Ah that does make sense!
Wasn’t it a new race last year?
I thought it had only been going for a year or so as Ironman. It’s not very helpful to anyone with an entry either.
Hopefully you’ll get an idea soon.
I really fancy doing this one too.
I really fancy a trip to the (Spanish) Basque country as that’s why my family come from originally a few hundred years ago. (I appreciate I can go there without an IM being there)
Didn’t expect them to be as open as this in all honesty. Definitely still aiming for a race this year, and moreover, in October.
Lanza 70.3 is Oct 3rd
Barca is Oct 4th
So imagine we’re looking at middle to end of October
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Options now available. What to do?!?!
Dear Athlete,
With the health and safety of our community being an utmost priority, and in alignment with the Government of Spain in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz triathlon originally scheduled for July 12, 2020 has been postponed to October 11, 2020.
All registered athletes of the 2020 IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz triathlon will have their race registration automatically moved to the new race date, but we have also provided additional race options if you are unable to race on October 11, 2020 , including deferral to the 2021 IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz.
The options are listed below.
Remain in 2020 IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz: October 11, 2020
Free deferral to the 2021 IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz: July 11, 2021
Free transfer to IRONMAN Tallinn: September 5, 2020*
Free transfer to IRONMAN Portugal - Cascais: November 7, 2020*
*(Transfer requests will be processed on a first come first served basis and numbers are limited.)
How to select your option:
• I want to remain in the 2020 IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz on October 11, 2020: No further action is required this time
• I want to defer my entry to the 2021 IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz on July 11, 2021: Please click this link
• I want to transfer to IRONMAN Tallinn or IRONMAN Portugal - Cascais:
Please click this link
If you wish to defer or transfer your entry, please complete the instructions above by July 12, 2020, at 23.59pm CEST. All terms and conditions apply.
Thank you for your commitment and we look forward to providing you with an exceptional race experience later this year.
If you have additional questions, please contact vitoria@ironman.com.
Kind Regards,
The IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz Team
I’d roll over to next year.
If it was in this country I’d do it. Overseas I’d be hesitant about further lockdowns etc… Pretty sure you’ve said your 21 calendar is already hectic though. 12th of July isn’t giving you much time either
Exactly. I’d want to take a chance on this year if at all possible. Issue is, a mates wedding (I’m part of the wedding party) has this weekend as a potential postponed date as well 
I’ve gone ahead and deferred till next year
As Adam says, too much uncertainty about the remainder of this year. Plus I haven’t really got the appetite for it now
Not happy about losing the right to a partial refund or deferral though by taking up the option of next year
Apparently, you’d have lost that anyway if they’d cancelled fully and deferred you to 2021 automatically. Every other race has said that is your “one only deferral”, and therefore all other options are then null and void
IM Portugal then? Don’t know if being later makes it more or less uncertain, given potential issues of a winter resurgence.
Issue is I have IM Wales already deferred to next year. If Portugal gets scrapped last minute, then I’m stuck with two Ironman’s on back to back weekends next year, based on Portugal’s normal running date.
It’s a mess! I know the same is true for everyone, in a lot more critical ways, but it’s a bit of a stress having to try and figure this all out at such last minute
Unless I’ve missed\forgotten something I think I’d be tempted to go with this year in October. That way you don’t lose any future deferral right?
Then if it gets cancelled again they’ll still have to offer you something and it will probably be the last European IM of this year so any options will be next year?
Plenty of time to train for it (this October) and you’ve been flying on the bike anyway, and been swimming. But will probably need some pool access.
And Spain is keen to let people in for the tourism. If there is a winter wave I suspect it would be after that.
Obviously if they do cancel again you are still going to have the 2021 problem, and if their alternatives are races like Bolton or Cork in order to fill them.
Definitely. If it was the weekend after, 100%. But this…
I’m trying to get clarity from them, but given their original wedding date was Saturday just gone, it’s not exactly ideal timing to be asking them about latest plans.
Sorry, I’d seen that but wasn’t sure if it was this year or next. I’ll read it more thoroughly next time.
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It wasn’t a dig for not reading. You made a valid point about everything as to why I’d want to race this year if I could. I’m just frustrated that the stars have aligned this way to cause all these complications. I’ve dropped my mate a message anyway, to see what he’ll say about likelihood of that October date going ahead.
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I didn’t think it was a dig 
It’s frustrating when so much of it is out of your control and unknown. Even another week either way might have helped you.
I’ve been reasonably fortunate that my races have been cancelled outright and with UTMB I can roll to 2022. Albeit I lost £80 or so. A lot less than some have or will lose.
Hopefully it will turn out right for you.
Bloody mates and their weddings!! 
Jeff does make a good point about October and still getting options for next year if the race goes down the can
Yeah, that’s why I’d certainly do it this year if it wasnt for the wedding uncertainty. Now they’ve confirmed the 2021 date, the hypothesised issue that had been talked about with regards potentially there not being a 2021 race is clearly gone. So any last minute cancellation of Oct 2021 would clearly just roll to July 2021.
Just hope my mate can give me some steer one way or another. The worst thing would be him saying it’s highly like to go ahead this year so I defer the IM, then the wedding gets cancelled again, and the 2021 date is then the 2021 Vitoria date
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Now hat would be some rotten luck
I was due to do Portugal this year but have opted to defer to 2021. The date they’ve given us is 9th October 2021
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