Sixtus Schliersee Alpentriathlon 2018

Athletes defy the rain – at the 31st Sixtus Schliersee Alpentriathlon

The 31st edition of the Sixtus Schliersee Alpentriathlon was wet – and this does not mean just the start! On 22 July we sent the 669 athletes out on what was probably this year’s hardest Olympic distance! All the runners were already wet even before the start, thus diving into Schliersee was not much of a change. Given the low temperatures, the subsequent 40 km on a bike were a real hardness test. The 853 m elevation gain on the bike segment certainly had a positive aspect; on the ascent to the Spitzingsattel, at the latest, without a doubt all participants were no longer cold. At the end, there were still 10 km of idyllic alpine scenery at Spitzingsee to run through on the agenda, before all finishers could reward themselves with the traditional delicious Kaiserschmarrn (a shredded, fluffy pancake dish. A favorite of Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I).

At the award ceremony Charlotte Ahrens (2:27:11.1) and Sebastian Neef (2:10:20.7) were thrilled as overall winners. And also this year we had celebrities at the start again: the biathlon pros Vanessa Hinz, Dominic Reiter and Maren Hammerschmidt with a time of 02:19:13 took 2nd place in the mixed relays – they came in after the Sixtus Team with a winning time of 02:08:47.

This is COMMUNICO’s own event; and again it has grown in comparison to last year. The number of registrations this year was 35% higher than it was in 2017. At our Expo Area, athletes and spectators were able to obtain advice from 15 exhibitor brands, take part in tests, and participate in interactive activities. New this year: The Pasta Party became a Spätzle Party.

We thank all participants and spectators for the sensational atmosphere on both days of the event. Special thanks also to all volunteers and emergency personnel of fire brigade, police, water rescue & safety service, The Bavarian Red Cross, mountain rescue & safety service, emergency physicians, and to the Schliersee Ski Club. We thank our sponsors for their generous support and great collaboration. Last but not least, a big thank you goes to the surrounding communities and mayors and especially to the community of Schliersee.

Additional information at www.schliersee-alpentriathlon.com and at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/schlierseealpentriathlon/.