Bintan Triathlon 2018: The Ultimate Athletic Competition in a Tropical Paradise

Pure adrenaline rush, roaring crowds, and a weekend full of intense competition in a beautiful tropical paradise; these are what awaits at this year's Bintan Triathlon, scheduled to take place on May 11th to 13th, 2018 at Nirwana Gardens Resorts, Bintan Island in Riau Islands Province.

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Combining swimming, running, and bicycling into one elaborate competition, the event will challenge the participants' skills and endurance on some of the fascinating parts of the island. Bintan Triathlon 2018 is projected to be bigger and better than all its previous iterations, so be sure to expect tight competition, fireworks, fun activities, and definitely a big party.

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As always, the race will be divided into several categories: Olympic Distance, Sprint Distance, Youth Distance, and Kids Distance. The Olympic Distance covers 1.5 kilometers (km) of swimming, 40 km of cycling, and 10 km of running; the Sprint Distance covers 750 m of swimming, 20 km of cycling, and 5 km of running; the Youth Distance covers 300 m of swimming, 12 km of cycling, and 3 km of running; the kids distance covers 150 m of swimming, 6 km of cycling, and 1.5 km of running. There will also be special additional categories of Bintan Swim Classic 1000 @sunset which is a competitive 1 km swimming, and the Fun Duo Challenge which is a great way to introduce beginners and younger kids to the sport of triathlon where the distance is shorter and the element of fun higher.

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As one of the most talked about swim course in Asia, the swim course will be held in the clear blue waters of the Natuna Sea, off of the picturesque beach of Nirwana Gardens. The course is a beautiful enclosed bay with little current, great visibility, and minimal swell. As a new feature for this year, there will be three wave starts for men's Olympic Distance race. Athletes that have recently (in the last two years) completed an Olympic Distance Triathlon in less than two hours and 30 minutes are qualify for the wave 1 (Men's Qualifier Wave). Those who aim to finish under 3 hours are recommended to join in Wave 2 (Men's Competitive Wave). While for those who are happy to take their time and enjoy the experience can join in Wave 3 (Men's Friendly Wave).

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The bike course offers wide, smooth roads, with the lush greenery of Nirwana Gardens and Ria Bintan as the background. Riders will also be presented with the stunning vista of Lagoi Reservoir and Ria Bintan's manicured lawns. There will also be numerous rolling hills on both the Sprint and Olympic Distance courses. Bottles of water will be handed out at the halfway point of the Olympic Distance Triathlon.

The run course will take triathletes through the lush greenery and scenic beaches of Nirwana Gardens to a palm tree-lined finishing chute. The run course is undulating, well-shaded, and passes beach bungalows and hotel pools filled with cheering fans along the way. Drink stations (water, isotonic drink, and cold sponges) are available at every two kilometers.

As a tropical island, only 55 minutes by ferry from Singapore, Bintan Island provides the perfect backdrop for an ultimate triathlon experience combined with a holiday. So, whether it's to compete in the race or simply just to enjoy the exciting atmosphere, this special sporting event is surely something you don't want to miss.

More information available at https://www.bintantriathlon.com/

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