Challenge Family today announced that Challenge Bahrain, which was set to take place at night on Friday, Nov. 20, has been cancelled due to “issues regarding the road traffic safety permit for the race.” Since the inaugural event on Dec. 6, 2014—which included a $500,000 prize purse—the race has dealt with its share of ups and downs.
Following that Bahrain race, Challenge Family announced the $1 million Triple Crown Series for 2015. A prize of $1 million would be available to any one athlete who could win all three races in the Triple Crown Series, made up of Challenge Dubai, Challenge Oman and Challenge Bahrain. Challenge Dubai took place on Feb. 27, with New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone and Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf taking the wins. The second race of the series, Challenge Oman, was cancelled due to conflict in a bordering nation. The Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Austria was slated as the second race in the series, and with Ryf taking the victory there she is still eligible for the $1 million prize.
With Challenge Bahrain off of the race schedule, the question is now where the final race of the Triple Crown will take place. Because His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, a member Bahraini royal family, is the one backing the Triple Crown, speculation is that Ironman 70.3 Bahrain—which will take place on the same date (Dec. 5) that Challenge Bahrain was originally slated for—will serve as the $1 million opportunity for Ryf. Check back to Triathlete.com for confirmation on where the final race will take place.
According to the press release, all athletes registered for Challenge Bahrain have been contacted directly with regards to the registration fee refunds.
