Bend, Oregon might be recognized for award-winning beer, but the biking and running adventures abound. And for the second consecutive year, Bend will host the USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships. Promising some of the most challenging terrain in Central Oregon, duathletes will ride and run on roads with steep climbs and fast descents – one of the reasons why so many professional athletes call this mountain town home.
As the most competitive duathlon in the U.S., participants can expect to be racing alongside the some of the country’s best athletes in all three races: Non-Drafting Sprint, Standard-Distance Races and Draft-Legal Sprint. Winners will have the opportunity to qualify for Team USA and compete at the 2018 ITU Multisport Festival in Denmark. Non-Draft and Draft-Legal Sprint distance winners will also have a chance to qualify for 2018 Draft-Legal Sprint World Championships.
Each bike course will ascend towards Tumalo Falls, one of Central Oregon’s most popular hiking destinations, before descending back towards Bend. Numerous USA Cycling National Championships have also been hosted on these very same roads. The run courses will traverse the backroads of the nearby NorthWest Crossing neighborhood and descend into the Tetherow, a 700-acre golf and residential community, before returning back to the start. Follow the progress of all athletes using USA Triathlon’s new National Events app featuring live tracking and social media sharing of race results.
As long as you’re in Bend, why not make a week of it and try 10 days of tri? Duathlon National Championship participants will receive 10% off any Pacific Crest Triathlon event, June 23-25 in Sunriver, Oregon. To sweeten the deal, Visit Bend will randomly draw one person registered for both events to win a Bend Vacation Package that includes:
- 2 nights lodging
- $200 dining/brewery gift cards
- 2 half day Wanderlust tours
- 2 bike or paddleboard rentals
A winner will be announced at the conclusion of Pacific Crest Triathlon events.
Bend, Oregon has been called, “the outdoor playground of the West” not just for the surrounding mountains, lakes, trails and rivers, but also for the laid-back, friendly warmth of the community all year long. Athletes will enjoy endless dining, drinking and shopping opportunities, as well as numerous places to relax and unwind for post-race celebrations.
Click here to register. Other weekend events include course previews on Thursday, June 15 and an awards ceremony at the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend on Saturday, June 17 at 6:15pm. To learn more or to order a complimentary Official Visitor Guide to Bend, contact Visit Bend at 1-800-949-6086 or visit www.visitbend.com