Lanzarote Information

This was the first time that I’ve been to watch the Volcano Triathlon at Club La Santa in Lanzarote, although it was the 25th anniversary of the event and next year, I’m taking part! What struck me most about the day, was that although this event attracts the Ironmen athletes, it is also achievable for anyone regardless of age and fitness with some regular training.

The distances are 1.5km for the swim and this is in the lagoon which is sheltered and shallow, 40km on the bike which was from La Santa to Famara and back, twice and then the 10km run was from the Club La Santa stadium out to the island and back, twice. I couldn’t believe the speed at which the cyclists were returning back to Club La Santa for the start of the run, they had already taken their feet out of their shoes and had bare feet resting on top of their peddles with a couple of hundred metres to go! The leaders had completed their first lap of the run as the main pack of cyclists were starting to arrive, and as Bella left Club La Santa to start her run the male winner, Luc Van Lierde was heading in to the stadium for his finish.

Here’s a medley of photos from the day…….

There was a really awe inspiring moment when we heard about Andreas Ludolph who is blind and was completing the whole event with his companion Miguel Medina Valenzuela (competitors 101 & 102), pictured on the left as they left the swim transition to the bike stage with big grins on their faces.

Bella Bayliss (nee Comerford), finished 1st for the women's race (photos above) and was greeted at the finish line by husband Stephen Bayliss (no 6) who had finished 2nd in the men’s race. Bella won the Ironman Lanzarote in 2008 and Stephen won the Ironman UK and South Africa 2008. Bella and Stephen married in November 2008 in Perth, Scotland after meeting at the ITU World Long Distance Championships in Sweden during 2003.

It was great to see each of the athletes welcomed on the finish line by Kenneth Gaske from Club La Santa, with the pro athletes telling him they’ll see him again in 3 weeks time at Ironman. Full results from the race can be seen here. The men’s event was won by Luc Van Lierde (no 4) from Belgium, who has been the Hawaii Ironman champion twice and previously won the Volcano event before in 1996 and 1997 and finished 2nd place in 1991 and 2007, in third place at today’s event was Bert Jammaer (no 1) who won Lanzarote Ironman 2008 and was the winner of this event last year.

Here’s a short video of the highlights of today's event………

Everyone who took part is a winner, it really didn’t matter who was first or last, they all got cheered and clapped as they made the transition from each stage, the atmosphere was brilliant, and a truly international event, I heard lots of different European languages shouting encouragement to their loved ones. The training starts this week, I want to be part of this event in 2010.

Lanzarote Ironman

PWA World Tour, Costa Teguise 2009