News - Challenge Vichy, France, We are Triathlon!

09/05/2013
Win a free entry !

Win a free entry to Challenge Vichy Or Vichy Half Triathlon 2013 by drawing lots , go to Challenge Vichy facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Challenge-Vichy/158187084213774?sk=app_126227560733600




0705/2013
CHALLENGE FAMILY RELAUNCHES IN AUSTRALIA WITH THREE NEW EVENTS

7 MAY 2013 – Challenge Family has today announced its return to the Australian triathlon scene with three new Challenge Half events being added to their worldwide series.

Challenge Melbourne, Challenge Forster and Challenge Bateman’s Bay will spearhead the Challenge Family’s return to Australia. All three Challenge Half distance events will comprise a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycle and a 21.1km run together with a prize purse of over AUD$30,000.

Challenge Family CEO, Felix Walchshöfer, said the return to the Australian market is a significant milestone for the Challenge Family.

“Australia is an extremely important part of the world for us, we have received messages from athletes every day asking us when we will be back and I’m delighted to announce our return with three very different, but all equally compelling races,” he said. “Challenge Forster continues our commitment to the legacy of our sport with its strong roots in Australian triathlon, Challenge Bateman’s Bay has been chosen for its great location and athlete experience while Challenge Melbourne brings the Challenge Family to one of Australia’s iconic cities. We are very proud to work with all the communities and race organisers to bring a new triathlon experience to Australian athletes.”

Walchshöfer’s sentiments were echoed by four times world champion, Chris McCormack. “Challenge Family is all about bringing triathlon back to its roots, where you meet the people behind the event, where you’re welcomed across the finish line by them and where you are truly made to feel that you share the same passion. I’m beyond excited that Challenge is back in Australia and can’t wait to be part of Challenge Family on my home turf.”

A team of seasoned triathlon industry professionals have come-together to re-launch Challenge Family in Australia, including renowned race-directors David Hansen (SuperSprint) and Mark Emerton (Elite Energy). Hansen will oversee the Challenge Melbourne event, while Emerton will deliver the Challenge Forster and Challenge Batemans Bay events in collaboration with Challenge Family.

Securing Challenge Melbourne has been a big coup for Australia's most experienced event manager David Hansen and his team at SuperSprint Events. Months of planning and preparation have culminated in Challenge Melbourne that will take place in the bayside suburb of Sandringham and will showcase the famous Beach Road and the miles of running tracks that follow the bay. The inaugural Challenge Melbourne event will take place on February 2, 2014.

"I have always felt a race over the half distance would be very popular in Melbourne along Beach Road. With the link to the world’s biggest long distance event in Challenge Roth, I believe that Challenge Melbourne will provide athletes with an incredible race experience, while enjoying the best of what Melbourne has to offer", said Hansen

Challenge Forster will see the return of international long-course triathlon to the traditional home of long-course triathlon in Australia. The hosting of a race in Forster continues Challenge’s commitment to the sport’s legacy with traditional long-course race locations such Roth Germany, Phuket (Thailand), Penticton (Canada) and Almere-Amsterdam (Netherlands).

Mark Emerton, Challenge Forster race director, has been instrumental in seeing the return of an international event to Forster and is looking forward to showcasing to a new generation of athletes the original course that made the town famous amongst endurance enthusiasts world-wide.

‘I am very excited that Challenge is coming to my old home town. I recall the days when legendary athletes like Jurgen Zack, Peter Reid and Bruce Thomas would come to town to test themselves on the challenging course. So it is with a great deal of pride that I can, along with the Challenge Family, show athletes what all the fuss was about’, said Emerton.

‘We will have a category that will encourage former champions from the early years to come and race each other again and to experience the Forster finish line again’, added Emerton.

Challenge Forster will take place in the idyllic twin towns of Forster-Tuncurry on the NSW Mid-North Coast on Sunday November 24, 2013.

Emerton and his team at Elite Energy will also organise the Challenge Bateman's Bay event scheduled for March 16 2014. Bateman's Bay, located on the NSW south coast, offers a brand new area for endurance athletes to call home.

