Throngs of athletes will descend on Atlantic City next year as part of an international triathlon slated to come to the resort town.The annual event, run by the Roth, Germany-based Challenge Family, is expected to be announced this week, with a course that could feature bicycling in the Pine Barrens and running on the city’s iconic Boardwalk, a source said.

The group hosts 21 long-distance triathlons in 13 countries; the Atlantic City race would be its first in the United States.

The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority is scheduled to meet today to vote on a subsidy package for the June event. One source said the race could draw more than 1,000 athletes in its first year, along with thousands of family members who routinely accompany them.

Other details of the race have been scarce since the “Challenge Atlantic City” first appeared on a CRDA agenda last month. But a posting on the Challenge website two weeks ago said it would announce details of the first U.S. race in mid-September.

Challenge’s founders were once involved in the prominent Ironman Triathlon series, but broke away in 2001, hosted their first race a year later. The group’s flagship race takes place annually in Roth, drawing more than 5,000 athletes and 200,000 spectators, according to the website.

Find more information at Challenge USA.

