2021 Door County Triathlon Schedule, Info, Course Maps
- Share
- Tweet
- Pin
- Share
For Sean Ryan, event marks a return to normalcy
Earlier this year, Door County Triathlon director Sean Ryan had cautiously hoped the event would return to an in-person format after concerns about the coronavirus in 2020 caused the cancellation of the in-person event and shifted it to a virtual format. Ryan’s guarded optimism turns to reality this week as athletes gear up to step to the starting line – in person – July 17 and 18.
“Things are looking really solid,” Ryan said, referring to the registration numbers that will come close to or reach capacity. “Coming into this year, I was nervous about what would happen with COVID and when or if things would return to normal. Contrary to those expectations, things have returned to normal very quickly.”
Ryan said he expects about 1,000 participants in the sprint triathlon and another 600 in the Half Iron. Even the kids’ triathlon shows promising numbers, with an expected 200-300 registrants.
The event will continue to follow some COVID-19-conscious modifications, including expanding the packet-pickup times before the race and eliminating points of close personal contact as much as possible during the race. For example, the traditional wave start will now be a time-trial start, and aid stations will have grab-and-go water and Gatorade versus volunteers handing beverages to race participants.
The Door County Triathlon is an incorporated non-profit charity governed by a nine-member board of directors. The event exists to advance athleticism, promote tourism and benefit local charities. Over 16 years the event has raised more than $800,000 for local charities in Door County.
The cycling course will also feature a few changes due to staffing changes with the Sturgeon Bay Police Department. The Half Iron course has been redesigned as a double loop course that stays north of Sturgeon Bay to eliminate the need for Sturgeon Bay police officers to monitor and direct traffic along the route.
One modification that won’t be happening is grab-and-go food after the finish.
“The menu has always been pulled-pork sandwiches and corn on the cob, and there isn’t really a way to do that in a grab-and-go boxed-lunch format,” Ryan said.
Health and safety precautions will be taken, but Ryan said it will be up to the participants whether they want to accept post-race food.
Online registration closed July 14, but participants can register in person on event weekend until the events reach capacity.
2021 Door County Triathlon Schedule of Events
Schedule of Events
The 17th Door County Triathlon will take place at Frank E. Murphy County Park in Egg Harbor July 17-18.
Sprint Triathlon – Saturday, July 17 at 8 am
1/4 mile swim – 18 mile bike ride – 3.1 mile (5 kilometer) run
Kids’ Triathlon – Saturday, July 17 at 2 pm
For kids who will be 6-14 years of age at the end of 2021
Starts and ends in boat launch area. Various distances depending on age.
Half Iron Triathlon – Sunday, July 18 at 8 am
1.2 mile swim – 56 mile bike ride – 13.1 mile (half marathon) run
Friday, July 16
Noon – 6 pm Registration & Packet Pick Up for all three events
Note: Check the website to see if the events are full.
Saturday, July 17
5:30 am Fields across from Murphy Park open for parking
8 am – Noon Sprint Triathlon
Noon – 6 pm Registration & Packet Pick Up for Half Iron and Kids’ Triathlon
Note: Kid’s Triathlon registration closes at 1:45 pm.
2 pm – 4 pm Kids’ Triathlon
Sunday, July 18
5:30 am Fields across from Murphy Park open for parking
8 am – 5 pm Half Iron Triathlon
Watching the Race
Do you want to catch some of the Door County Triathlon action? There’s not one spot to watch from, as the event covers portions of the peninsula stretching from the north end of Egg Harbor down to the edge of the City of Sturgeon Bay. But you can catch a lot of the actions at the following locations.
Murphy Park
The hub of event weekend. Catch the start of the swim near the pier, or watch swimmers transition to the bike and bikers transition to the run at the boat launch at the south end of the park. You can also catch the finish line here. Parking is available directly across the street.
George Pinney Park
Named after the former Door County Parks Director who was one of the founders of the triathlon, this park and boat launch 9 miles south of Murphy Park will be the center of the storm for cyclists on both days. On Saturday, this is the halfway point on the bike course for the Sprint Triathlon. Riders swing off of Bay Shore Drive and pass through the overflow lot on the north side of the road to grab a drink and head back to Murphy Park. Approach the park from the south (Sturgeon Bay) and park on the south (boat launch) side of the road.
Downtown Egg Harbor
Participants will be charging along Highway 42 through Egg Harbor near mile 7 of the run course. Spectators can cheer on runners between the intersection of Highway 42 and Harbor Heights Road down to Shipwrecked Brew Pub in the center of the village between 11 am and 3 pm. From there, runners will turn onto Cty G.
Course Maps
Traffic Interruptions
The Door County Triathlon will impact traffic in the Egg Harbor area Saturday and Sunday, July 17-18. Those not participating or watching the event are encouraged to avoid the following areas during the times listed below.
