Challenge Sir Bani Yas will be the first ever long distance triathlon in the UAE. Which is pretty cool, but also possibly the least interesting detail about this wild race. Because not only is it a new addition to Challenge Family’s race calendar. It’s also an event where participants get to experience racing on a spectacular natural island where wildlife including cheetahs and giraffes roam.
At first glance, it all sounds spectacular. Sign us up! But then we started over thinking… would getting back and forth from the island add undue stress to race weekend? And more importantly – would we have to add “run fast enough to not get eaten by a cheetah” to our list of race goals?
Challenge Sir Bani Yas sounds seriously cool. And it’s safe to say it’s had all of the team here at TRI247 scouring the web for flights to Abu Dhabi. But it’s also created a seriously long list of questions about pre-race logistics and whether we need to be able to out-sprint the wildlife. We caught up with the team behind Challenge Sir Bani Yas to get all the details on how the wildest new race in triathlon is going to work.
Do I need to be able to out-run a cheetah on race day?
On the one hand, getting to race on an island which is also home to cheetahs, giraffes and hyenas is extremely cool. But on the other hand, wouldn’t a huge gang of triathletes tearing around the island disturb the wildlife? And what if the animals decide to dig into a triathlete-shaped snack?
The team at Challenge Sir Bani Yas have assured us that the cheetahs won’t be out on the course enforcing drafting rules. There’s a full and permanent wildlife conservation team on the island who look after all the fauna and flora. And while the animals are able to roam, there are fence lines in place to keep the majority of them away from the main roads. Smaller antelope and birdlife such as peacocks are completely free roaming though, so athletes will need to stay alert all the same.
Am I going to have to swim to the start line? Accommodation and getting to the island
A desert island might sound like a bit of a far flung destination. Which when you add in travelling with your bike and the borderline-ridiculous amount of kit and kaboodle racing a triathlon involves, starts to sound like a lot of hassle. So we were keen to find out what the accommodation situation would be like, and how easy it would be to get from the mainland to Sir Bani Yas island.
Both Abu Dhabi airport and Dubai airport are only 2-3 hours drive away from Jebel Dhannah Port – where you’ll set sail to get to Sir Bani Yas island. And the team behind Challenge Sir Bani Yas have organised a complimentary shuttle bus to bring athletes from Abu Dhabi city to Jebel Dhannah Port, making the first leg of your journey relatively stress-free.
There are a few hotels on the island, some offering beautiful villa-style accommodation. But if these are all booked up, you can choose from a selection of hotels at the nearby Al Dhannah City, which is only a short drive away from the Port. This includes the 5* Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort offering luxurious guest rooms and private villas, with a full range of sporting facilities. And the 4* Remal Hotel and Dhafra Beach Hotel offering all the comforts of home with a side of luxury. All three hotels are situated only 17-23km away from Jebel Dhannah Port, and again there will be a complimentary shuttle bus to get you there.
Getting to Sir Bani Yas Island
From Friday through Sunday over race weekend, Challenge have also arranged a free ferry service over to Sir Bani Yas island. The boat ride only takes around 30 minutes – so you’re not going to have to spend hours at sea to get to registration! The ferry will also accommodate both athletes and their spectators, so your support crew don’t have to stress about sorting out their own water taxi over.
Bike transport
Travelling with your bike can be stressful, so with the added complication of ferry rides alongside bus transfers – how easy will it be to get your trusty steed from A to B?
The team at Challenge Sir Bani Yas state that your bike will be able to get transported from Abu Dhabi City to Jebel Dhannah Port, and from Al Dhannah City mall to the Port. You’ll also be able to take your bike on the ferry. If you’re not staying on the island (and therefore your bike will be unboxed and built back up before you board the ferry) select ferries will have dedicated bike racks available.
If you prefer to hire a car and drive, there’ll also be free parking available at both Al Dhannah City and the Jebel Dhannah Port.
Pre-race training and last minute gear purchases – surely a desert island won’t have spare inner tubes?
Racing on a desert island where 17,000 wildlife roam doesn’t exactly sound like getting in those last minute swim sets or shake out rides and runs will be easy. So we asked the Challenge Sir Bani Yas team how athletes are supposed to get their final sessions ticked off before race day.
If you’re arriving a few days early and staying in Abu Dhabi, head to Hudayriyat Island. Here you’ll find a beach for swimming, and a whole range of sports facilities including running tracks, bike paths and an outdoor gym. You can also train on the Yas Marina F1 circuit with running and cycling available on the ‘Train Yas’ days on Mondays and Wednesdays between 6pm and 10pm. For those staying in Dubai before they make the trip to Sir Bani Yas Island, there’s always the Al Qudra Cycle Track and the Meydan Cycle Track to make use of.
Once you arrive on Sir Bani Yas Island, you’ll be able to recce the bike and run routes at your leisure. The courses will be set up from the Friday ready for familiarisation. We’d recommend testing out the climb on the bike course so you can plan your race strategy – it’s approximately 7km away from the race village so it makes for an ideal shake out ride. The water safety team and lifeguards will also be on active duty so you can check out the swim course.
Bike mechanics and emergency gear purchases
We’ve all been there. Arrived somewhere for a race only to discover our rear mech has gotten bent out of shape during the plane ride. Or we’ve left those vital ‘must not forget’ race items like puncture repair supplies and goggles at home on the kitchen table. Usually, that wouldn’t be too much of an issue if you’re racing in a big city – there’s always a bike shop and a sports shop to be found. But what about on a desert island?
The team at Challenge Sir Bani Yas have told us there will be a team of bike mechanics on hand to help you with any last minute issues. And there’ll also be a fully stocked Expo where you can buy any last bits of kit that you need, as well as getting your race merch.
Spectators and family-friendly racing
Race day can end up feeling just as much like an endurance event for support crews and family members as it does for athletes, especially if there isn’t much for spectators to do. And with Sir Bani Yas being such a bucket list destination, we figured most athletes wouldn’t be flying solo. So we wanted to make sure there’d be plenty on offer to keep spectators entertained.
As we’ve already highlighted, the free ferry service between the Port and the island will be available for spectators as well as athletes over race weekend. While you’re busy doing all your last minute race prep and ticking off all the logistics like racking your bike and attending the race briefings. There’s plenty to do on Sir Bani Yas Island to keep the rest of your party entertained. The race village is close to Terminal Beach where there’s water sports, beach BBQs and plenty of space to kick back and relax on the sand. And there’s also horseback riding and safari excursions to be enjoyed.
Supporters who want to get in on the sporting action also have a wide range of side events to choose from – many of which are suitable for children – including separate swimming, cycling and running events, kayaking races and a splash and dash event. Once your race begins, your support crew will be able to cheer you on with ease. The race village, swim start, transition zone and a section of the run lap are all located just a few hundred metres away from each other.
Still got questions? Take a look at our Challenge Sir Bani Yas race guide for more information on everything from the courses to travel and logistics.
