5150 TRIATHLON IS COMING TO NELSON MANDELA BAY

PORT Elizabeth, South Africa (1 August 2016) - Nelson Mandela Bay, the home of IRONMAN in Africa, has received another triathlon boost with the addition of the Standard Bank 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay and Standard Bank Sprint set to take place in November.

 

The hugely popular standard distance triathlon series has been running in South Africa since 2011 with events in Bela Bela and Germiston. The series now makes its debut in Nelson Mandela Bay with the race set to take place on Sunday 20 November 2016 at King’s Beach.

 

The 5150 triathlon takes the format of an Olympic distance triathlon featuring a 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run. This totals a distance of 51.50km hence, the name 5150 pronounced, fifty-one-fifty. The race is non-drafting, adopting the same set of rules as an IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3 race. The standard distance is great as an introduction for first-timers as well as fans of the Vodacom Corporate Triathlon Challenge powered by Algoa FM, looking for the next step.

 

The race is also ideal as a warm up for the Standard Bank IRONMAN 70.3 South Africa in January giving athletes the opportunity to experience the flow of big event while becoming accustomed to a sea swim and the non-drafting nature of the race.

 

For those looking for something shorter, a sprint option will be available in the form of the Standard Bank Sprint. The Sprint will feature a 450-metre swim, 20km bike and 5km run and both individual and team entries are available for the Sprint. Great for company teams and those wanting to get a group of friends together. The Sprint will take place at the same time, on the same course and will finish at the same finish line as the Standard Bank 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay.

“With a history of hosting Africa’s biggest triathlon and the most passionate triathlon community in South Africa, Nelson Mandela Bay is a great location for a 5150 race. For these reasons it was an obvious choice to bring a 5150 race to the Bay’s athletes,” said Keith Bowler, Managing Director of World Endurance Africa Holdings.

 

The race will start at King’s Beach with the transition area located in the King’s Beach parking area. Athletes will then start the cycle, exiting the King’s Beach parking area turning left onto Marine Drive. The 20km out and back bike route will bring athletes back to King’s Beach where they will transition and start the 10km run course along the beachfront walkway and along Katie’s Walk before returning to King’s Beach for the finish. The Standard Bank Sprint will take place along the same route with the turnaround points half the distance of the Standard Bank 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay.

 

Entries for the Standard Bank 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay and Standard Bank 5150 Sprint open Monday 1 August 2016 at 14:00. For more information and to enter visit www.ironman.com/5150nelsonmandelabay.