The toughest Ironman in Europe (Part II)

{wbamp-meta name=”image” url=”/images/stories/articles/ironman-hardest-europe-2/livignoxtremm.jpg” width=”300″ height=”150″}

A few weeks ago we presented the 5 hardest ironmans in Europe In its first part, today we want to show you in this second chapter other 6 tests of extreme hardness of the long distance calendar in Europe.

LIVIGNO XTREM TRIATHLON

Location: Livigno (Italy)
Information: http://www.iconxtri.com/percorsi/

Swimming: 4km on the Lake of Livigno
Cycling: 195km (+ elevation 4900m)
Race on foot: 42,2 km (+ elevation 2500m)

         
The competition starts with 3,8km in in Lake of Livigno with water at a temperature of around 16ºC. Then the triathletes face a extremely tough 195km cycling segment with almost 5000 vertical drop, first one ascends of the port of Forcola of 2315m, later the race goes in in Switzerland to go up the pass of Bernina to 2323m, lowers towards Saint Moritz and ascends the port of Fuorn of 2149m.

Then the triathletes return to Italy ascending the mythical 48 curves of the Passo Stelvio whose summit is at 2757m, after a long descent we reach Bormio and ascend the Foscagno pass of 2291m and descend to Trepelle Livigno where the T2 is. From there the marathon begins, first they are 8km of descent towards Livigno, then a loop of 25km is made around this town to finish with 9km of ascent where they are saved 1100m until arriving at the goal line located at 3000m of altitude.

STONE BRIXIA MAN

Location: Ponte di Legno (Italy)
Information: http://www.stonebrixiamanxtri.com/?lang=it

Swimming: 3,8 km on Lake Iseo
Cycling: 180 km (+ elevation 4900m)
Race on foot: 43,6 km (+ elevation 1,300m)

The departure of the swim takes place at 4: 00 am from a boat on Lake Iseo and the island of Loreto is surrounded until arriving at Marone where is the T1. Later the triathletes start the 180km of the very tough cycling sector that includes some of the mythical ports of the Giro d'Italia like Aprica, Mortirolo and Gavia. The T2 is located in Ponte di Legno, there the triathletes first realize an 25km around the population to finish with 17km of ascent crowned first the Passo Tonale and then the Passo Paradisso for end next to Lake Monticello at 2500m altitude.

CHALLENGE MADRID

Location: Madrid Spain)

Information: http://www.challenge-madrid.com/

Swimming: 3,8km in the reservoir Riosequillo de Buitrago de Lozoya

Cycling: 180km (+ elevation 3500m)
Race on foot: 42,2 km

Swimming is divided into two rounds of 1,900m in the reservoir of Riosequillo de Buitrago de Lozoya to cover the 3800m of this first sector. After the T1 the triathletes face a hard cycling sector that recovers the famous return to the ports with the climbs to Canencia, Morcuera and Cotos. After crowning Cotos and walking a few kilometers of false will take place a rapid descent of the port of Navacerrada and the last kilometers of the cycling segment will be more favorable until you reach the T2 that will be located on the esplanade of the King in Madrid Río.

The marathon will run entirely, for Madrid Rio will be 5 laps and after finishing the last lap, the race on foot will climb the Cuesta de la Vega to join the Calle Mayor and enter the Puerta del Sol for your arrival at "Km 0", where the Meta will be located.

EVERGREEN ENDURANCE

Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (France)

Information: https://www.evergreen-endurance.com/en/races/evergreen-228/

Swimming: 3,8km on the Lake of Livigno

Cycling: 195km (+ elevation 5000m)
Race on foot: 42,2 km (+ elevation 2500m)

 La Swimming takes place in Lake Montriond, in the French town that has the same name. Then the triathletes face a Hard cycling sector of almost 5000 meters of unevenness worthy of a mythical mountain stage of the Tour de France with the ports of Col de Joux Plane, Côte de Morillon Les Esserts, Col de Romme, Col de la Colombière, Col des Aravis and Côte de Vaudagne (Les Houches)until reaching the famous Alpine village of Chamonix where the T2 is located. There starts a hard marathon with more than 2500m of unevenness through winding green paths on both sides of the Chamonix valley through Flégère, Brevent, Montenvers and the Pla de l'Aiguille.

ALPS-MAN

Place: Saint-Joriz (France)
Information: www.Alps-man.com

Swimming: 3,8 km on Lake Annecy
Cycling: 183 km (+ elevation 4000m)
Race on foot: 42 km (+ elevation 1,300m)

Swimming takes place on Lake Annecy, the trialtetas are laced from a boat located in the center of the lake to cover the 3,8km until arriving at Saint-Joriz where the T1 is. Afterwards, the cycling sector starts in the area of ​​Bauges with several mountain passes where it stands out Semnoz of special category. In total they are 183km until reaching again Saint-Joriz, then the marathon is divided into two parts, a flat 27km around the lake of Annecy and 15km of hard climb to the Crêt de Chêtillon where the goal is located at 1600m of altitude.

Photo: Trimax Magazine

AUSTRIA XTREM

Location: Thondorf and Dachstein (Austria)
Information: http://www.autxtri.com/

Swimming: 3,8 km on the river Muro
Cycling: 186 km (+ elevation 3900m)
Race on foot: 43,6 km (+ elevation 1,900m)

The Astria Xtrem starts with 1,9km of swimming in a favorable direction of the current in the Muro river, to later give a turn of 180º and cover the same distance but with the current against it. After arriving at the T1 the triathletes must go 186 km of cycling with the ports of Gaberl to 1545m, Hochegg to 1341m, Kammersberg to 1100 and Sölkpass to 1795m, after crowning the latter and downloading it, you will reach the T2. The marathon has a favorable first part and flat until the km 21 but the second half is almost all ascending, happening saving 1200m of unevenness until Finish 1850m at the Dachstein Valley station.

Photo: http://strassermichael.at/

Thanks: Thank the readers of Triatlonnews Luis Bartoló y Miquel Hueso triathlons that brought us the triathlons Evergreen Triathlon, Livigno Xtrem, Austria Xtrem and Stone Brixia Man.