VIDEO: Top triathletes to compete in island's "biggest event"

Tuesday 18 July 2017

Top triathletes from around the world, including the Brownlee brothers, are heading to Jersey this September to compete in what has been described as the "biggest event" the island has ever hosted, in terms of global television coverage.

As first reported by Express last Friday, the Brownlee brothers will be competing for the £100,000 prize money along with 48 of the world's best triathletes including 25 Olympians and five 'wild cards'.

This news follows a series of teasers which hinted to the global series touching down in Jersey.

Video: The Super League Triathlon announces Jersey as the next Championship location.

The Super League Triathlon will take place on 23 and 24 September of this year, with plans to make it an annual event. It will reportedly be broadcast live to over 388 million households.

Commenting on the prestige of this global series, Senator Lyndon Farnham, Minister for Economic Development, Tourism and Culture said: "One of the key targets of my department is to develop Jersey as a global event destination. This, really, is the first opportunity we've had to show what Jersey can offer. This is probably also the biggest event that Jersey's ever done in terms of global reach."

The athletes will face a gruelling 'Triple Mix' race which essentially consists of three triathlon mixes with ten minute breaks in between.

Pictured: The route for the Super League Triathlon's elite race, which will take place at the island's Waterfront.

The Super League Triathlon aims to make the sport "shorter, sharper, faster", with the race in Jersey consisting of a 300m swim, a 5km bike ride and a 2.5km run.

Although this year's event will only consist of a corporate relay and the elite race, the Super League Triathlon are reportedly "absolutely passionate" about expanding the series in Jersey to include mass participation.

Fintan Kennedy, Chairman of the Jersey Triathlon Club said: "We want to showcase Jersey to the world as a great location to come and play. Our sporting world is fantastic here, it's a natural environment for sport and Super League Triathlon are absolutely passionate about making this an annual calendar location.

"We've got the corporate relays involved this year. It's been really great that the corporate world has got behind us and been so supportive."

Video: The Super League announces its first ever women's race, which will debut in Jersey.

Looking to the future for the Super League Triathlon in Jersey, Mr Kennedy added: "We want to create an event where anybody can enter and from that we start to branch out into open water swimming races, running races, bike races all around that weekend, where it becomes a complete festival and we try and lock Jersey down for sport for a weekend and make it so attractive for visitors."

The world's top 20 male and female triathletes are contractually obliged to race in the Super League Triathlon and it is possible that some local athletes could have a chance to race against the greats if they are awarded the league's 'wild card'. 

So far, the race has been trialled with a men's race in the Australian Hamilton Island, close to the Great Barrier Reef, but now the competition will be hitting Jersey's coastline with an all-new women's race.