IRONMAN ANNOUNCES ROANOKE, VIRGINIA AS NEW HOST CITY OF 2020 CARILION CLINIC IRONMAN 70.3 BLUE RIDGE TRIATHLON IN VIRGINIA.
IRONMAN announced today that Roanoke, Virginia will serve as a multi-year host venue for the Carilion Clinic IRONMAN® 70.3®Virginia’s Blue Ridge triathlon, relocating the event from its previous host city of Williamsburg, Virginia. Carilion Clinic, a Roanoke-based health care organization, will serve as the title sponsor of the event. The Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge triathlon will take place on June 7, 2020. On Tuesday, Aug. 13, the 2020 Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge general registration will open. Visit www.ironman.com/blueridge70.3 for more information
“The excitement surrounding the addition of Roanoke to the IRONMAN ‘Ohana’ is extremely high,” said Keats McGonigal, Senior Regional Director for The IRONMAN Group. “There is a long history of endurance events in Virginia’s Blue Ridge area, including road cycling, mountain biking, and running. Bringing the IRONMAN 70.3 event to this destination provides a picturesque venue where athletes can achieve their dreams of crossing the finish line in the sport of triathlon.”
Located in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Roanoke is the largest metropolitan area in Virginia’s beautiful mountain region. It is a hub for outdoor recreation, arts and culture, and business west of Richmond. Roanoke is best known for the iconic Roanoke Star, which sits atop Mill Mountain and is adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway. For outdoor lovers, Roanoke offers a bevy of hiking and biking trails convenient to downtown, and was designated a Silver-Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Virginia’s Blue Ridge has staked its claim as America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital and is the perfect setting for an IRONMAN 70.3-branded event.
“Virginia’s Blue Ridge is honored to be chosen as the only host destination for an IRONMAN 70.3 event in Virginia for 2020,” said Landon Howard, President of Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge. “Becoming part of IRONMAN’s elite global race series further establishes our region as a premiere sports destination on a national and international level. We are ecstatic to host IRONMAN athletes and visitors for this inaugural race and look forward to introducing them to our beautiful mountain destination. We are extremely grateful for the group of local IRONMAN enthusiasts who had the vision to host this incredible event. Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge would also like to recognize Carilion Clinic, our local governmental partners, and the Western Virginia Water Authority for providing the necessary resources to make the IRONMAN 70.3 event a reality. Virginia’s Blue Ridge travel and tourism industry looks forward to welcoming everyone for this exciting and memorable event. Let the planning, training, and fun begin.”
The 2020 Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge triathlon, taking place on Sunday, June 7, 2020, will begin with a rolling start format. The 1.2-mile swim will take place in the clear warm waters of Carvins Cove Reservoir. After careful consideration, the Western Virginia Water Authority is partnering with IRONMAN to hold its swimming event in Carvins Cove Reservoir because of the extraordinary opportunity this event will have to showcase the entire valley to a worldwide audience. The Authority worked closely with IRONMAN to make sure that the water quality and beauty of Carvins Cove will be preserved for the benefit of all residents.
Once out of the water, athletes will take on the 56-mile bike course that traverses the rolling hills of Botetourt County before returning to the heart of downtown Roanoke. After transitioning to the run at River’s Edge Park, athletes will experience the Roanoke River Greenway, a paved trail alongside the Roanoke River blueway for the run course.
Headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, Carilion Clinic, a not-for-profit health care provider that serves more than one million people in Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Southwest Virginia regions has been named title partner of the Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge triathlon.
“I was excited to be a part of conversations with IRONMAN about bringing a race to the Roanoke region,” said Dr. Thomas K. “TK” Miller, vice chair of orthopaedics and chief of sports medicine at Carilion Clinic and Chairman of the IRONMAN Global Medical Advisory Board. “We knew this would provide us with a very special opportunity to showcase one of the region’s greatest assets – the outdoors – to a national and international audience. Having participated in IRONMAN and worked with their organization, I know they are highly sought-after events by cities of all sizes around the world. The selection of Virginia’s Blue Ridge region as an IRONMAN host is a remarkable accomplishment and opportunity. It’s an honor for everyone who calls our region home.”
General registration for 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 Blue Ridge triathlon will open on Tuesday, Aug.13, 2019. The event will offer 40 age-group qualifying slots to the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupõ, New Zealand.
About Virginia’s Blue Ridge
Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR) is located on the East Coast of the United States in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Known as America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital, Roanoke has a wide array of metro-mountain adventures. Along with our hundreds of miles of thrilling mountain bike trails, Virginia’s Blue Ridge is best known for the adjacent Blue Ridge Parkway, one of America’s most visited national park systems and memorable scenic drives.
The region also offers hundreds of miles of hiking trails, which includes the world-famous Appalachian Trail. The running scene in VBR has an expansive greenway trails system along the panoramic routes of the rivers and creeks. VBR offers a multitude of water sports activities including kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding on the Upper James River Water Trail, Roanoke River, Philpott Lake, Carvins Cove and Smith Mountain Lake. Roam the region’s many farmer’s markets, or sample the craft beverage scene while exploring the VBR Cheers Trail. After a fun day of adventuring in the great outdoors, visitors can enjoy a farm-to-table experience at one of our many local restaurants. To cap off an adventurous day, catch the sunset from the scenic overlook at the iconic Roanoke Star atop of Mill Mountain. Experience our southern hospitality and be a #trailsetter in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Adventure awaits at www.visitvbr.com.
