course is fantastic with 20 km completely flat in the beginning, followed by 12-15 km climb. The half marathon is really warm because you are running on the beach, where the wind usually doesn't come.
the race is well-planned and executed in lovely surroundings and great swim, bike and running conditions.
Read more about it here
1 Copenhagen IRONMAN
The race that will always get my warmest recommendation. plus I've done it 4 times, so I know what I'm talking about.
There is a slight possibility that I am biased because I'm danish and since the race is in Copenhagen, it makes it easier and cheaper for me, than most races.
But IRONMAN Copenhagen is as far as I know one of the only IRONMAN that take place in a capitol and in the center of the city.
The swim course is in a lagoon in Amager Strandpark where the water is usually flat. Then you bike 2 loops on a relatively flat course north of Copenhagen. The marathon is 4 loops in the middle of Copenhagen, where there are 100.000 supporters scattered around the loop. And this is why I've done this race 4 times. This race beats every other race when it comes to supporters. usually, there are only supporters close to the finish line, but in Copenhagen, they are present on every single km. It helps more than you realize to have all those people cheering.
I will do IRONMAN Copenhagen again in 2021. I hope to see you there!
Read more about it here
//Bo