Bicyclists participating in the upcoming Waupaca Area Triathlon will have a new route.
The change stems from road conditions on County Trunk E south of Waupaca, according to City Administrator Henry Veleker.
The triathlon will be held at 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, and will once again be based at Waupaca’s South Park. The long course consists of a half-mile swim in Shadow Lake, a 20-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run, while the short course includes a quarter-mile swim, 12-mile bike ride and 2-mile run.
“The Waupaca Area Triathlon Board of Directors has been considering a change to the bike routes for both long and short courses,” Veleker said. “The need to do this was precipitated by our concern for the safety of the competitors as it relates to the degrading road conditions along miles 1–5 of the bike route (County E). To ensure that our participants have a positive and safe experience, we have decided to change the route.”
Instead of heading out of Waupaca on County E (Berlin Street), as in past triathlons, bikers on the long course will now head south on Lakeside Parkway and turn left on Shadow Road. The route also includes Crystal, Danielson, East and Crystal Lake roads and County Trunk K.
Short course bikers will also head out of Waupaca on Lakeside Parkway before turning left on Shadow Road. The route also includes Crystal, Danielson, East and Spencer Lake roads, as well as County K.
As in the past, bikers will enter Waupaca on Lakeside Parkway.
Maps showing the long and short courses can be found at www.waupacaareatriathlon.com
“Prior to making this decision, Dean Sondrol and I met with local law enforcement to see if the plan was workable from their end, particularly around the U.S. (Highway) 10 interchange,” Veleker said. “It was determined to be. Based on this, we requested an amendment to our (state Department of Transportation) special event permit and this was granted by the DOT.”
The change doesn’t affect previously approved city street closures, according to Veleker.
“As in past years, the triathlon will notify property owners along the bike courses to remind them of the event and in this case to make them aware of the route change,” Veleker said.
As of Aug. 4, registration for the triathlon’s short course is capped, but is still open for the long course. Awards will be presented at 10 a.m. in South Park.
Although the triathlon is scheduled for Aug. 16, events get under way Friday, Aug. 15.
A mini-triathlon for ages 4-10 will be held at 6 p.m. that day at South Park. Course distances are ages 4-6: 50-foot swim, 0.6 mile bike ride and 0.15-mile run; ages 7-8: 100-foot swim; 1-mile bike ride and 0.15-mile run; and ages 9-10: 200-foot swim, 1-mile bike ride and 0.3-mile run. Swimmers ages 9-10 must be able to swim in deep water.
A potato bake will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 15 in South Park. The event is free to all triathlon participants and is also open to the public.