2018 Escape Triathlon Series Adds Two New Races - Lake Tahoe and Huntington Beach
Series Also Goes Global with Addition of Beijing and London Races
LOS ANGELES (Wednesday, January 31, 2018) – IMG, a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, today announced the 2018 Escape Triathlon Series race schedule. These will serve as the six qualifying races for the 2019 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.
“We are thrilled to add new cities with exciting courses to the Escape Triathlon Series,” said James Leitz, Senior Vice President, IMG. “Our goal is to grow this to be the number one short course series in the world, and with the addition of Beijing and London, this series is going international in just its second year.”
This year’s Escape Triathlon Series will feature challenging courses, iconic race locations and top professional triathletes from around the world. The six 2018 Escape Triathlon Series qualifying races are as follows:
Philadelphia Escape Triathlon – Sunday, June 24, 2018
The Philadelphia Escape Triathlon is recognized as one of the premier triathlons in the country. This year will mark the 14th edition of this annual event, featuring a sprint distance race, Olympic distance race and multisport expo. Fairmount Park will host this challenging course, which takes participants through some of the most historic and picturesque areas of Philadelphia.
AJ Bell London Triathlon – Sunday, August 5, 2018
This race attracts more than 11,000 participants and 30,000 spectators each year, and has become a must-do event on the triathlon circuit. With a variety of distances, routes and wave categories to choose from, the AJ Bell London Triathlon offers options for athletes of all levels. It also offers participants a unique urban route past iconic London landmarks including Big Ben, the London Eye and more.
Nation’s Escape Triathlon – Sunday, September 9, 2018
The Nation’s Escape Triathlon will wind through Washington D.C.’s monument corridor in the shadow of the nation’s best-known memorials and national treasures. Celebrating its 13th year, this is the only triathlon that takes place in the nation’s capital, as well as the only organized event permitted to swim in the Potomac River.
Lake Tahoe Escape Triathlon – September 16, 2018
This all-new race will send triathletes on a swim in world-famous Lake Tahoe, biking along the Truckee River and scenic Highway 89 and a beautiful run that will end in the Village of Squaw Valley. The Lake Tahoe Escape Triathlon will host both sprint and Olympic distance races.
Beijing International Triathlon – Sunday, September 22, 2018
This Olympic distance course showcases the eco-friendly environment and cultural attractions in the Fengtai district of Beijing, including a 1.5km swim through Garden Expo Lake; a grueling 40km bike race through the quaint villages and up Qian Ling Mountain – the highest peak in Southwest Beijing; and a final 10km run through the gardens and up the steep steps of the Garden Expo Park. Celebrating its seventh year, the event includes Olympic and Sprint distance races, as well as a Health and Fitness Expo. Registration is now open.
Surf City Escape Escape Triathlon – 2019
An all-new Olympic distance race, the Surf City Escape Triathlon begins with a challenging one-mile, open water swim in the Pacific Ocean, entering through the same beach break as the world renowned U.S. Open of Surfing. Triathletes will swim along the shoreline with the backdrop of the famous Huntington Beach Pier, followed by a 12-mile, double-loop bike ride along the breathtaking Pacific Coast Highway. The final 6.2-mile run will turn up the challenge, sending athletes on a deep sand run, then back to the spectator-friendly beachfront finish.
Each qualifying race will award the top male and female finishers per age group a race entry into the 2019 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon (entry fee the responsibility of the racer). An elite field of pros will participate with a point system tracking their progress as they vie for the 18 professional men’s and 18 professional women’s race slots for the 2019 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. A total prize purse of $300,000 will be awarded to race winners throughout the Escape Triathlon Series. For more information and to register, visit www.EscapeSeriesTri.com, or follow on www.facebook.com/EscapeSeriesTri, @escapeseriestri on Instagram and Twitter and https://youtu.be/tm9JJzPyQKs on YouTube.
About Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon
Since its first race in 1981, the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon has encouraged top professional and amateur triathletes to attempt the impossible – escape from Alcatraz Island. Triathletes from around the globe take over the streets and waters of San Francisco each year to embark on a grueling 1.5 mile swim from Alcatraz Island to the shoreline of Marina Green, an 18 mile twisting bike ride through the Presidio, and an eight mile trail run out to Baker Beach and up the infamous 400-plus step Sand Ladder. This challenging course continues to be a bucket list race for triathletes from around the world.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media, operating in more than 30 countries. The company manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in sports training and league development, as well as marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. IMG is part of the Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG) network.
Contact:
DeeDee Taft/Shelbi Okumura
Spin Communications
415/380-8390, deedee@spinpr.com
