We are on for Abu Dhabi round 2
The inaugural Abu Dhabi International Triathlon was announced in November of 2009 and made quite an impression a few months later. The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority now announced that the registration for the 2011 event is open.
With its $250,000 prize purse, the Abu Dhabi Triathlon is one of the richest triathlons in the world and in 2010 Eneko Llanos and Julie Dibens earned the wins and the lion share of that money. For 2011 the purse is again $250,000 and just like in 2010 the age groupers are not left out. $20,000 of that money is allocated to them.
Completely closed roads lead the athletes past iconic sights such as the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi’s signature Corniche and Yas Island – where usually Formula 1™ and other race cars roam.
But the purse and the location of the event aren't the only exotic elements of the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon. The distances of 3k swim, 200k bike and 20k run in the main event and 1.5k swim, 100k bike, and 10k run in the short event are equally rare. Plus for 2011 an even shorter 750m swim, 50k bike and 5k run sprint distance was added. The bike distance heavy event drew in quite a few power cyclists in 2010, but while Julie Dibens indeed did what folks expected, in the men's race it came down to the run after all. Raynard Tissink, Philip Graves, Bjorn Andersson and Faris Al-Sultan were among those who tried to make a break on the bike, but 200k in hot conditions eventually proved to be a very tough challenge.
“Racing in Abu Dhabi, is not only a great excuse to escape the winter, to somewhere hot and exotic, but it's also a great way to stay motivated throughout the winter months. Whether you are looking to race the long distance, or are a novice looking to race for the first time, Abu Dhabi puts on a great showcase for the sport of triathlon. This could be a great introduction to the sport, or a great excuse to pound out the miles and hit early season races in great shape,” said Julie Dibens.
800 athletes competed in Abu Dhabi earlier this year despite the relatively short notice. This year with many folks actually expecting the event and registration open more than 5 months earlier, the field limit of 1500 might actually be reached in 2011.
Pro prize purse
Same for men and women
1st – $50,000
2nd – $20,000
3rd – $15,000
4th – $10,000
5th – $7,500
6th – $5,000
7th – $3,000
8th – $2,000
9th – $1,500
10th – $1,000
The age group prize money distribution has not yet been decided.
More information on the Abu Dhabi Triathlon can be found at abudhabitriathlon.com
