This Saturday, Formentera welcomes fifth Formentera triathlon, site of Balearic championship for olympic triathlon format

Foto presentacio v triatloToday in the conference hall of the Antoni Blanc sport centre, CiF sports secretary Jordi Vidal unveiled details about an event set to descend on the island this Saturday, October 7: the fifth Triatló Illa de Formentera, or “Formentera Triathlon”. Unisportconsulting is putting on the event, and the company's chief, Manuel Hernández, plus Núria de la Torre, head of marketing of sponsoring company Trasmapi, joined Vidal for the presentation.

Vidal highlighted something special about this year's event: the Balearic Islands triathlon federation wants it to double as the regional olympic triathlon championship. Whoever walks way victorious from this Saturday's contest will also be named Balearic champion of olympic triathlon competing. In addition, Vidal welcomed the projected participation of Ana Caseres, author of “Mamá Triatleta,” a book which every participant will receive for free.

According to Hernández, roughly 300 athletes will take part in the event, with an even split between those in the sprint and olympic formats. About 230 have signed up so far. Sprint and group participants will set off at 2.30pm, first swimming 750 metres (m) in Es Pujols bay before covering 20K on bicycle and the final five on foot. The starting shot of the olympic trial is scheduled for 4.15pm. Those athletes will start by swimming 1,500m, switch to two wheels for 40K and then finish up with a 10K run.

Signups are open through tomorrow morning on the elitechip website, or can be done in person the day of the event, 9.30am to 1.00pm in Es Pujols's plaça d'Europa, during which time participants are asked to come pick up numbers.

Road closures
The road linking Es Pujols and la Savina will be closed to vehicle traffic near the Rosa Mar entrance from 2.20pm to 7.00pm. It will reopen for roughly thirty minutes at 3.30pm, then remain closed until cyclists pass at approximately 7.00pm. Vidal apologised to residents, who will need to take alternate routes, for the inconvenience caused.

In addition, Secretary Vidal thanked Trasmapi for its fifth straight year of support for the event. The Formentera Triathlon is part of Discover Formentera in October, an initiative aimed at boosting off-season visits to the island. The Balearic tax office has also provided help for the event, along with local sponsors like Viatges Es Freus, Carbónicas Tur, Frufor, Pro-auto, Autos La Mola, Formotor, Motorent Pujols and Blue Bar. Vidal also gave thanks to the Guardia Civil, the civil protection service, Formentera's local police and other volunteers for making the triathlon possible.