This year the Duathlon World Championships will be held in Zofingen. The World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon Championships Zofingen are now planned to be held on September 19 instead of May 30, 2021. The organizers justify the postponement with the still virulent Corona pandemic. In September, a significant improvement of the epidemiological situation is expected.

The World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon Championships Zofingen will be held on Sunday, September 19, 2021. The preliminary program will take place on Saturday, September 18. This was decided by the local organizers in coordination with the national and international federations. The date of May 30, 2021 became unrealistic due to the still difficult COVID-19 situation.

Situation to improve by fall
Powerman Zofingen has closely monitored the situation in recent weeks and has noticed that the situation in Switzerland, as well as in many of the athletes’ home countries, is not improving fast enough. “We would like to have participants from around 30 nations in Zofingen again, but in order to host a fair race, as many of them as possible must be able to train in their home countries and compete in world championship selections,” says Stefan Ruf, president of the organizing committee Powerman Zofingen. Referring to the COVID-19 situation in Switzerland, Ruf says: “A pure World Championships without open long distance categories, short distance, Powerkids and charity races is not an option for us.”

Together with the International Federation World Triathlon (WT), it has now been decided to make use of the previously defined alternative date of September 19, 2021. This is also in the interest of the local and national sponsors, who want to see as broad a field of participants as possible.

World Triathlon – until recently known as the International Triathlon Union ITU – had already confirmed in mid-2020 that in 2021 Zofingen is scheduled for the official World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships (10 km run course, 150 km bike course, 30 km run course).

Optimized bike course
Accordingly, Zofingen expects the race to be held in the current year. The bike course has been further optimized; the historical town will be bypassed in the process. “We have never had such a safe bike course in the history of the Powerman Zofingen,” says Stefan Ruf. The level of difficulty is comparable to the previous routes, he adds.

Support from sponsors
The Powerman Zofingen can expect the support of the sponsors also this year: The Powerman is supported by the main sponsors Vanoli, Swisslos, ZT Medien and gaz-energie (together with StWZ Energie). Likewise, the Powerman Zofingen hopes to receive financial support from the federal government, the canton and the city of Zofingen. The organization is based on voluntary work.

Dear athletes

After the situation around COVID-19 has worsened again in Switzerland and worldwide in the last weeks, ITU, IPA and Swiss Triathlon together with the authorities and the local organizing committee have decided to postpone the ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships in Zofingen to 2021. Of particular relevance are the stricter entry restrictions to Switzerland and the increased protection requirements for major events. All races of the event weekend are affected by the postponement.

The partners involved have decided to reschedule all races of the Powerman Zofingen to May 29 and 30, 2021. ITU has confirmed that the Powerman Zofingen will be the official ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championship on May 30, 2021.

The Powerman Zofingen thanks that so many athletes have registered despite the prevailing uncertainties. The registrations will be transferred to the 2021 event and the registration portal remains open.

See you in Zofingen, end of May 2021

Dear Athletes

The sports year 2020 is a huge challenge for athletes, federations, organisers and all of us.

Today, tomorrow and perhaps even in the years to come, we have to face completely new standards for sporting events. This means a great deal of extra work for the organisers and requires understanding and tolerance from the athletes. Whether or not an event can finally be held on the planned date is not guaranteed. It may even have to be cancelled unexpectedly at very short notice due to binding force majeure conditions, government directives or any other reasons.

At this point in time, the national regulations of the Swiss government allow the staging of an event of the size of the ITU Powerman World Championships, but this is still connected with uncertainties. The International Powerman Association IPA and Swiss Triathlon are striving to hold the event within the given possibilities and are continuously coordinating with the ITU and local authorities further steps.

We will inform regularly and, if necessary, immediately about further developments.

Should the race in 2020 have to be cancelled at a later date, the starting places will be transferred to 2021.

We had planned to communicate on the 20.06.2020 about the decision to hold the ITU Powerman LD Duathlon World Championships event September 20, 2020. It will take a few more days to coordinate the new rules of the Swiss government, valid from June 22nd, with the local authorities and to exchange the results with the national and international federation. We are convinced that it is in the interest of all parties to make the best possible decision and hope for your understanding.

As you all might think, in the current situation there are many reasons against an implementation and many reasons for an implementation.
We would like to examine the new facts seriously and for this purpose we need time until the end of June and will communicate a decision on July 1, 2020.

Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.

OK ITU Powerman LD Duathlon World Championships Zofingen

PS: Entry Fees won’t be risen by 01.07. and stay at same amount till 31.07.

Dear athletes, partners and friends!

Every day we can read thousands of information on the current pandemic situation in medias. Based on this information, it is still not possible to make reliable forecasts as to whether sport events such as the Powerman Zofingen can take place in September. The LOC of the Powerman will wait until June 20th – that is three months before the race – and decide based on the then available knowledge and regulations. The LOC remains optimistic and still hopes to be able to communicate a “GO” on June 20th.

From now on you can register for the Powerman Zofingen 2020. The event will take place on September 20th 2020. Those who already register now will benefit from attractive participation fees. All further information about the event can be found here:

• Long distance
• short distance

In the meantime Klaus Aberger has edited a great video for this year’s PowerKids race. We hope you enjoy the video!

Dear Participants

An unforgettable ITU LD Duathlon World Championship 2019 is behind us. I congratulate Nina Zoller and Diego Van Loy to the World Championship title and all other participants to the successful finish. I thank all partners and helpers who made the event possible.

I am looking forward to welcoming you all to the 32nd Powerman Zofingen, ITU LD Duathlon World Championships on September 19-20, 2020.

The registration system will open shortly. The first 50 registrations on the long distance will get an early entry discount. Write us an email with the keyword “earlyentry20” and ask for the conditions and the code.

See you September 2020 in Zofingen

Stefan Ruf, President

31. Powerman Zofingen: 2019 Zofingen ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships

Despite a crash of last year’s winner Petra Eggenschwiler, the Swiss women also shone at the 2019 Zofingen ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships. Nina Zoller, Melanie Maurer and Petra Eggenschwiler had a thrilling race. After the retirement of Eggenschwiler, compatriot Corina Hengartner moved up to 3rd place. The Belgian Diego Van Loy became World Champion in the men’s singles ahead of Jens Gossauer from Switzerland and Daan De Groot from the Netherlands. The 31st Powerman Zofingen recorded a total of around 1,200 participants at the weekend, roughly the same number as last year.

The trio Eggenschwiler, Maurer and Zoller put pressure on the front right from the start and also went straight to the bike course after the running course. Then Eggenschwiler was hit by a mishap: the woman from Solothurn crashed in Zofingen in a railway underpass without any outside influence. She was a little rough. The defending champion lost about three minutes and then tried everything to get back to the top. However, Eggenschwiler finally had to give up shortly after the bike course. Before the showdown in Zofingen, Eggenschwiler took first place in the Powerman World Ranking 2018/2019. Immediately after leaving the company, disappointment was written all over her face. However, she quickly grasped the situation and said: “I didn’t feel so good from the start. “Already at the media conference in the run-up to the ITU World Championships she complained about a cold and an inflammation of the foot. Also prematurely abandoned due to hypothermia has Antonia Reznikov. The Israeli had won the bronze medal last year. On the last run, Zoller managed to lose last year’s silver medallist Maurer. “I can’t believe it,” said the new world champion from Chur. “I bit my teeth, stepped on the gas, and I’m overjoyed now.” Maurer said: “The bike course was difficult, I was freezing, and I’m also very much looking forward to the great performance from us Swiss. I like Nina Zoller very much to grant victory.”

Large top group

In the men’s event, the Swiss Michael Ott led after three hours ahead of the Russian Maxim Kuzmin, the Dutchman Daan De Groot, the Swiss Jens Gossauer, the Belgian Seppe Odeyn and the Swiss Fabian Zehnder (SUI). Gossauer, eighth last year, was astonished and finally went first on the last run, followed by Diego Van Looy (BEL), Odeyn, De Groot, Kuzmin and Zehnder. Van Looy then got better and better into the race and could finally distance Gossauer. Due to injury last year’s winner Gaël Le Bellec (FRA) and last year’s third placed German Felix Köhler could not participate in Zofingen. Gossauer overjoyed: “It was a great race, I’m very happy with myself. My legs were brilliant and I never expected such a result. In the end, I tried to hold second place because I saw that Van Looy was doing very well.” Van Looy said, asked about the time: “The time was not important for me, I concentrated on the placement. Now I’m just happy.”

