Five Reasons to Race Challenge Gallipoli
Challenge Gallipoli combines centuries of history with natural beauty, bringing together national and international athletes on 2 June 2024.
- The race is set right in the heart of the Gallipoli Historical Area
- Swim in ANZAC Cove, famous as the landing spot of the ANZACs and cycle and run through the battlefields and memorials of World War I
- Travel back to 3,000BC at the ancient city Of Troia
- Experience the stunning beauty and ancient history of Assos
- Go island hopping to Gökçeada (İmroz) and Bozcaada (Tenedos)
About the Local Area
The Gallipoli Peninsula is a historical region located in northwestern Turkey, at the southern entrance of the Dardanelles. Due to its strategic location, it contains traces of many civilizations.
Gallipoli’s emergence on the stage of history dates back to ancient times. It is known as the legendary place where the Trojan Wars took place. It later came under the rule of the Persian, Roman and Byzantine Empires.
The region became an important military strategy of the Ottoman Empire. It gained worldwide fame in 1915, during World War I, when the Gallipoli Peninsula hosted the first major battle, also called the Dardanelles Front. This conflict saw a bloody war between Turkish and allied forces.
The Gallipoli Peninsula attracts attention not only with its military history but also with its natural beauties. Regions such as Anzac Cove, Kabatepe and Chunuk Bair host monuments bearing the traces of the war. At the same time, the natural riches and historical buildings here offer a unique experience to visitors.
The Dardanelles Wars Gallipoli Historical Area, where the competition will be held, is within the borders of Çanakkale province. In 1973, the Gallipoli Peninsula was declared a Historical National Park.
The Gallipoli Wars are a defence epic won by the superhuman resistance of the Turkish Nation against the world’s most powerful states, under the leadership of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal. In this war that lasted 8.5 months, both sides of the Bosphorus turned into hell and nearly half a million lives were lost.
The monuments and martyrs’ cemeteries built in memory of hundreds of thousands of casualties in the Battle of Gallipoli, one of the world’s largest wars between the Allied Powers and the Ottoman Army in the First World War, not only remind us of the suffering of the war, but also reveal one of the magnificent victories of history. The Historical Area, which includes monuments rising on the cherished memories of more than 250,000 Turkish martyrs and areas where more than 250,000 British, French, Australian and New Zealand soldiers are buried, tells the whole world about the value of peace today.
The Çanakkale Land and Sea Battles are commemorated with ceremonies every year on 18 March and 24 April.
About Challenge Gallipoli
Amid the echoes of history, the rugged beauty of Gallipoli whispers stories of endurance and sacrifice; The soil under our feet is enriched by the spirit of those who resist tirelessly, leaving an indelible legacy to future generations.
Challenge Gallipoli is a special challenging course surrounded by history and natural beauty. The race starts from the Old Gendarmerie Pier. Triathletes complete the first stage with a 1.9km swim in cool waters, paying their respects to those sleeping in the depths after the apocalyptic days 109 years ago.
Exiting T1, athletes head towards ANZAC Cove and its monuments, named after the ANZACs, soldiers from Australia and New Zealand 109 years ago. Athletes who reach Kemikli turn back from here and proceed to Büyük Anafarta. Then, it passes through the trenches where two bullets meet in the air, where the clashes are nose-to-nose, and through the lands bearing the traces of the Çanakkale Land Wars, where soldiers who were enemies while fighting and friends during the ceasefire slept together, and Conkbayırı, where Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK said to his soldiers, “I order you to die, not to attack.” They climb the steep slopes, and this climb is considered one of the most grueling parts of the race.
Leaving Conkbayırı behind, athletes pass in front of the Gestas Ferry Pier and head to Alçıtepe village. This stage offers a moment of respite amidst the tranquility and natural beauty of the village. They make their return from Zıgındere beach and complete the 90km bike stage back at the Old Gendarmerie Pier.
Leaving T2, athletes once again head to Anzac Cove for the final running stage. This 21km course is completed over three laps, immersing competitors in the deep stories of the historical peninsula. Crossing the finish line, athletes experience not just a physical endurance test but also the unique historical ambiance of Gelibolu.
The athletes’ experience is shaped by their awareness of the historical texture around them, as well as their physical and mental strength and endurance. This event promises an experience that will push participants’ physical, mental and spiritual limits.
