IRONMAN to stage new Multisport Festival in Malaysia

IRONMAN has announced an expansion of its event portfolio in Asia with a new multisport festival to be staged on Malaysia’s Desaru Coast.

To be held from 17th to 19th April next year, the Desaru Coast Multisport Festival presented by IRONMAN will be positioned as the first of its kind in Asia, and will comprise an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon, 5150 Triathlon along with IRONKIDS and Sprint races.

The multisport festival weekend will feature IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast, the latest addition to the IRONMAN 70.3 Asia race calendar. In addition, the 5150 Desaru Coast, Sprint Desaru Coast and IRONKIDS Desaru Coast races will “provide a fresh challenge for newcomers in the sport of triathlon”.

Introducing the event, Geoff Meyer, Managing Director of IRONMAN Asia, explained “we are thrilled to announce the launch of Asia’s first-ever multisport festival, a testament to the growing appetite for triathlon in Asia, and IRONMAN’s commitment to developing the sport in the region. The three-day event is designed to offer athletes a wider selection of race destinations and distances in Asia, also attracting newcomers.”

Situated on the southern tip of peninsular Malaysia, 70 kilometres east of Singapore, Desaru Coast presents a scenic racecourse with a 17-kilometre beachfront.

The course will start with a single-loop 1.9 kilometre swim, with a start line located footsteps away from the official hotel, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, followed by a 90 kilometre ride on a two-loop bike course along the coastline on smooth, flat roads. Athletes will then take on a 21.1 kilometre shaded run course to the finish line at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort.

The race offers 60 qualifying slots to the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupo, New Zealand taking place on 28th and 29th November 2020.

CG Lim, Regional Director, Malaysia at IRONMAN Asia, added “the festival environment will provide athletes of all ages and abilities with a truly unique race experience.

“The combination of sea and jungle make for the perfect location for athletes to enjoy their surroundings while competing. With the support of the Malaysian government, we are excited to continue bringing endurance sport to more people in Malaysia and welcome more athletes into our IRONMAN `Ohana.”

A new, integrated coastal destination resort in Malaysia, Desaru Coast is ‘infused with globally renowned hotels and resorts, two championship golf courses, a conference centre, and an

IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast and 5150 Desaru Coast will join the IRONMAN Asia circuit as the third and fourth races in Malaysia, adding to existing races which include IRONMAN Malaysia and IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi.

Desaru Coast image courtesy of IRONMAN.