IRONMAN AUSTRIA
IT’S THE FASTEST OFFICIAL IRONMAN COURSE IN EUROPE AND ONE OF THE GREATEST – AND FASTEST-SELLING – EXPERIENCES IN TRIATHLON. HERE WE PRESENT THE WONDER THAT IS IRONMAN AUSTRIA…
Without doubt, Ironman Austria is one of the top five Ironman races in the world for its organisation and beautiful scenery,” says Mark Kleanthous. Which is high praise indeed from a man with 40+ worldwide Ironman finishes to his name.
The swim takes place in the 24°C waters of Lake Wörthersee in Austria’s south, ringed by forested hills and snow-capped Alpine mountains. After the 3.8km in the turquoise, transparent waters, athletes embark on a two-loop course into the Alpine foothills around Carinthia for one of Ironman’s fastest bike routes. Mostly flat (and on what Kleanthous calls “some of the smoothest roads in the world”), the 180km course features two steep gradients on each lap, which are crammed with spectators lining the route 10-deep and producing a motivational din up there with Challenge Roth in the decibel stakes. The largely flat and shady 42.2km run goes around the lake’s shoreline before heading into Klagenfurt for one of Ironman’s greatest finishes.
“When you run along the ‘Magic Carpet’ to the finish line in Klagenfurt, you cannot fail to be overcome with emotion,” continues Kleanthous. “There are even more loud, cheering spectators there, with some of the biggest crowds lining up just before midnight to welcome the last competitors over the line.”