Seven-time Tour de France champion, Lance Armstrong, has been forced to cancel his entry in Rotorua’s Blue Lake Multisport Festival next month. He will now return to the United States immediately following his participation in the Tour Down Under in Australia.
The organisers of the Blue Lake Multisport Festival – the Rotorua Association of Triathletes – received notice from Mr Armstrong's management team late yesterday (Wednesday 29th December), with the athlete also announcing the cancellation on his Twitter account this morning.
Event organiser, Charlotte Pearson, says while club members and competitors alike are disappointed Mr Armstrong won't be on the start line at the end of January, the event still promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
"The 2011 Blue Lake Multisport Festival was always going to be special as we celebrate our 25th anniversary – that special factor was always going to be there, with or without Lance Armstrong."
Ms Pearson says that even in the flurry of excitement following Mr Armstrong's entry, the club decided it had to stay true to the roots of the event – just on a much bigger scale!
"This has always been one of the hidden gems of the annual triathlon calendar, loved by everyone who has ever been involved. It is run by volunteers with a love for the sport and who want to put on events for their local community. This philosophy certainly hasn't changed.
"Now more than ever, our commitment remains to ensuring that everyone has some great races and a good time."
Ms Pearson says the club hopes that most of those that have entered will still race on the day, including some of New Zealand's elite triathletes, Bevan Docherty and Kieran Doe, who have also entered.
"Once you've raced the Blue Lake Multisport Festival you just keep coming back. The Blue Lake in Rotorua is an absolutely stunning location for an event like this – we are so lucky that it is our training playground every day, and we want to share that experience with everyone else who has entered."
Ms Pearson says the club would like to thank all of those who have entered the Festival, the Festival sponsors and everyone who has offered support and assistance over recent weeks.
"We look forward to seeing you all there!"
For further information and entry details about the event, go to http://www.rats.org.nz/795/eves-blue-lake-multisport-festival-2011-%E2%80%93-25th-anniversary/.
