IRONMAN Triathlon World Championship organizers have chosen the beautiful island of Bintan in the Riau Islands of Indonesia, - directly facing Singapore and Malaysia, - for the first qualifying races in the Asia Pacific. With the rapid growth in popularity of IRONMAN® triathlon in the Asia-Pacific region, Indonesia will now hold the first qualifying races for the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3.
The popular annual MetaMan Bintan has been transformed into the IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon hosted by the brand new Swiss Belhotel Lagoi Bay on Bintan.
To take place on 23 August 2015, Ironman 70.3 Bintan, Indonesia is the site chosen for the first qualifying races for the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship that will be held in Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia.
Ironman 70.3 Bintan, together with Triathlon Bali on 25 October, are already included among Asia’s Top 10 triathlon events.
This year IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan will move to the brand new Lagoi Bay, a prime tropical beach resort area centrally located along the picturesque swathe of white beaches on the northern coast of Bintan Island, in the heart of Bintan Resorts. Its starting point will be the brand new Lagoi Bay Plaza just by the beachfront.
Lagoi Bay was officially opened by Indonesia’s Vice President Jusuf Kalla on 31 May 2015, and lies just a short 15 minutes’ drive away from the BBT Ferry Terminal. Lagoi Bay already boasts The Lagoi Bay Plaza Mall and a number of hotels, including the Swiss Belhotel Lagoi Bay , that come complete with numerous restaurants as well as other sports facilities.
The previous MetaMan Bintan triathlon which was started in 2012, offered both full distance and long distance races. MetaMan quickly become a must-do race for many triathletes.
This year, the course for IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan, Indonesia will take athletes on an impressive journey around Bintan Island. The event will begin with the 1.2-mile (1.9 km) swim in calm and clear waters, even giving athletes a view of the ocean floor as they begin their IRONMAN journeys. Next, athletes will embark on a scenic one-lap, 56-mile (90 km) bike course on smooth, wide roads. Finally, a spectator-friendly, three-lap 13.1-mile (21 km) run course tops off this spectacular event.
IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan, Indonesia will be open to relay teams and will also include an IRONKIDS® event as well as shorter AquaBike and Bintan Blitz distances available for individual adults or relay teams.
IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan, Indonesia will offer a $25,000 USD professional prize purse and 40 age-group qualifying slots for the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
