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KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen: Where the Mermaid Goes to Party


Copenhagen is a royal capital, and this weekend, it will become a triathlon capital, too.

by Carola Felchner

It’s quite simple: Copenhagen rocks. It is fawned over by style magazines for its industrial-chic design and fashion scene. There are 15 Michelin-starred restaurants in this city of 1.2 million inhabitants and Edvard Eriksen’s "Little Mermaid" statue on Copenhagen’s waterside has become an international icon. Of course, Copenhagen is a royal capital, and this weekend, it will become a triathlon capital, too.
The dimensions of the triathlon craziness that makes up KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen can be best described in numbers: 3,000 athletes from 55 countries will race in the IRONMAN event, an additional 5,000 will race in the popular 4:18:4 event which—surprise, surprise—is itself the biggest fitness triathlon event in all of Denmark consisting of a 400m swim, 18 kilometers of biking and a 4 kilometer run. The icing on the cake: On Sunday almost 200,000 spectators are expected to line the course again.

"We are ready to make sure that both the participants at the IRONMAN-distance and the 5,000 participants in our 4:18:4 event in the days leading up to August 23 get a great experience. Overall, KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen has grown—in terms of participants and spectators—to be one the world's largest IRONMAN event. It’s a monster—but one to be proud of," says Thomas Veje Olsen, Co-Founder and Managing Director of IRONMAN Denmark.

The long-distance race leads the swimmers through the lagoon at Amager Beach Park with excellent views from the shores and bridges for the thousands of spectators. The bike leg leads through central Copenhagen and out into the rolling hills of the northern countryside, where the World Road Race Cycling Championship took place in 2011, before heading back for a four-lap run along the city’s harbour lined with 17th and 18th-century row houses and streets lined with cheering fans.

The scenic location and the unique atmosphere at KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen also attract some high-class pros every year. Also this weekend, the battle for first place will be tough, KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen exhibits a strong line-up of pro-participants just six weeks before the upcoming IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro.

In the men’s line-up, Danish Henrik Hyldelund, Spaniard Victor del Corral and Clemente Alonzo-McKernan, and Germany's Jan Raphael are among the favorites. In the line-up of female professional triathletes, it seems it will be a close race with a Danish favorite: Michelle Vesterby is participating in her first KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen.

5 things you didn’t know about Copenhagen

You think Amsterdam is a "bike city," wait until you are in Copenhagen: There are bike lanes everywhere and riders have the right of way. Careful when crossing!

Opened in 1843 Tivoli is the world’s second-oldest amusement park. Relax and enjoy!

Home to 1.2 million people (almost 10 percent of Denmark’s population) Copenhagen is the largest city in Scandinavia.

The Øresund Bridge which connects the cities of Copenhagen and Malmo in Sweden is the longest road/rail bridge in Europe spanning nearly 8 km.

By 2025 Copenhagen plans to be the world’s first carbon-neutral capital!