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| Contestants get ready for the Triathlon. |
The 2010 Huangshan International Triathlon Challenge and China Triathlon Champion Series came to a close on August 8. More than 300 contestants from the US, UK, Australia, Mexico, Spain and China took part in the contest, which triggered a fitness hit across the country.
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 What is triathlon?
A triathlon is a multi-sport endurance event consisting of swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall course completion time, including timed "transitions" between the individual swim, bike, and run components. (Wikipedia)
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This year, an exciting change was made to the contest routes. In previous games, cyclists and runners had to complete the same route several times in order to finish the required distance. This year, the straight line mode was adopted so that players could enjoy different views during the game. The cyclists rode along the Provincial Highway, where a sea of bamboo provided a catchy view and light breeze.
The swimming contests were held at Taiping Lake, where the beautiful scenery was conducive both to the mind and body. The last route of the running contest was set in Jinding Road. One of the athletes told reporters that the contest was very exciting, not only because of the other athletes, but also for the beautiful scenery of Huangshan, which the public could witness at home by watching the contests on TV.
Contestants were divided into 30 groups based on different criteria such as age and experience. Zhao Weibo and Teng Chunchun from the 81 Team took the crown of the elite men and elite women respectively. The 81 Team also won the team championship of elite men and elite women.
Song Guoquan, mayor of Huangshan city, said the successful contest would further combine tourism with sports and make Huangshan an international tourism destination well known for its pleasant climate and healthy lifestyle.
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| The swimming track of the Triathlon in the picturesque Taiping Lake |
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| Contestants start the swimming section of the Triathlon |
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