With a new location for the transition area, some changes in the run course, the return of the carboloading (pasta party) and live athlete briefings, Challenge Almere-Amsterdam is ready for it’s 42th edition, which will be held on 9 September. Challenge Almere-Amsterdam is hosting the European Championships Long Distance and below you’ll find all info on the race changes!
New location transition area
Due to working activities at the location of the former transition area, all transition areas – both T1 and T2 for all distances – are located in the Lumièrepark this year. This park, and thus the new TA, is only seven hundred meters away from the Esplanade. All athletes will start their race at the same location as always; at the Esplanade they dive into the Weerwater and after their swim they’ll leave the water at the new transition area in the Lumièrepark. Due to the relocation of the TA, Long Distance athletes will cycle exactly 180 kilometers. The Middle Distance athletes will cycle 94 kilometers.
Click here for maps of what the new situation will look like on the weekend of Sept. 9. Please take this into account on race morning in your planning. Course maps: https://challenge-almere.com/race-information/courses/
Change in running course: LD runs four laps, MD runs two laps
To reduce crowding on the run course, Long Distance athletes will run four laps of 10.1 kilometers around the Weerwater. This involves running the full lap around the Weerwater as you know it from former years, but also running back and forth across the former Floriade grounds. The entire lap is of course traffic-free. To get you finished at the correct marathon distance, Long Distance athletes start from the transition area in the Lumièrepark with a 900-meter loop and finish their run with a 900-meter finale towards the Esplanade. The finish line – like the start of the race – is still on the Esplanade. Long Distance participants pass through the stadium four times during their marathon and a fifth time to finish.
Middle Distance athletes run two 10.1-kilometer laps around the Weerwater. This involves running the full lap around the Weerwater as you know it from former years, but also running back and forth across the former Floriade grounds. The full lap is of course traffic-free. To arrive at the correct half-marathon distance, Middle Distance athletes conclude their run with a 900-meter closing stretch towards the Esplanade. The finish line – like the start of the race – is still on the Esplanade. Middle Distance participants pass through the stadium twice during their half marathon and a third time to finish.
Detailed course maps can be found here: https://challenge-almere.com/race-information/courses/
Carboloading:
Our carboloading returns on Friday evening, September 8. After not being able to host our pasta party in past years due to COVID, this year athletes can once again feast on delicious food and drinks the night before the race. The carboloading takes place at the Kunstlinie (theater) and also serves as a great time to get together with other athletes and look ahead to the upcoming (race) day together.
Live athlete briefing:
The live athlete briefing is also back on Challenge Almere-Amsterdam’s schedule. Our Race Director Richard Belderok will welcome athletes from all over the world to the Kunstlinie (theater) on Friday, September 8, and tell all about the race. In this briefing all important, race technical aspects will be covered, so that you as an athlete are well informed about everything you need to be perfectly prepared at the start of Challenge Almere-Amsterdam.
