New Ironman 70.3 coming to the UK in 2016

Ironman Europe CEO Thomas Dieckoff speaks to Tri247 in Kona

A busy week at the Ironman World Championships includes a lot more than just the race and coffee at Lava Java. Among the new bike launches, Underpants Run (!), Expo and a whole host of side events, major announcements for 2016 are also made. Among those was confirmed news of a new Ironman 70.3 event for the UK in 2016. As of yet, that venue and date has not formally been confirmed, but it will also be joined by a new Ironman and a 70.3 in Italy, plus a new Ironman 70.3 race in Estonia.

Summary of UK & Ireland IRONMAN® events in 2016:

• IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire - 12th June 2016
• IRONMAN 70.3 UK (Wimbleball, Exmoor) - 26th June 2016
• IRONMAN UK (Bolton) - 17th July 2016
• IRONMAN 70.3 Dublin - 14th August 2016
• IRONMAN Wales (Tenby) - 18th September 2016
• *** IRONMAN 70.3 UK (VENUE TBC) - Date to be confirmed ***

In Kona, Joanne Murphy (www.tritalkingsport.co.uk), spoke to Ironman Europe's CEO, Thomas Dieckoff, about the growth of Ironman racing in Europe and in particular the huge numbers of British athletes racing - over 13,000 in 2015 of the 73,000 racing in total. See the interview below - with the full list of the IRONMAN European Tour races provided below. Expect confirmation on the dates / locations of the new races very soon.

Thomas Dieckoff - CEO Ironman Europe, Middle East and Africa

2016 IRONMAN European Tour

2016 IRONMAN 70.3 European Tour