The title of biggest triathlon with over 10,000 participants can be argued about. However, it is undeniable that the Hamburg Triathlon draws one of the biggest spectator crowds at an estimated 250,000 spectators. The event started in 2002. From its inception it organised an ITU World Cup and in 2009 joined the ITU World Triathlon Series. Hamburg is with Yokohama the only city that was part of the Series from the start.
In 2007 Hamburg organised the ITU World Championships. To the delight of the home crowd it was Daniel Unger (GER) who won the men’s race and became the first (and only!) German ITU World Champion. Vanessa Hernandez (POR) was the women’s champion.
The reigning Hamburg Triathlon (2019) champions are: Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) and Non Stanford (GBR)
Since 2013 Hamburg is also the home of the Mixed Relay World Championships, a relay team event of 2 male and 2 female athletes that is debuting at the Olympics in Tokyo. The past two years France has taken the title. It is quite an exciting format to watch if the big guns show up.
Watch the 2018 summary:
In contrast to the meagre results in ITU racing, German athletes have been very successful in the long distance events. The past six years German men have won the Ironman World Championships title and accumulated an amazing total 12 out of 18 podium places.
QUIZ TIME!Which German Triathlete has NOT podiumed in Kona? Jan Frodeno, Patrick Lange, Sebastian Kienle, Andreas Raelert, Michael Raelert, Norman Staedtler, Faris Al-Sultan, Lothar Leder, Jurgen Zack Answer: Michael Raelert. Michael was twice Ironman 70.3 Champion (2009-2010), but never made it on the podium in Kona. |
Find out more about MetaSport Live and the Triathlon World Tour, 6 May – 1 June 2020, here. If you wish, join us, it’s free!
Check here the other Triathlon Destinations reached by the MetaSport Live Triathlon World Tour participants and learn interesting triathlons facts.
