The demand from the local community for a Middle Distance in Almere was huge and therefore the Challenge Almere-Amsterdam organization was authorised to put this popular distance back on the program in 2021. While the 2021 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Almere-Amsterdam will dominate this year – no less than six World Championships will take place in Almere from September 3th to 12th, 2021 – the organization now adds an Open Series Middle Distance to the program.
The Middle Distance will be an open series as a so-called ‘Side Event’ and will not be a World Championship. This Middle Distance will take place on Friday September 10th, 2021 and will start at 10:30am. Registration is open immediately for a maximum of 1.000 athletes. Contrary to the different World Championships, registration for the Middle Distance will be handled by the Challenge Almere-Amsterdam organization and won’t run via your National Triathlon Federation. The Middle Distance is a race for Age Groupers, not for professional athletes.
2021 World Triathlon Long Distance and Aquabike Championships move to Sunday September 12th
In order to be able to organize the Middle Distance on September 10th, this requires some other organizational measures. Therefore, the 2021 World Triathlon Long Distance Championship that was originally planned on Saturday,
September 11th will be postponed to Sunday, September 12th, providing also a safer environment for the athletes. The timetable will remain the same. This also applies to the Open Series Long Distance and the World Triathlon Aquabike Championship.
Athletes who were already registered for the Open Serie Long Distance, but do not see an opportunity to participate on the new date – September 12th, 2021 – will have the opportunity to cancel their registration free of charge. These athletes are requested to report their cancellation before November 20th. After this date, cancellation free of charge will no longer be possible, except when is chosen for cancellation insurance during registration.
Middle Distance and Long Distance not combinable
In view of the safety and health of the participants, and according to the World Triathlon rules, athletes participating in the Middle Distance on Friday September 10th are not allowed to participate in the Long Distance race on Sunday September 12th.
Middle Distance doesn’t count for World Triathlon ‘Multisport Legend
Athletes who want to become a World Triathlon ‘Multisport Legend’ – this prestigious title and the unique medal that will be handed if you participate in four or more different World Championships during the 2021 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Almere-Amsterdam – are not allowed to include the Middle Distance as a contributing race to the title. After all, the Middle Distance is an Open Series and not a World Championship.
Program 2021 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Almere-Amsterdam
Furthermore there will be only slight changes to the program of the 2021 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Almere-Amsterdam. The opening ceremony will still take place on September 3th and the World Triathlon Sprint Duathlon Championship (September 4th, 2021), World Triathlon Standard Duathlon Championship (September 5th, 2021), World Triathlon Cross Triathlon Championship (September 7th, 2021) and World Triathlon Aquathlon Championship (September 9th, 2021) will take place at their original date. Only the World Triathlon Championship, the Open Series Long Distance and the World Triathlon Aquabike Championships will be moved to September 12th, 2021. The medal (Long Distance and Aquabike) and closing ceremonies will be held on the same day.
Side events
Besides the Middle Distance, Challenge Almere-Amsterdam will also host other side events not covered by the 2021 Almere-Amsterdam Multisport World Championships. For example, the Junior Challenge and Family & Business Relay will take place on September 9th, 2021.