The unique series FORD CHALLENGEPRAGUE starts in two days. The prestigious race which belongs to the worldwide triathlon series CHALLENGEFAMILY will be attended by almost 1500 participants from 45 countries, making it the largest triathlon race in the Czech Republic.
Comparing to the last year’s premiere of FORD CHALLENGEPRAGUE, the number of participants has increased by almost one third. A total number of 1100 athletes will start in the main MIDDLE category including almost 50 professional triathletes. The popular category for public TRY-ATHLON announces 200 people – 116 participants will attend their first triathlon ever. At the start, there will be also 50 three-member teams in category RELAYS.
Registration for HERVIS CHALLENGEJUNIOR races for children up to 15 years is still open, interested people may also apply directly on the day of the race on Friday, July 27. Overall, the second edition of FORD CHALLENGEPRAGUE attacks 1500 participants from 45 countries, making it the largest triathlon race in Czech history.
The presence in FORD CHALLENGEPRAGUE was confirmed by five-time World Champion and winner of last year’s Ironman series Javier Gómez, whose biggest rivals will be last year’s winner of FORD CHALLENGEPRAGUE Pieter Heemeryck, the long distance World Champion Pablo Dapena or German triathlete Maurice Clevel. The Czech Republic will be represented by Petr Vabroušek, Tomáš Řenč, Lukáš Kočař, Pavel Petrásek, Simona Křivánková, Helena Kotopulu a Lenka Králová. The start list includes silver medalist from ITU Paratriathlon World Cup Jan Tománek and last year’s best amateur of FORD CHALLENGEPRAGUE Petr Soukup.
Czech celebrities will not be missing at the start as well. Participation was confirmed by cardio-surgeon Jan Pirk, opera singer Jiří Langmajer and former decathlete Roman Šebrle. In the category RELAYS, Jana Pechanová, Jiří Ježek and David Svoboda will compete.
“Speaking about visitors, we are expecting even more growth than athletes. To see more than thousand people swimming around Střelecký Island is really special,” says Lenka Kovářová, the chairman of the Czech Triathlon Association. “The entry is free, athletes love the support of audience, so we do not want to prevent them. We also initiate fan zones outside Prague on cycling tracks. And for those who can’t come to Prague, there will be four hours of live broadcasting,” adds Kovářová.
The unique venue will grow in the center of Prague literally overnight, the organizing team has only seven hours to build all the facilities. It requires 4.5 thousand square meters of carpet, over six kilometers of fences to ensure the safety of competitors. A 300-meter-long cycle depot will be built on the Legion Bridge. The flow of traffic will provide 900 traffic signs and assistance from tens of police officers. A total of 26 boats will care of water safety with 40 rescuers and 20 motorcycles with referees and journalists around the track.
