In about one month time the Polish city of Gdansk welcomes hundreds of Age Group and Pro triathletes for the inaugural Challenge Gdansk (Jun. 20, 2021). The organization recently announced Lotto as their newest Title Partner, and explained that their first edition will take place due to some extra COVID-19 measures that have been taken.
“I’m very happy that Lotto has become the title sponsor of our event”, Race Director Adam Greczylo explained in a press release. “It is very important that in these difficult times we have a solid and reliable partner who has been the greatest patron of Polish culture and sport for 65 years. It’s good to see the trust they have placed in us.”
It’s extra special to feel that trust during these challenging times. The organization of Lotto Challenge Gdansk faced many uncertainties: “There have been several times when we could have decided not to organize the race, but that is not in our nature. Of course the safety of all our athletes is paramount, and we will never lose sight of that, but if it fits within our possibilities, we want to organize Lotto Challenge Gdansk ‘just like that’. Fortunately, organizing the event actually fits within the possibilities. So bring it on”, Greczylo says with excitement.
So far the start list of Challenge Gdansk hasn’t been released, but Greczylo promises it will be an exciting event: “On short notice we will announce who all will be at the start with us, but count on there being some strong athletes and big names among them. In any case, we will do everything we can to ensure that everyone enjoys a memorable race.”
No wonder that it attracts many pro triathletes, because earlier the Professional Triathletes Organisation announced an additional prize purse of 13,000 euro (on top of the existing 19,000 euro).
The Challenge Gdansk Middle Distance is a flat and fast race. Athletes start their race from a beach at the Baltic Sea. The bike course includes three fast laps where athletes pass, among other things, the Energa Stadion, which was used during the EURO2012 soccer tournament, and the famous tunnel under the Vistula river. The run course takes athletes along the beautiful Gdansk beach, with a spectacular finish at the Gdansk Prior Pier.
