TriStar111 Monaco: Triathlon takes over the paradise of Formula 1

Scritto da Daniel Quintero | 03 Settembre 2011

TriStar111 Monaco, which was officially presented today, will take over the streets of the Principality of Monaco on Sunday morning. The same asphalt, on which the Formula 1 cars race in May, will be the scenario of an exciting and fun triathlon starting at 8:00. Nearly 1,000 athletes registered in the individual category or as a part of a relay team will swim 1km in the Mediterranean starting from the famous Larvotto Beach. After the swim, they will ride 100km through the hilly surroundings Monaco. Finally, running 10km on the same mythical curves which host the Monaco Grand Prix: Rascasse, Ostende, Casino, the Tunnel...

You could follow the Live Coverage of the race on www.TriStarLive.com

On Sunday from 8:00AM, Monte Carlo will experience one of the most fun triathlons in the world. A large group of professionals will battle for the victory. Among the nearly 1,000 registered: Olivier Marceau from Switzerland, the Germans Lothar Leder and Thomas Hellriegel, Joel Jameson from Great Britain, Estonian Ain-Alar Juhanson, Coralie Lemaire from  Belgium, Adeline Rausis from Switzerland, Nicole Leder from Germany or Eimear Mullan from Ireland.. Many celebrities will be present as well. They will either complete the whole triathlon or a leg if they decided to participate as a part of a relay team. In this case each team member takes care of a segment of the race – as will the actor Paul Belmondo, former athlete Wilson Kipketer and a large number of famous cyclists (Peter Luttenberger, Paco Wrolich, Fabrice Gougot, Maja Adamsen, Richie Porte, Baden Cooke, Nick Gate, Bernhard Eisel, Yauheni Hutarovich ...). Naturally, there are Formula 1 drivers who do not want to miss this unique race. Some of them will compete on the grid of the 'great circle': Lucas Di Grassi, Bruno Senna and Alex Wurz, as well as pilots from other categories and disciplines (Alberto Valerio, Marco Mapelli, Ralph Firman ...). They all will change the tires of their cars for the wheels of a bike, running shoes and swimming goggles.

Olivier Marceau, three times Olympic triathlete and this year defending his title of winner from 2010, who is a specialist in this spectacular TriStar111 format,  says about the race "I think that TriStar format is very interesting and everyone can get into a TriStar Race. It’s always a pleasure for me to run TriStar distances. The most important would be to complete a very good bike leg. Here is very hilly and it will be very tough for all!". Joel Jameson is also looking forward to the race, “it's great to be here in this incredible city. I do not have excuses after Lyon and my wedding. I will race against a World Champion again and I like it. Also I like the bike race order, it will be tough for me but I hope I will keep energy enough to make a strong run.”
The Belgian Coralie Lemaire, meanwhile, said "tomorrow it will be difficult, because of the demanding course but also the set of competitors in the race. This will be so much fun to race here in Monaco on a circuit running legend." While one of her biggest rivals for tomorrow, the Irish Eimear Mullan, who won this year's TriStar111 Mallorca just as Olivier Marceau did in the men’s category, said: "I’m very happy to be here on this race format with a running short. As the format is attractive and suits me well all and the easy recovery, we can enchainer many races during the year."

During the press conference, Georg Hochegger, CEO of Star Production SARL, the organizing company with its seat in Monaco, announced the growth of the international TriStar series with two new triathlons for 2012: TriStar Deauville and TriStar Berlin in June and July 2012 respectively. "We are very proud to see TriStar Monaco having grown and the support of all the community. TriStar is a fresh new brand and the fast growing of TriStar Monaco is a good example of the success of this kind of event, with special and new distance, with more fun. We are honored to announce that in 2012 other two new races are added to the TriStar calendar: A unique and exclusive destination in Deauville (France), and the other in a major European city as Berlin. Very soon we are going to announce new races under our new formats around the world, thanks to the great acceptance that the triathlon world is offering us, " said Georg Hochegger.

Jacques Pastor, Sports Adviser of Monaco Hall welcomed everyone and thanked"to all the athletes, almost 1,000, spectators and volunteers who have come to Monaco to enjoy this triathlon, which has grown so much in 6 years and has become a Monaco sports reference."

The mythical Rascasse curve, the steep climb to Montée d'Ostende, the spectacular Tunnel du Fairmont, the start in the Port... These are some of the scenarios of the TriStar111 Monaco (1km swimming, 100km biking and 10km running) shared by professionals, popular athletes and VIPs. The first athlete will cross the finish line  at  around 11:00.

Please visit www.tristar111monaco.comfor more information and www.tristarlive.comfor live coverage.