‘Bateman's Bay is one of those hidden gems which athletes will fall in love with now that Challenge has come to town. Everyone is excited about the course and location and my team and I feel privileged to be hosting this event there’, said Emerton

The Challenge Family global series of long distance triathlons is changing the face of long distance racing around the world with its focus on athlete experience. Featuring spectacular courses in iconic destinations, Challenge Family events focus on delivering the race-of-a-lifetime to every athlete, and creating a memorable spectator experience that captures all the excitement and emotion of this inspirational sport.

The addition of the Australian races take the Challenge Family to 21 events around the world including the world’s largest long distance triathlon, Challenge Roth in Germany. Other Challenge Family races take place in Germany, Austria, Canada, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, New Zealand, Thailand and Taiwan.

Entries to Challenge Forster, Challenge Melbourne and Challenge Bateman's Bay open to the general public at 9.00am on Friday 10 May at www.challenge-australia.com.au.

For further information on Challenge Family, please visit www.challenge-family.com, follow on Twitter @Challenge_Family or like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChallengeFamily.


25/04/2013
Challenge Family announces partnership with MarkAllenOnline

Challenge Family and MarkAllenOnline have announced a partnership that sees the coaching company of one of triathlon’s greatest sporting legends partner with the world’s fastest growing series of long distance triathlons.

In the partnership, athletes will benefit from tailored training plans through MarkAllenOnline.com for each of the 18 Challenge Family races around the world as well as enjoy unique access to Mark Allen himself through a series of online video seminars.

Challenge Family CEO, Felix Walchshöfer, said the partnership with MarkAllenOnline would form an integral part of Challenge Family’s Athletes’ Journey. “As soon as an athlete signs up with Challenge to do one of our races, they are starting on the Athletes’ Journey and our goal is to support them each step of the way, providing them with the ultimate experience, not just on race day but in their preparation and recovery periods as well,” he said. “Our partnership with MarkAllenOnline.com provides Challenge Family athletes with access to race specific plans tailored to their individual needs by one of the most respected coaches in the world.”

As well as training plans, athletes will benefit from bi-monthly live online seminars covering key topics such as nutrition, mental tactics, training/life balance and race day preparation. Delivered by six time world champion and ESPN Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time, Mark Allen himself, Challenge Family athletes will have access to one of the greatest minds in triathlon with Allen’s wealth of racing and training expertise.

"I am excited to have MarkAllenOnline provide coaching to the Challenge Athlete Family athletes,” said Allen. “It has always been our goal to support our clients in having the best possible experience in the sport of triathlons by helping them Train Smart and Get Results®. The Challenge Family embraces this same goal of bringing the best possible experience to an athlete through its events. This is an incredible opportunity to enhance the athletic journey for everyone from their first day of training all the way through the finish line at the races."

Full details of the training programmes can be found at www.markallenonline.com/challenge.

The Challenge Family celebrates the sport of triathlon through its global series of long distance events and festivals that are changing the face of long distance racing around the world with its focus on athlete experience. Featuring spectacular courses in iconic destinations, Challenge Family events focus on delivering the race of a lifetime to every athlete, and creating a memorable spectator experience that captures all the excitement and emotion of this inspirational sport. The Challenge Family series currently features 18 events around the world including the world’s largest long distance triathlon, Challenge Roth in Germany. Other Challenge Family races take place in Germany, Holland, Austria, Canada, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, New Zealand, Thailand and Taiwan.
15/04/2013
Take part in Challenge Vichy enjoying the club rates
Do not forget! Challenge Vichy offers Team Discounts:
- From 5 athletes from the same team: get 8% discount
- From 10 athletes from the same team: get 12?5% discount
Stop waiting and register now!

06/04/2013
150 Days to go + informations
2 results list will be edited:
- ETU Challenge Long Distance Triathlon European Championships
- Challenge Vichy = ETU Challenge Long Distance Triathlon European Championships + Open Wave

Here are some rules that have been negotiated with the ETU:

- Athletes wishing to compet in the European Championship must check with their federation to be registered at the ETU Challenge Long Distance Triathlon European Championships... but you must also enter and pay your entry fee on www.challengevichy.com
- No ITU Licence = Open wave
- The rules for your uniform negotiated with ETU is this one : "Challenge Vichy accept that the ITU uniform rules will be waived. The uniform rules for participants at this ETU Challenge European Championships are set as followed: it is mandatory that all race uniforms have the official country code of the athlete’s country on the chest of their race uniform."  ... so you can race with your club uniform but with the official country code on the chest. Open wave = no official country code of the athlete’s country on the chest of their race uniform

Train well
Team Challenge Vichy

21/03/2013
Be careful entries rates  change next April 3



You have until midnight April 2 to enjoy the current price of 320 € on the Challenge Vichy, iron distance with label Ironman or Challenge the cheapest in europe.

