USA Triathlon today announced the 2019 USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championships will take place Sunday, March 17, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The ski-bike-run race will be held as part of the Loppet Foundation’s Loppet Winter Triathlon at Theodore Wirth Park. No qualification is required to compete.
The race moves from its 2016-2018 host city of St. Paul, Minnesota. It is also held later in the season than in past years, enabling qualified athletes to compete at February’s ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships in Asiago, Italy, prior to Nationals.
Featuring a unique multisport discipline, Winter Nationals will offer a 6-kilometer Nordic ski followed by an 18-kilometer mountain bike and a 5-kilometer trail run. In past years, the race has been held as a run-bike-ski, but the race order was reversed for 2019 to avoid slushy snow conditions by holding the ski portion earlier in the day.
The course will utilize the Theodore Wirth trail system, which includes both natural and manmade (via snowmaking) ski trails. Athletes can expect snow and groomed trails, regardless of weather in the lead-up to and on race weekend. Maps for all park trails can be found at loppet.org, and complete course details will be released closer to the event date pending snow conditions.
“USA Triathlon looks forward to bringing the nation’s top winter triathletes to Minneapolis for a fast-paced day of racing at Theodore Wirth Park,” said Brian D’Amico, USA Triathlon Events Director. “The Loppet Winter Triathlon is a strong addition to our national championships calendar for many reasons, including reliable snow conditions and an ideal spot on the calendar for those who are also competing at Winter Triathlon Worlds.”
“The USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championships stay in Minnesota! Now called the Loppet Winter Triathlon, this championship event moves west of the Mississippi to the renowned Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis,” said Paul Johnson, Race Director for Winter Nationals and Event and Operations Manager for the Loppet Foundation. “Just minutes from downtown, this expansive urban park with man-made snow and The Trailhead, a brand-new adventure center, guarantees a full winter triathlon experience. New name, new location, same heart!”
Top age-group finishers at Winter Nationals will earn the opportunity to represent USA Triathlon’s amateur Team USA at the 2020 ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships, the dates and location of which are to be determined. For more information about qualifying for and representing Team USA, visit usatriathlon.org/teamusa.
To learn more about the 2019 Winter Triathlon National Championships, visit the event page at usatriathlon.org. Registration will open in the coming weeks.
About the Loppet Foundation: The Loppet Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates a shared passion for year-round outdoor adventure in the Minneapolis area, focusing on underserved youth and families. Since 2002, the Loppet Foundation has worked to create high-quality public events, youth education, and outdoor recreation programs for the local community. Learn more at loppet.org.
About USA Triathlon: USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors – as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation – USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
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