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The countdown is on to ITU’s first Cross Triathlon World Championships in beautiful Extremadura, Spain on April 30.  In the inaugural event, the elite athletes will do battle in a 1km swim, 20km mountain bike and 6km cross-country run.

The Spanish federation unveiled their roster of athletes set to compete in the event and includes 2002 Triathlon World Champion Ivan Rana and Eneko Llanos, who won the 2007 Cross Triathlon European Championships.  The pair have a combined five Olympic Games appearances between them.

The event also features age-group categories, as well as junior and paratriathlon races.  All athletes have the option to also enter the cross duathlon which consists of a 6km cross-country run, 20km mountain bike and finishes with a 3km cross-country run.

An important aspect of the event is that it will be staged at “The Ring”, an International Innovation Centre for Outdoor Sports. The Ring tries not only to be the reference centre for the national innovation and experimentation in the development of materials and activities in the environment but also the meeting point of the new sports tendencies/activities held in nature.  It is fitting the first international big event held there is a triathlon competition, more specifically the Cross Triathlon Championship, which combines the same objectives as The Ring, innovation and experimentation.

These World Championships intends celebrate the relationship that both the Spanish Sport and the ITU have with the practice of sports which is integrated and respectful with nature.  This symbiosis will mark the path to follow and our intention is to leave a legacy we all can look at in the future.

Holding such an event will permit Extremadura projects as an important national and international undertaking in the organization of this sport.  Additionally, it makes it possible to improve the infrastructure and the set-up of tracks which are respectful with the environment in the area surrounding The Ring.

The Local Organising Committee is working hard to ensure a sustainable legacy is left for its citizens and makes a permanent impact on the sport and the society.

Click here to visit the official website of the 2011 Extremadura ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships