Event: Austria - Klagenfurt

Ironman Austria

When:	13 Jul 2008 (annual)
Where:	Klagenfurt
Costs:	Free
Opening Hours:	7am; road access closes at 6am

Europe's largest triathlon, Ironman Austria starts and finishes at the Worthersee lake in Klagenfurt, where thousands of fans shout encouragement to the athletes.

Austria's most famous summer sport area around the Worthersee provides a wonderful backdrop for the race. Starting at Strandbad Klagenfurt, the city's public bathing beach, the swimming course takes athletes out to the lake, then through the small Lend canal. The cycling and running disciplines lead through the surrounding area, before the athletes return to the lake for the last exhausting miles. The organisers are proud that visitors can see the athletes pass by ten times without moving more than 400 metres from the start and finish area, dubbed IronmanCity.

The winner is usually expected to finish around 2.30pm, the last finisher around 11.30pm. Welcoming athlete after athlete, IronmanCity slowly becomes a large party area until a firework display at midnight concludes the event. After plenty of sleep for athletes and spectators, the award ceremony takes places the next day.