More than 500 athletes have already registered to take part in the event, with 25% of registrants being foreign athletes, explained Panlop Prajong of the Phuket Provincial Tourism and Sports Office.
The event is being held to boost tourism to the island during the off-peak season, and has been granted permission to be held by the Phuket Provincial Office and Sirinath National Park.
The competition comprises three categories:
- Olympic Distance Triathlon: 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run.
- Sprint Triathlon: 750m swim, 20km bike ride, and 5km run
- Duathlon: 10km run, followed by a 40km bike ride and ending with a 5km run.
The main centre of the event is to be set up at Sirinath National Park, with the event starting at 4am, Mr Panlop said.
The running portion of the competition will take place solely within Sirinath National Park and will not disrupt overall traffic. The swimming competition will occur on the beach in front of the park, he added.
A route briefing for athletes will be held on Sept 9, Mr Panlop noted.
Mr Panlop urged the public to avoid using the roads being used to hold the cycling event. He also advised local residents and businesses to plan their travel ahead and find alternative routes.
Roads will be affected from 6am to 10am while the cycling sections of the races are being held.
The organisers of the event noted the following:
- Exercise caution on Route 402 (Thepkrasattri Rd), which will have the left lane northbound reserved for the bike race. This applies from the Pak Phli intersection (for the Thepkrasattri - Nai Yang Rd) to the main airport turnoff on Thepkrasattri Rd.
- Be cautious on Route 4026 (the main road to the airport) from ThepkrasattriRd to the ‘Nai Yang Intersection’ (the main T-junction at the western end of Route 4026 where motorists turn right to go to the airport or left to go to Nai Yang). One lane westbound will be closed for the bike section of the race
- Do not use the southbound lanes on Route 4031 from the ‘Nai Yang Intersection’ to the Pak Phli intersection (where the Thepkrsattri - Nai Yang Rd joins Thepkrasattri Rd)
- For convenience and speed, tourism operators and transportation services destined for Phuket Airport are advised to use the entrance/exit point at the ‘Old Airport Junction’ (where Route 4031 joins Thepkrasattri Rd).