Just ten days before the start of the iconic race, the organization of the Alpsman Xtrem Triathlon announced that the full-distance race will not take place. The half-distance race is also under severe pressure. Naturally, this news comes as a massive disappointment for registered triathletes.
Earlier, athletes had already expressed their concerns over the fact that the organization had still not published a bike course and that there was little to no communication at all. For instance, no Athlete Guide had been sent out yet – something that normally happens well ahead of a race.
On Wednesday, the news finally broke that the race is canceled. A number of surrounding municipalities reportedly refused to grant permission for the race to take place – an event that was already scheduled on a non-traffic-free course. Whether the half-distance triathlon on the schedule can still go ahead remains highly uncertain; the organization has indicated there is a strong chance this distance will be scrapped as well. Meanwhile, triathletes are furious that the bad news was communicated so late.
The Alpsman Xtrem Triathlon was scheduled for the weekend of June 6 and 7 around the famous Lake Annecy. The race was set to celebrate its tenth anniversary this year, but any festive spirit is now completely gone. The organization has contacted registered athletes via email, offering them the option to either receive an 80% refund of their entry fee or to transfer their registration to the Italian version of the Alpsman Xtrem Triathlon in Ponte di Legno. There is no option to roll the registration over to next year’s edition, which many see as a sign that the race will disappear entirely.
