Flash back sur Ironman 70.3 Colombie 2017

IRONMAN is expanding into Colombia for the 2nd time with the addition of the IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena triathlon. The event took place on 3 December 2017, in the modern port city of Cartagena de Indias on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, in the north western corner of South America.

“The city is widely recognized as an international destination for its historic setting, beaches, water sports and watercraft and is an ideal location for our first event in Colombia,”

The IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena triathlon begins with a 1.2-mile (1.9K) swim in the protected waters of Bahia de las Animas, before entering T1, located at the monument square of Camellón de los Mártires.

The one-loop, 56-mile (90K) bike course took athletes through the quiet natural mangrove area heading towards Barranquilla on the Via al Mar Sea Highway. The 13.1-mile (21K) run course leaded athletes through the historic downtown of Cartagena winding through its castle walls and cannons reminiscent of ancient times.

Colombia is a unique place that is filled with beaut; Cartagena’s welcoming people, delicious food, and historical wonders create the perfect backdrop to what was a world-class IRONMAN 70.3 event 2017.

Colombia is bordered by the Caribbean Sea on the north side and the Pacific Ocean on the west side. It has a wide range of climates and topography, making it one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. The territory is divided into a flat region to the east and the Andes Mountains to the west. Its beauty is attributable to its clear rivers, snowy peaks, and desert surfaces, all of which are within a few miles from each other.

Cartagena de Indias is a ‘fairy-tale city of romance, legends and superbly preserved beauty lying within an impressive 6.8 miles of centuries-old colonial stone walls built by the Spanish.’

Cartagena’s old town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984 and encapsulates all the charm of Spanish Colonial architecture. On the run portion of the event, athletes will pass a maze of cobbled alleys, balconies covered in bougainvillea, and massive churches that cast their shadows across plazas.

The IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena offered a US$25,000 professional prize purse and 40 age-group qualifying slots for the 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship taking place in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.

2000 registered athletes

Athletes from 42 countries

More than 30.000 spectators

600 volunteers

The race obtained a high satisfaction average, naming this event as one of the most beautiful IRONMAN 70.3 races in the world, because of its beautiful landscapes and Cartagena’s community filling the streets with music, typical costumes and a lot of enthusiasm to the participants.

Kevin Collington (USA) closed out his 2017 season with a win in Colombia. The American was out of the water with the leaders and was within a minute of the front of the race after the 90-km bike in Cartagena. TJ Tollakson (USA) took out the run hard and at one time was enjoying a three minute advantage on Collington in the first half of the run. Collington made a successful surge towards in the middle of the run and closed the gap at 14 km’s when he ran his way into the lead and eventual win.

Diana Castillo (COL) and Kelsey Withrow (USA) were content to race in each other’s shadow throughout the swim and the bike. The pair hit the run together with Castillo coming out on top of the battle to enjoy the thrill of winning her home country’s Ironman 70.3 race in front of her family and friends.