Race Previews

Du Nationals Coming to St. Paul....

Friday, 01 November 2013 07:10

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Saint Paul, Minn., has been selected to host the 2014 and 2015 USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships, the organization announced today. The 2014 event is slated for July 19.....

Athletes will have the opportunity to race for run-bike-run national titles in two races, with distances estimated to be a 5-kilometer run, 34.5-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run for the standard distance, and a 3.25k run, 23k bike, 3.25k run for the sprint. Paraduathlon National Championships will also be contested at the sprint distance. More information on the event is available at usatriathlon.org.

“USA Triathlon Duathlon Nationals showcases the talents of multisport athletes from around the country, and we are delighted to bring the event to Saint Paul in 2014 and 2015,” said Rob Urbach, USA Triathlon CEO. “We look forward to working with the city of Saint Paul to create an outstanding event experience for our growing duathlon population.”

“Saint Paul is honored to host the 2014 and 2015 USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships,” said Bev Turner, Interim President and CEO of Visit Saint Paul.  “This event will give us the opportunity to highlight our parks system which was recently ranked No. 1 in the country, extend our Midwest hospitality to visitors from across the country and showcase our commitment to fitness and healthy living within Saint Paul.”

Competitors will compete for age-group national titles in the standard- and sprint-distance races, as well as spots on Team USA, the select group of amateur athletes who represent the U.S. at International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championship events. The 2014 Duathlon Nationals in Saint Paul will serve as the sole qualifier for Team USA for the 2015 ITU Duathlon World Championships in Adelaide, Australia on Oct. 14-18.

The capital of Minnesota, Saint Paul is considered one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the country and has an extensive statewide trail system featuring more than 620 miles of paved trails managed by the DNR. The city boasts 104 landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is just eight miles from downtown Saint Paul.

Nearly 800 of the nation’s top duathletes participated in the 2013 event, held Oct. 26 in Tucson/Oro Valley, Ariz. For a look at the action from past Duathlon Nationals, visit usatriathlon.org.

ED. This is very, very cool news indeed! FYI, the Apple Duathlon hosted Du Nats in 2000. That event was outstanding, the kind that makes one proud to be a Minnesota multisporter.