IRONMAN announced last Friday that the inaugural Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge triathlon will be rescheduled for Sunday, June 6, 2021. The event was originally scheduled for this summer, June 7, 2020, but was postponed because of concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organizers said that the decision to reschedule didn’t come easy, but considering the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, they felt that it was the right decision. “We know this comes as a disappointment to the community and especially the athletes who have been training. Our goal is to deliver on a world class experience showcasing Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR) to athletes and spectators,” a press release regarding the rescheduling said.
VBR said that rescheduling the race does not impact its three-year race agreement. IRONMAN has agreed to extend the agreement in Virginia’s Blue Ridge starting in 2021 and include 2022 and 2023.
“The announcement to reschedule is a silver lining during this time of crisis and gives the region a light at the end of the tunnel for the next three years during a financially devastating time, especially for the tourism industry. IRONMAN was projected to have a local economic impact of nearly $9 million, and bring in more than 2,500 athletes and 10,000 spectators,” VBR said.