From April 3, rates will pass :
Challenge Vichy: ETU European Long Distance Champs
5th September 2012 to 15th October  2012 Price: 300€ with free insurance cancelation
16th October 2012 to 2 April 2013 Price : 320€
3rd of April 2013 to 1rst July 2013 Price : 350€
2nd of july 2013 to 17 August 2013 Price : 370€

Vichy Half Triathlon: Limited to 600 triathlètes
5th September 2012 to 15th October  2012 Price: 150€
16th October 2012 to 2nd April 2013 Price: 170€
2nd of july 2013 to 17th August  2013 Price : 190€

http://www.challengevichy.com/lang1/-2013--entry.html

Have  a good training
Team Challenge Vichy

13/02/2013
700 triathletes already registered.

700 triathletes are already registered (Challenge Vichy 462+ Vichy Half Triathlon 238) , 34% more than 12th february 2012. 1600 triathletes should be racing next 1rst september. Thank you everyone.







15/12/2012
A training plan for all registrants
On january 1rst, all the athletes registered on Challenge Vichy or Vichy Half Triathlon will receive their training program by http://www.tod-experience.com/ (... in english of course ;-)

26/09/2012
Challenge Vichy 2012 Video
Here is the link of Challenge Vichy 2012 video :
- with french speackers : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI5mOOSYFVg&feature=youtu.be
- without french speakers : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhY_ZUnfvkQ&feature=related

15/09/2012
Challenge Vichy by german website TRI2B
Watch the photos gallery of CHALLENGE VICHY 2012 on the german website TRI2B by Stefan DREXL: http://www.tri2b.com/fotos/e_85055

05/09/2012
Entries opened

ETU European Long Distance Champs Challenge Vichy and Vichy Half Triathlon are now open for 2013 entries:http://www.challengevichy.com/lang1/-2013--entry.html

04/09/2012
Challenge Vichy , ETU European Long Distance Champs, changes date for 2013

Following the extreme heat experienced at the last two Challenge Vichy races, the date has been changed for the 2013 race in an attempt to provide more optimal long distance triathlon racing conditions.
Initially scheduled for August 18, 2013, in cooperation with the City of Vichy, ETU and Challenge Family, it was decided to reschedule Challenge Vichy two weeks later on 1 September 2013 when Challenge Vichy will host the ETU European Long Distance Championships .
"After two very hot years, where it was very hard for us to organize in good conditions, we didn't want to start a third race with the sword of Damocles over our head!" said Challenge Vichy race director, Gael Mainard. "We have looked at statistics from Météo France to see what time would be the best for a race with the sun ... but not in the heat. The choice fell on the last weekend of August,  on average over the last 10 years, it's 5°C cooler in this period. This should also allow us to finally have cooler water in the Lac d'Allier so it can be a wetsuit swim. This new date will also help us to secure more volunteers and also provide more accommodation options for athletes as it is out of the main French holiday period."
Registration for 2013 will open on September 5th at 2PM. Those athletes who raced in 2012 will shortly receive an email detailing how they can enter at the specially reduced rate of €190. For further information, please visit www.challengevichy.com
Vidéo Challenge Vichy 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P60g3ZtrIyE
Soon, SPORT + will broadcast four reports of 52' on Challenge Vichy 2012. These broadcasts will take place September 19 at 10am, 5pm and 0:55PM , then  September 22nd at 7:30AM. You can also view Challenge Vichy highlights at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P60g3ZtrIyE
24/08/2012

Find your official photos:
Marathons Photos link :
http://www.marathon-photos.com/scripts/home.py

11/08/2012
Water Temperature

Yesterday morning, the water temperature of Lac d'Allier was at 21.5°C.