Difficult conditions

31st Powerman Zofingen: Not only the rain was a problem for the top duathlete, the thermometer showed 13 degrees Celsius. Around 1,200 athletes took part in the races at the weekend in Zofingen, almost as many as last year. While the field in the long distance was equally large and prominently occupied, the number of participants in the short distance was smaller. The charity run on Saturday was even more popular than last year: The companies that had their own teams at the start included Siegfried AG, Spital Zofingen and STWZ Energie, and the PowerKids & PowerFamily races roundedoff the event. Stefan Ruf, OC President of Powerman Zofingen: “This is a sensational Swiss day. We did expect strong performances from the Swiss women over the Long Distance. Nina Zoller in particular attracted a lot of attention. “Jens Gossauer has provided the perfect surprise for the men.” John Raadschelders, President of the International Powerman Association (IPA): “Those were very exciting competitions. In the beginning, both the women and the men had their tops close together. Towards the end, however, there were longer time gaps.” Raadschelders about the organization: “I particularly liked the optimized communication. A win-win constellation between Powerman Zofingen, the International Powerman Association (IPA) and the International Triathlon Union (ITU).

Text: Hanspeter Arnold/Raphael Galliker

Pictures: Blende 8.5 Zofingen

More info: www.powerman.swiss

Ranking Elite Long Distance:

Men: 1st Diego Van Looy (BEL) 6:14.29; 2nd Gossauer Jens-Michael (SUI, Greifensee) 6:16.23; 3rd Daan De Groot (NED) 6:20.16; 4th Seppe Odeyn (BEL) 6:22.20; 5th Maxim Kuzmin (RUS) 6:24.32; 6. Fabian Zehnder (SUI, Wädenswil) 6:28.19; 7. Michael Ott (SUI, Unterstrass) 6:30.34; 8. Thomas Bruins (AUS) 6:33.38; 9. Andreas Kälin (SUI, Wollerau) 6:34.40; 10. Ryan Giuliano (USA) 6:41.11; 11 Yannick Cadalen (FRA) 6:43.25; 12 Diederik Derijcke (BEL) 6:50.35; 13 Jonas Vandevyvere (BEL) 6:52.55; 14 Andrew Macrae (GBR) 6:53.50; 15 Bert Wouters (BEL) 6:53.56; 16. Rolf Wermelinger (SUI) 6:54.12; 17. Edi Frauchiger (SUI) 6:55.46; 18. Tobias Eise (GER) 6:56.22; 19. Peter Ellis (GBR) 6:59.31; 20. Stephane Vander Bruggen (BEL) 7:02.16.

Women: 1st Nina Zoller (SUI, Chur) 7:14.54; 2nd Melanie Maurer (SUI, Schliern b. Köniz) 7:17.11; 3rd Corina Hengartner (SUI, Club Bodensee) 7:27.46; 4th Ann Schoot Uiterkamp (NED) 7:39.03; 5th Katrin Esefeld (GER) 7:47.08; 6. Virginie Soenen (BEL) 7:53.57; 7. Yvette Van Wegen (NED) 8:08.27; 8. Noemi Sarah Frieden (SUI) 8:08.35; 9. Simona Celik (SLO) 8:12.57; 10. Lise Soerensen Lise (DEN) 8:19.24; 11. Jasmin Brammert (GER) 8:22.58; 12. Maria Buchvoll (DEN) 8:24.41; 13. Deirdre Hassett (IRL) 8:27.29; 14. Rendy Williams (USA) 8:28.40;

Short distance:

Men: 1st Michael Pfanner (SUI) 2:13.40; 2nd Tobias Baggenstos (SUI) 2:13.57; 3rd Luca Vogelsang (SUI) 2:15.13.

Women: 1. Tiziana Ringgenber (SUI) 2:33.16; 2. Natascha Badmann (SUI) 2:36.14; 3. Daniela Koller (SUI) 2:36.31.

The winning duo of the 2019 Zofingen ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships: Nina Zoller (SUI) and Diego Van Loy (BEL).

The podium of the women, from the left (all SUI): Melanie Maurer (2nd), Nina Zoller (1st) and Corina Hengartner.

The men’s podium, from the left: Jens Gossauer (SUI, 2.), Diego Van Loy (BEL, 1.) and Daan De Groot (NL, 3.)