After a bizarre year in which COVID-19 is still sweeping around and bringing with it strict measures worldwide, the organization behind Challenge Almere-Amsterdam has – after extensive consultation with World Triathlon and all other involved parties – decided that the 2021 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships Almere-Amsterdam will take place in an adjusted way. Most important news: the World Triathlon Championship and the World Triathlon Aquabike Championship will continue to take place on Sunday, September 12. Other World Triathlon Championships will not be organized in Almere in 2021.
This means the World Triathlon Sprint Duathlon Championship, the World Triathlon Standard Duathlon Championship, the World Triathlon Cross Triathlon Championship and the World Triathlon Aquathlon Championship will not be held in Almere this year. This means that Almere will not have two weeks, but ‘only’ four days dedicated to the 2021 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships Almere-Amsterdam. “Of course this is a very difficult decision, but at the same time the only right decision we can make,” explains Race Director Richard Belderok. “A ten-day event would have a huge impact on permitting, police and medical services: something that does not seem feasible in this day and age. Despite these limitations, fortunately we have now found the best possible solution.”
Belderok is therefore pleased and excited that in consultation with all parties it has been decided that the World Triathlon Championship and the World Triathlon Aquabike Championship can go ahead. “In addition, our Challenge Almere-Amsterdam side events will remain on our program,” Belderok is referring to the Junior Challenge (September 9), Rabo Business & Family Relay (September 9), the Open Series Middle Distance (September 10) and the Senior & No-Limit Challenge (September 10). “Of course it feels like our event is seized down and very much we would have liked this to be different, but at the same time we are very happy with the fact that we can still enjoy four days of a great triathlon festival. The World Triathlon Championship is of course the absolute apotheosis of this still spectacular triathlon weekend. Almere will really be under the sign of the triathlon sport those days.”
Also World Triathlon President and IOC member Marisol Casado comments on the new situation. “Even though this is not the perfect scenario for us or the organizers, I want to express our total gratitude to the organizers of the 2021 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Almere-Amsterdam for not giving up and find solutions so that at least the Long Distance and the Aquabike World Championships can take place as planned. And I am absolutely convinced that it will be a magnificent event for all participants.”
Full details on almere.triathlon.org