{"id":17426,"date":"2019-03-29T10:37:05","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T10:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.challenge-family.com\/challenge-family\/uncategorized\/ford-challengeprague-world-triathlon-returns-to-prague\/"},"modified":"2024-05-29T15:46:32","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T15:46:32","slug":"ford-challengeprague-world-triathlon-returns-to-prague","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.challenge-family.com\/challenge-family\/news\/ford-challengeprague-world-triathlon-returns-to-prague\/","title":{"rendered":"FORD CHALLENGEPRAGUE: World triathlon returns to Prague"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Czech metropolis will come alive again with a triathlon holiday in four months. The centre of Prague will be transformed into the venue of the third edition of the attractive FORD CHALLENGEPRAGUE<\/em> competition with both professionals and amateur athletes from all over the world on Saturday, July 27. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Triathlon stars and enthusiastic amateurs are attracted by a unique venue in the surroundings of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. FORD CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>PRAGUE<\/em>, which belongs to the worldwide CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>FAMILY<\/em> series, is coming back to Prague for the third time. Last year, the race was very popular \u2013 a total number of 1500 athletes started. \u201cThis year, we have increased the capacity, so we hope that all interested people can join the race. Especially the interest of professionals within <\/em>CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>FAMILY series is growing every year,<\/em>\u201d says Tom\u00e1\u0161 Vrz\u00e1k, the race director.<\/p>\n

Last year, the main race FORD CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>PRAGUE\u00a0MIDDLE<\/em> was dominated by the Spanish world champion Javier Gomez and the Belgian Katrien Vestuyft. Czech triathletes Luk\u00e1\u0161 Ko\u010da\u0159, Petr Soukup and Simona K\u0159iv\u00e1nkov\u00e1 finished among top ten. Also this year, renowned triathletes will appear at the start of the race. Australian Mirinda Carfrae, the triple world champion in Ironman, and her husband Tim O\u2019Donnell, the world long triathlon champion, have promised to participate. \u201cWe both love to race in Europe, but we haven\u2019t been to the Czech Republic yet. We are really looking forward to Prague and to the race in its historical centre. Last year, we both managed to win our category in one race and we will try it in Prague as well<\/em>,\u201d promises Carfrae. Also the rising triathlon star, the 21-year-old German triathlete Frederic Funk, will fight for his first victory in the CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>FAMILY<\/em> series.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Czech top athletes will not be missing as well. Petr Soukup will start in elite category for the first time, and Luk\u00e1\u0161 Ko\u010da\u0159 wants to attack the medal positions<\/em>,\u201d adds Vrz\u00e1k.<\/p>\n

As in previous years, various competitions are prepared – FORD CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>PRAGUE MIDDLE<\/em>, SCOTT CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>TRY-ATHLON<\/em>, HERVIS CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>JUNIOR <\/em>and CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>PRAGUE RELAYS<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The main race FORD CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>PRAGUE<\/em> MIDDLE<\/em> consists of 1.9 km of swimming, 90 km of cycling and 21.1 km running. SCOTT CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>TRY-ATHLON <\/em>is designed for athletes who love challenges and at the same time do not dare to compete at the full-length track \u2013 the distances at this race are shorter. Popular team race CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>PRAGUE RELAYS <\/em>will not be missing as well, such as HERVIS CHALLENGE<\/em><\/strong>JUNIOR, <\/em>running competition for children, which will take place on St\u0159eleck\u00fd Island in the afternoon on Friday, 26th July. Families with children can look forward to another sports program during the weekend.<\/p>\n

Compared to last year, the organizers promise several innovations. \u201cThe most important is the new main race bike route, which we will soon introduce. We believe that this route will be very attractive again, as it will take athletes to interesting parts of the Central Bohemian Region. Another novelty will be the extension of the running track, where triathletes will run only three laps instead of four<\/em>,\u201d explains Vrz\u00e1k. The facilities for athletes will remain the same, including a unique bike depot that will grow on the Legion Bridge.<\/p>\n

Those interested in starting at any of the triathlon races can register at www.challenge-prague.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

INFORMATION<\/strong>
\nDate: <\/strong>27th<\/sup> July 2019
\nPlace:<\/strong> Praha
\nStart<\/strong>: St\u0159eleck\u00fd Island
\nFinish<\/strong>: V\u00edt\u011bzn\u00e1 Street
\nPROGRAM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday 26th<\/sup> July<\/strong><\/p>\n