Davao hosts full IRONMAN event

DAVAO CITY — The world’s best triathletes are expected to see action when Davao hosts the IRONMAN Philippines, a full-distance triathlon event set on 13 June next year.

Sunrise Events president and general manager Princess Galira made the announcement on Wednesday, saying that the full distance race will see competitors negotiate the ultimate 3.8-kilometer swim, 180-kilometer bike and 42.2-kilometer run in the historic event that will put Davao City on the world triathlon map.

The course will be centered around Davao City Coastal Road and Bago Aplaya Esplanade, combining an ocean swim with long stretches of mostly flat roads through the city.

Triathletes will begin with a 3.8-km ocean swim, completing two loops of the 1.9-km course before heading into transition.

The 180-km bike course will unfold over three counterclockwise laps from the Coastal Road through MacArthur Highway and key city roads before returning to Bago Esplanade while the 42.2-km marathon will be a four-loop run along the Coastal Road, taking athletes between the Tulip Rotonda area and Bago Aplaya Esplanade before the final approach to the finish line.

Galura said the city’s continued improvement of its infrastructure, event support systems, including safety, security and emergency response, had prompted them to bring the prestigious event to the Durian Capital of the country.

The IRONMAN Philippines will be staged together with the IRONMAN 70.3 Davao, creating a major race weekend that gives athletes two ways from the established 70.3-mile distance to the full 226-kilometer IRONMAN journey.