“With UNESCO World Heritage listed scenery, a unique and challenging race course and years of triathlon history behind it – Challenge St P\u00f6lten is a firm favourite with age-groupers and PROs alike. Find out why you should kick your race season off at this stunning middle distance triathlon.”<\/p>\n
This weekend, Challenge St. P\u00f6lten takes place. According to TRI247 – and we can only endorse that – a race not to be missed!<\/p>\n
–Editorial TRI247–<\/p>\n
Inspired by the PRO racing that\u2019s kicked off the season and looking to get on a start line ASAP? While it\u2019s still early in the year, there\u2019s nothing like diving into a race to test your fitness and get you feeling motivated for the rest of tri season. And with just over 3 weeks to go, a last minute trip to Austria for Challenge St P\u00f6lten could be just the ticket to get your race engines revving.<\/p>\n
We take a look at what makes this middle distance triathlon \u2013 one of the oldest in Europe \u2013 such a spectacular addition to the race calendar.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s plenty that makes Challenge St P\u00f6lten a special race. But one of the stand-outs is the swim course. Swimming in one crystal-clear lake with the scenery of Lower Austria as a backdrop would be a pretty epic way to start a race. But at St P\u00f6lten, you get to swim in two.<\/p>\n
Starting in the Viehofner See for the first loop, athletes then run 200m over the bridge to complete the 1.9km swim in the Ratzdorfer See. It makes for a unique triathlon swim experience, and adds an interesting dynamic to the racing. Get a bit of swim-run practice in and you could easily gain a few places on that 200m \u201cAustrian exit\u201d!<\/p>\n
Fast, flat sections, punchy climbs, exciting descents \u2013 and amazing views. The bike course at St P\u00f6lten has it all. Ramp up the speed as you head out of T1, with a bike course that starts with a fast, flat section on closed motorway roads. Make the most of it, because soon you\u2019ll be winding your way through vineyards and the UNESCO World Heritage listed area of Wachau, with three tough climbs to test your legs.<\/p>\n
Racing is more fun when you know everyone out on the course is putting in a solid, honest effort. Challenge Family have started to implement 20-meter drafting rules on the bike course at several of their races, St P\u00f6lten included. And that applies to the age-groupers as well as the PROs. The route is a one lap course, and with that extended drafting zone you can be confident that you\u2019ll have the opportunity to really test yourself and see where your cycling legs are at.<\/p>\n
Triathlon has a rich history in St P\u00f6lten, which calls itself \u201cthe fittest city of Austria\u201d. Only growing in popularity over the years, now you\u2019ll find thousands of athletes and volunteers out on the course as the city comes out in force to support the swim-bike-run action come race day.<\/p>\n