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New Zealand's Jamie Whyte will be flying the Oceania flag at Challenge Aarhus this weekend, but he'll have the Great Dane Rasmus Henning to contend with if he is to take his second Challenge victory of the season.

ROTH (June 27, 2011) - On 3 July 1,250 triathletes from 26 different nations will experience why KMD Challenge Aarhus is the new "must do" half distance triathlon and one of the most beautiful triathlon events in Europe. KMD Challenge Aarhus will unite triathlon and culture in a new and innovative way by integrating some of Aarhus’ most prominent attractions into the course.

The mens’ battle for the victory is going to be a fierce competition between the two Danish super stars Rasmus Henning and Martin Jensen with Swedish power house Bjørn Anderson and Kiwi Jamie Whyte as close contenders.

The women’s field is dominated by long distance world champion and Kona runner-up, Caroline Steffen (SUI) along with the two Danes Michelle Vesterby and Carina Ottosen (3rd IM Lanzarote, 2nd IM Austria 2010, 4th IM Florida 2009) and Susanne Skylv from the Faroe Islands.

The participants enter the water at Tangkrogen and swim 1,9 km in calm waters in the Bay of Aarhus, where the exhibition Sculpture by the Sea will be an integrated part of the course. Getting on their bikes they head out on the 90 km one loop ride from Aarhus to Skanderborg and back, leading through a beautiful landscape with rolling hills and sweeping turns.

The run course will take the participants to some of Aarhus´ most beautiful attractions, the highlight being running through the Museum of Modern Art, ARoS and the very centre of Aarhus.

After three loops they return to Tankrogen for the finish line located among the spectacular sculptures from Sculpture by the Sea.

The team behind KMD Challenge Aarhus expects more than 50,000 spectators on the course with most of the run course is located in the heart of Denmark’s second largest city and that the art exhibition Sculpture by the Sea alone attracts 30,000 spectators to area.

Words: Victoria Murray-Oar

Photo: Challenge Family