The "Tri Piment" triathlon, a 70.3 for Reunion Islanders who love long distances
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The "Tri Piment" triathlon is a 70.3 format event organized by the "Club Tri" (Club Triathlon Réunion) which takes place on a Sunday in the West. This format is specifically aimed at medium and long distance enthusiasts , nicknamed "pouakés" .
Organization and Context
The "Tri Piment" marks the restart of local competitions, following the cancellation of the "urban swimrun" in Saint-Pierre. It is part of the second half of the triathlon season.
The Tri Club, chaired by François Pierré until the next general meeting, has already organized the "Vert-Lagon" triathlon in February. This new 70.3 is a new event for the organizing team. The 70.3 format (which allows access to long distances) appeared in the discipline in the early 2000s and has gained popularity, anchoring itself on the island in 2024 with the first "Trirun Man" .
The event's logo, popular with the organizers, features a ripe, red chili pepper .
Distances and Routes
70.3 consists of:
- 1.9 km swimming
- 90 km of cycling
- 21.1 km running
The “Tri Piment” route is traced between the West and the North .
- Swimming (1.9 km): Takes place in the Saline lagoon . It consists of a 950 m triangle to be covered twice . The start is scheduled for 10 a.m. , the time for the tide to reach its highest level.
- Transition: It takes place in the elementary school courtyard .
- Cycling (90 km): Participants head towards the Saline bypass, then pass through Saint-Gilles-les-bains, Cambaie, Port-Est and the Nouvelle Route du Littoral (NRL) . The U-turn is made at a roundabout located before Barachois.
- Running (21.1 km): The 10.5 km walking circuit is to be covered twice . It highlights the beach and the filaos located between Trou d'Eau and Saint-Gilles.
François Pierré estimates that the best athletes could complete the event in less than four hours .
Affiliation and Participation
The "Tri Piment" is run outside of federal affiliation . François Pierré indicated that affiliation had been requested from the league but refused, just as for the "0-3 000", unlike the "Vert-Lagon". He emphasized that several triathlons in France, such as those of Alpe d'Huez or Gérardmer , are also organized outside of the league. The organization's file was examined by the prefecture with "fairness and equity".
Despite a capacity capped at 500, there will only be around 150 at the start. This figure is considered "poor" by François Pierré, especially compared to the 600 to 800 competitors recorded at other events of his club. The resigning president attributes this low participation to "misinformation" surrounding the 70.3. He anticipates a loss of money , but affirms that the main objective is not to make a profit, but to organize a "very good race."
Event Features and Athletes
The event is not just a sporting event; it also includes an educational component . This component is achieved through a collaboration with the Saline elementary school, focusing on chili peppers and their place in Reunion culture .
The event is open to athletes aged 18 and over . It can be run individually or in relays . Prizes are offered, particularly for the first place finishers in each race.
Notable athletes registered include:
- In the women's category: Élora Salesses , who won the 2024 “Trirun Man”.
- In the men: Jérôme Paniandy and Éric Salesses .
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2- and finally, the clarity of the "Mind Map" to graphically summarize everything:
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