Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa and Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 St. George Selected to Host 2021 North American Championships

December 8, 2020

- Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship St. George scheduled for May 1, 2021 - Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN North American Championship Tulsa scheduled to take place May 23, 2021

TAMPA, Fla. / TULSA, Okla. / ST. GEORGE, Utah – The IRONMAN Group today announced that the Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN^® Tulsa and Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN^® 70.3^® St. George have been selected to host the respective IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championships for 2021. Both events will enter an elite group of cities to hold the prestigious regional championship events and host some of the best athletes in the world. The 2021 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN North American Championship Tulsa triathlon is scheduled for Sunday, May 23, 2021. The 2021 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship St. George triathlon is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2021.

“We are proud to designate these two outstanding race communities as North American Championship event hosts for 2021,” said Elizabeth O’Brien, Managing Director of North America for The IRONMAN Group. “We believe that both St. George, Utah and Tulsa, Oklahoma offer the pedigree necessary to host such pinnacle events. We look forward to working with both cities to create unparalleled race experiences worthy of our amazing athletes during an exciting 2021 race season.”

Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN North American Championship Tulsa

Situated on the Arkansas River between the Osage Hills and the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in northeast Oklahoma, Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state. It boasts a wide variety of attractions, including Gathering Place (the largest privately funded public park in the country), Philbrook and Gilcrease museums, the Tulsa Zoo, and the Oklahoma Aquarium. The city prides itself on offering big-city experiences in a completely different way: no huge crowds, no big attitudes, just plenty to do for you and your whole group.

“Tulsa is honored to have been named the host location of the IRONMAN North American Championship for 2021,” said Ray Hoyt, President of Tulsa Regional Tourism, which houses Tulsa Sports Commission, The Tulsa Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture. “Hosting an IRONMAN race is an extremely prestigious privilege. Having the opportunity to build on that, by convening the greatest triathletes in the world to compete at the championship level, really affirms Tulsa as a sports destination for the world. We look forward to bringing this great race and its vast network of athletes and supporters to Tulsa in 2021.”

The Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN North American Championship Tulsa triathlon will begin with a rolling start format. The 2.4-mile swim will take place in Keystone Lake where the water temperatures are generally in the low to mid-70 degrees. Once out of the water, athletes will embark on a 112-mile scenic bike tour of the surrounding Tulsa area, including portions of Osage, Creek and Tulsa County.  Athletes will have the opportunity to ride portions of the Osage Hills and experience the lush green terrain that make up the “Green Country” of northeastern Okla. Athletes will be challenged with plenty of rolling hills before transitioning to the run portion in downtown Tulsa at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa campus. Once off the bike, athletes will start the 26.2-mile run leg of the event. The run course makes its way through historic vibrant downtown Tulsa to the River Parks Trail System. Runners will have flat and fast views of the Arkansas River as they make their way down past Tulsa’s Gathering Place and back to downtown to finish at the beautiful Guthrie Green.

The 2021 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN North American Championship Tulsa will offer 75 qualifying slots to the 2021 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. For more information, please visit www.ironman.com/im-tulsa. Athlete inquiries can be directed to tulsa@ironman.com.

Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship St. George

The striking Southwestern community of St. George, Utah has been a staple on the IRONMAN circuit since 2010. St. George’s breathtaking scenery and views of the surrounding red rock canyons have made the community an ideal destination for athletes for years. The city’s walkable downtown area features great local fare and boutique shopping. It is also only a two-hour drive from the nightlife of Las Vegas, with its never-ending entertainment options.

“IRONMAN is part of the fabric of our community,” said Kevin Lewis, Director of the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office. “The IRONMAN spirit embodies the grit and determination in our heritage, the energy and enthusiasm of our people and the rugged, enduring beauty in our landscapes. We’re thrilled to welcome the world to the land of endurance.”

Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship St. George has become one of the most popular IRONMAN 70.3 events in the world and will also host the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on Sept. 17-18, 2021, marking the return to North America for the first time since 2013. IRONMAN 70.3 St. George features a scenic course against the iconic Red Rock backdrop. Athletes will begin their journey with a 1.2-mile swim at Sand Hollow State Park in Hurricane, a rolling 56-mile bike through scenic Washington County before tackling the signature climb through Snow Canyon State Park, and finishing with a 13.1-mile out and back run course up that heads out on Diagonal and Bluff Street before climbing up Red Hills Parkway through the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve featuring amazing views of the city while running along the bluff before returning to the finish line located on Main Street right in the heart of downtown St. George.

The 2021 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship St. George will offer 100 qualifying slots and 50 Women For Tri slots to the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in St. George. For more information, please visit www.ironman.com/im703-st-george. Athlete inquiries may be directed to st.george70.3@ironman.com.

For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com. Media inquiries may be directed to  press@ironman.com.

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About Tulsa

Geographically, Tulsa sits at the crossroads of America. Metaphorically, it is the crossroads of America. From Art Deco masterpieces of the roaring ‘20s to miles of open road along Route 66 to three of the largest tribal nations in the country, northeast Oklahoma is a region with an authentically American heritage. It’s a destination for outdoors enthusiasts and adventure seekers, with thousands of miles of shoreline, the headquarters of USA BMX and the country’s largest privately funded public park, Gathering Place. As the home to a storied local music scene and the archives of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, Tulsa is quickly becoming the Americana capital of the world. Tulsa is a community that inspires. Find your inspiration at www.visittulsa.com.

About St. George

St. George is a community energized by nature and inspired by achievement. Red rock desert and alpine landscapes come together to form a striking blend of color and contrast providing an endless assortment of outdoor recreation. Visitor information is available at: www.visitstgeorge.com.

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series^®, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS^®, ITU World Triathlon Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf^®, Ultra-Trail^® World Tour events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

About Advance

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.