We interviewed José Luis Juan Rodríguez, director of competitions at TRICV

With an impeccable track record of 10 years at the head of this department, Joseph Louis John has managed to position, together with his entire team, the Valencian Federation as an international benchmark in the organization of sporting events.

Since his debut as an athlete in 1988, when he competed in the first “Villa de Madrid” triathlon, he has always been connected to sport, from baseball to rugby, cycling tourism, hiking, popular races and marathons.

With extensive knowledge of the world of triathlon, he has also been part of the team of officials, which has given him a comprehensive vision to lead this department and position its events as international benchmarks, including: the Triathlon World Cup, HOMBRE DE HIERRO Valencia and the renowned Mediterranean Triathlon circuit, among others.

How do you see the trajectory of triathlon in the last 10 years at a national level and in the Valencian Community?

In the last 10 years there has been a greater specialisation and professionalisation in triathlon sporting events, both at a national level and in the Valencian Community. This has led to an increase in the quality of the events in general and over the years we have had national and international events such as Spanish and European championships or World Cups.

There are also major brands such as ICAN Triathlon, Mediterránea Triatlón, Epic Triathlon, Infinitri and, more recently, IRONMAN, which organise high-quality sporting events in our community.

While it is true that, from 2014 to 2024, we have decreased the number of adult sporting events, we have increased school tests.

By 2025 we have a total forecast of 76 events in the Valencian Community. In addition to the venues for national or regional championships, in our calendar Among the competitions we also include the Caixa Popular Club League Circuit, with 9 triathlon and duathlon events in team, relay and individual categories, the TRICV No Drafting Circuit and the Sports Games events for school-age children.

Valencia is a benchmark in the organisation of triathlons, from short to long distance. How does it feel to close a season knowing that all these events have been successfully completed?

The satisfaction of knowing that, through general coordination, we have managed to create a great cross-functional team between the federation staff, officials, timekeepers, assembly staff and those responsible for the different areas in the competitions, volunteers, external collaborating companies, suppliers, public institutions, etc. This makes these events a reality.

IRONMAN 70.3 Valencia has been a success since its inception. What do you think is the reason for this excellent reception?

IRONMAN is a world leader and Valencia is a leader in sports tourism and the management of major sporting events.

In addition, the routes of this medium-distance race are challenging and very attractive: swimming in the Marina de Valencia, cycling through 14 municipalities in a single lap, passing through the Sierra Calderona Natural Park, and a running race through the gardens of the old Turia riverbed, culminating in the City of Arts and Sciences. Success was clear.

What are the biggest challenges of organizing an international event like the Triathlon World Cup?

The biggest challenge we had was during the COVID-19 pandemic. That year we were the only World Cup that was organized. We took extreme security measures and became a world reference.

What is the hardest part of organizing events of this magnitude? And the most rewarding part?

The hardest part is holding the event in adverse weather conditions, something that has happened in several editions.

This makes the setup very complicated, as it must be done several days in advance, and creates uncertainty as to whether we will finally be able to carry out the event in optimal technical and sporting conditions. This creates great physical and psychological strain for the entire team.

The most rewarding thing is to surround yourself with a completely trustworthy team that always gets things done, no matter how difficult it may seem.

What do you think the Valencian Community has to offer to have become a benchmark for triathlon?

After several years of constant evolution and growth, we have become a benchmark in event organisation and sports tourism with a brand like Mediterránea Triatlón, which can boast of being the popular triathlon circuit with the highest participation in all of Spain.

The area in which we live plays a big role in our favour, with the benefits of the Mediterranean climate, which favours the practice of sports all year round.

Before ending the interview, José Luis did not hesitate to thank all the athletes and the team he works with, also showing his passion for this sport:

“I would like to thank our great triathlon family for the opportunity to develop, over all these years, a professional activity as a sports manager and a way of life that I am passionate about.”

The first event of the 2025 calendar will be the renowned Cheste Team Duathlon, which will take place on January 12. The complete calendar is available at: https://www.triatlocv.org/calendario/.