First announced just over a year ago, the much talked about Pho3nix Foundation Sub7 and Sub8 Project powered by Zwift took another step forward on Tuesday.
The dates have been set as 5-6 June 2022 and the venue revealed. With speed, obviously, on their mind, the event will take place in Germany at the Dekra Lausitzring motor racing circuit near Dresden in Germany.
Home to Germany Touring Car Championship Series and Superbike World Championship events, the layout should provide optimal conditions where speed is the key objective.
Speaking on the project, Mana’s CEO and two-time Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack, said:
“This is an extraordinary attempt that requires everything to go right for our athletes. Having raced all over the world for three decades I know how important optimal conditions are to fast racing. Our attempt is about two key elements; speed and time. Dekra Lausitzring offers an unparalleled environment for our athletes to smash the barriers of human achievement and #DefyTheImpossible.”
Quartet excited by venue
Kristian Blummenfelt and Alistair Brownlee will go head-to-head as they bid to go under seven hours and Brownlee gave his reaction to the news: “I think the venue is fantastic. It will be really quick, really controllable.
“I think ultimately it did have to be some kind of racing track or some kind of controllable fixed course, because that gives you the ability to control what’s going on so much better and that’s great.”
Lucy Charles-Barclay and Nicola Spirig will race each other as they attempt to break the eight-hour barrier.
Swiss star Spirig said: “I think it’s great to have the race site in Europe. We are all European athletes, so that means you don’t have to travel far, we don’t have jet lag. We also have pacemakers, hopefully who don’t have to travel far. So I think there’s a lot of positives to having the race in Europe. It’s great to know that it’s in Germany.”
And that was echoed by Charles-Barclay who added: “I think all of us athletes are probably actually really happy it’s in Europe, so we haven’t got to go super far. I like that it’s a point to point swim. I think that’s the best way to swim fast so that’s going to be really, really good. The bike course, I’m actually like a huge super car and formula one fan, so I’m really excited to actually ride on that circuit and deliver some speed.”
“Obviously with the women, we will get to that point and then we’re going to be running off of that as well. So I’m really excited to actually go and see the venue hopefully quite soon, really get a feel for it. And yeah, it’s going to be great.”
We’ve got more details, a closer look at the swim, bike and run courses plus a guide to the rules in our in-depth explainer.
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