ANDORRA TO HOST IRONMAN GROUP MULTISPORT FESTIVAL IN 2021
Festival will run March through July and include triathlon, mountain bike, road bike, and trail running events all held to the stunning backdrop of the Pyrenees mountain range.
The IRONMAN Group today announced the addition of the Andorra Multisport Festival in 2021. Athletes will be able to choose from a wide selection of sports including the Andorra Winter Triathlon in March 2021 as well as the new IRONMAN® 70.3® Andorra triathlon, the Andorra MTB Classic-Pyrenees mountain bike race, the Andorra 21 Ports road bike race and the Ultra-Trail 100 Andorra-Pyrenees trail running event all scheduled for July 2021.
“When you think of excellence in tourism and sports, you think of Andorra. The country may be small in size, but it has a big heart for sports and sports events,” said Stefan Petschnig, Managing Director IRONMAN Europe, Middle East and Africa. “The selection of sports at the Andorra Multisport Event reflects the diversity the country and its landscape have to offer. Racing to the backdrop of the Pyrenees mountains will be nothing short of stunning for athletes no matter which event they choose to enter.”
The principality of Andorra – the sixth-smallest nation in the world – is located between Spain and France. Its culture and traditions have been shaped by the Eastern Pyrenees mountains for a thousand years. The country covers approximately 460 square kilometers (180 sqm) of which only eight-percent are built-up area. It is the only country in the world with more than 10 percent of its overall area considered an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Known for its stunning landscape among European sports enthusiasts, and consistently named one of the best sports locations in Europe, Andorra also ranks high on an entirely different list: its population is among the healthiest in the world with an average life expectancy of more than 81 years. However, Andorra is no stranger to the busy life of a true tourism hotspot: more than 8 million visitors annually pass through the streets of Andorra la Vella, the microstate’s stunning capital – a distinction it has held for almost 800 years.
“It’s hard to not fall in love with this place on your first visit,” added IRONMAN Regional Director Agusti Perez. “If you wanted to create the perfect event location for a multisport festival the result would be Andorra and the spirit with which country and people welcome their visitors,” he added.
According to Jordi Gallardo, Minister of Presidency, Economy and Enterprises of the Andorran Government the agreement with the IRONMAN Group provides Andorra with the opportunity “to host a unique multisport event and enhance our sport ecosystem in order to promote business around the industry”. Gallardo also stated that “the direct impact for the economy regarding this agreement is expected to be more than 10 million Euro”.
Verònica Canals, Minister of Tourism of the Andorran Government added that the Andorra Multisport Festival is a perfect way to “present the touristic infrastructure of the country, not only in sports but also in leisure, shopping, gastronomy and wellness”. She also pointed out that the international profile of the participants in IRONMAN Group events “is a good opportunity to reach potential visitors to make them discover what the country has to offer”.
More information about the Andorra Multisport Festival can be found here www.multisportfestivalandorra.com
