After the universally-acclaimed first event last year, John Hill and Tom Longhurst from Algarve Triathlons have done it again.
Portugal’s Liberty Day (April 25) second Praia da Luz Traithlon had a record number of participants and has confirmed that the event is one that is here to stay.
“It was a fantastic success,” John Hill told the Resident. “The number of entries was almost twice those of last year.”
He said people came from all over to take part in the event, with entrants from Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Sweden.
The event – which this year featured two different courses to make the run “easier and less hilly” – involved a sprint triathlon with 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run, and an Olympic race with double the distances.
Former pro-cyclist Tomas Metcalfe was one of the winners of the day, coming first in the Male Olympic Race in one hour, 51 minutes and 12 seconds.
“The Luz triathlon was another great sports festival here in the Algarve,” he wrote in his blog.
Although he said his goal for the race was just “training”, the mastermind behind regional project Swift Momentum Sports (SMS), showed he still has what it takes to win big competitions.
“Triathlons are growing in the Algarve,” John Hill told us. “We saw many youngsters taking part and I think it is helping put the sport on the regional map.”
As it did last year, the triathlon had a charitable side, donating part of its enrollment fees to local charity NECI.
With little time to rest, the Hill/Longhurst team is already preparing another triathlon event at the five-star Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel in Sagres, to take place on October 31 and feature the Portugal Triathlon Cup final.
This year’s Luz event was backed by Luz Ocean Club and the Portuguese Triathlon Federation and sponsored by the Algarve Resident.
For the full results go to http://federacao-triatlo.pt/gestao/pub/resultados.php
Photos: BIRCH PHOTOGRAPHY
