The ten-day Multisport Triathlon European Championships starts today in Marosvásárhely/Târgu Mureș with more than 1800 participants from 39 countries. The large-scale sport event, which last year was held in Ibiza, Spain, is taking place in Romania for the first time between June 28 and July 7, 2019 in Marosvásárhely and other parts of Maros/Mureș County.
The biggest group of participants – more than 800 – come from the United Kingdom, while the second-biggest group is formed by the 300 local sportspeople. According to race director and president of the Romanian Triathlon Federation Péter Klósz, the event will be good promotion for the town and for the area, as well.
The opening ceremony starts at 6 p.m. tonight (June 28) in front of the Town Hall, where the competitors will parade under the flags of the 39 participating countries. Then they will walk to the town’s castle – which can also be found also in downtown area – where the ceremony will continue. Organizers set up both the race and media centers inside the castle, while participants and spectators will be able to buy everything related to the race here, from T-shirts to bike equipment, at the Race Expo, or even some merchandising items in the souvenir shop. After the official opening speeches, both the participants and the judges will take an oath, and then the ceremony will be closed by a Koszika & The HotShots concert and short firework display. During the next ten days the award ceremonies will also be held here, inside the castle.
Friday, June 28: Official opening ceremony in Marosvásárhely.
Saturday June 29: On the first race day, the Cross Triathlon competition will be held, which consists of mountain biking and running.
Sunday, June 30: One of the most spectacular events, the Duathlon Sprint, will be held on the main square of Marosvásárhely. This race starts with running, followed by biking, and finishes with running again.
Monday, July 1: rest day.
Tuesday, July 2: the race moves to Szováta/Sovata, to the area of the Tivoli forest and where the Cross Duathlon (running, mountain biking, running) will be organized.
Wednesday, July 3: The race moves again, to the Transylvania Motor Ring, where the same type of event will take place as two days before, this time in the main square in Marosvásárhely and over twice the distance. The Duathlon Standard consists of a 10 km run, a 40 km bike ride, and a 5 km run.
Thursday, July 4: rest-day.
Friday, July 5: The Aquathlon will be held at the Maros Leisure and Sport Center (Weekend-telep), where participants first have to swim 1 km then run 5 km. This event has more than 300 registered participants already.
Saturday, July 6: rest day.
Sunday, July 7: The most spectacular race of the championship will be held on the last day in Bözöd/Bezid and in the Bözöd Lake area. The Middle Distance Triathlon (also known as Half Iron Man) consists of a 2 km swim, a 90 km bike, and a 21 km run.
For more information about the event: www.transilvaniamultisport2019.ro
Title image: Transilvania ETU Cross Duathlon European Championships 2017 in Marosvásárhely (Photo: Transilvania 2019 Multisport European Championships Facebook)
