With Liévin starting the 2019 season and with points and with €10,000 prize-money available, let’s hear from the Technical Delegate, Enrique Quesada.

Enrique, what do you think about the venue?
Well, it is for sure a top class venue. The pool is there, the cycling is not on wood, which can be dangerous when wet, but instead it is on tartan and much better. A huge indoor venue with seating for 4,500 people and plans for live-DJ action to really raise the atmosphere.

The venue is quite historic. I hear that many world records have been set there.
Yes, in the 90’s, there were world records in the 200m from Merlene Ottey, JAM and Frankie Fredericks, NAM and many of the world’s top athletes have set meeting records here.

Is it easy to get to?
Yes, for certain if you are from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, UK or Germany and there are good connections with trains and planes too.

Once there, are there any hotels locally?
Well, there is one that is connected to the stadium itself – with a covered walkway joining it. Athletes can make their way from bed to track in a matter of minutes.

It looks like a very tight schedule. How will this be managed?
We will have three transition zones and we will keep all three transition “live” so that, in sequence, we can run race after race after race.

The qualification, repêchage, semi-final and final format has been planned. Does this mean that an athlete can travel all the way there and only race once?
No, not at all. The format means that they will certainly race twice and possibly four times, if they are successful.

What exactly are the distances?
The race format will be 150m swim, 3kms bike and 1km run.

Is it too late to enter now?
Entries are still open. We would like to see more juniors racing and as this is the first race of the ETU Calendar, it is a great opportunity to collect valuable points.

Thanks Enrique. Where can we find out all the current information?
For all current information about the event, please check the ITU Event Website.