09/08/2012
Start-lists

LISTE DOSSARDS CHALLENGE VICHY 2012

LISTE DOSSARDS HALF 2012

01/08/2012
PHYSIOTHERAPY

In the Expo, you will have access to care with students of physiotherapy IFMK Vichy assisted by their teacher Jean Christophe NICOLAS. This care will be paid (refunded in full for students) from Thursday to Saturday from 10AM to 19PM. You can already book your rendez-vous with Jean-Christophe NICOLAS nikokine@orange.fr or             +33 6 80 23 93 00      

15-minute massage (back or legs): 10 euros
30-minute massage (back + legs): 20 euros
-Bill of manual therapy: 30 euros
-Neuromuscular Taping: 20 euros

22/07/2012
Info bike course Challenge Vichy 2012

Some roads have been re-graveled recently by the Conseil Général du Puy-de-dôme. Road markings has disappeared for several kilometers. These roads will be swept by the Office of Conseil Général du Puy-de-dôme before the end of July. After this, we will update the re-marking.

14/07/2012
Athlete guide 2012 available.

You can download now our Athlete guide. You will find all the informations
about Challenge Vichy and Vichy Half triathlon.
Athlete guide 2012
See you
Team Challenge Vichy

14/07/2012
you must know that actually the water temperature of Lac Allier

For our english speaking athletes, you must know that actually the water temperature of Lac Allier ... due to recent storm is 15°C. We will try to inform you every week about the water temperature.






25/05/2012
Challenge Family launches SmartPhone app


22 May, 2012 - Triathlon fans, friends and supporters around the globe can now be part of the Challenge Family, experiencing some of the world's most popular iron distance triathlons live on their iPhone or Android device.

Wherever they in the world, whether at home or on the move, virtual spectators can get a variety of information and catch all the live action from any of the Challenge Family triathlons, from the world’s largest iron distance race, Challenge Roth, to the iconic Challenge Copenhagen. Live race updates, athlete tracking, race maps, results and images are all at your finger tips.

Any number of athletes can be added to the watch-list function to quickly check for current standings, split times and even where to be to support them out on the course.

Athletes will also find the new app useful with all the latest news and timetable of events available to keep them informed of what is going on in the lead up to race day. Also available is a full list of past results as well as a photo library for each of the Challenge Family races.

This weekend’s Half Challenge Barcelona (27 May) will be the first Challenge Family race to be profiled on the full version of the app. The Challenge Family app is available for free download by searching for “Challenge Family” at either http://play.google.com/ for Android phones or from the Apple App Store through iTunes for iPhones.

The Challenge Family global series of long distance triathlons features 11 races throughout Europe and Australasia, including the world’s largest iron distance event, Challenge Roth in Germany. Challenge races are known for their excellent athlete race experience to the athletes and commitment to the communities in which they take place. For further information, visit www.challenge-family.com or www.facebook.com/ChallengeFamily or follow us on Twitter @Challenge_Family

01/04/2012
Note that two bike course recognitions will be organized: the first June 17, 2012 and the second July 1, 2012

The appointment is fixed to the “Centre Omnisports Pierre Coulon” of Vichy at 9:30 am.

A food station will be provided on the bike course in order to you to discover High 5 products!

Also, after the bike course recognition, if you’re motivated, you can try the transition running (10,5km) on the run course!


Team Challenge Vichy wishes you a wonderful training.



01/03/2012
Here is an interview from our big boss Felix Walschoeffer (CEO Challenge Family) ...

What was your first feeling when you arrived in Vichy and on the race site?

I found it the ideal location for a race, beautifull setting, everything on one place, which makes it very easy for our athletes and familys. The city of Vichy as well as the region has a lot of charm and invites for some extra days to spend holiday.

How did you live this day?

I have spent the day out on the beautifully course , so I could see how the race is unfolding and how the organization was working.

What did you think about this first organization?

It has been the best first year’s event in the Challenge family from our perspective, it ran smooth, professional and very friendly, just as we want our races to be. All in all we could not have wished for more, except a little cooler temperaturesJ

According to you, what are the strong points of the Challenge Vichy?

1.       Easy and wonderful setting for our athletes

2.       Perfect organization

3.       Great and very friendly location with Vichy and the whole region

PS: Don’t forget that on the 3rd april, the entry fees change to 350€.

03/01/2012
The Team Challenge Vichy wishes you all the best for 2012!



02/11/2011

Training Programs

From 1rst December, all athletes registered to Challenge Vichy and Half Vichy will receive training programs (10h and 15h per week) to be ready for August 19th, 2012.
This year's training programs will be made by Julien Vlaemynck from http://www.p3-training.fr/