Olympic
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Sydney to relive Olympic Games triathlon glory with 2010 Dextro Energy
Posted on September 24th, 2009 1 commentThe International Triathlon Union announced today, almost nine years since the inaugural Olympic Games triathlon, that the 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series will come to Sydney next year as the sport returns to the iconic Australian city in April.
Following the successful completion of the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series, with the Grand Final held on Australia’s Gold Coast last weekend, the joint initiative between ITU, Triathlon Australia and Events New South Wales will see Sydney host a leg of the global eight race series for the next three years. The 2010 series will follow the same format as the 2009 programme with seven world championship races and a Grand Final, which will be hosted in the Hungarian capital, Budapest.
“Sydney is a truly incredible city which is very special to the history of our sport,” said ITU President, Marisol Casado. “Triathlon’s involvement within the Olympic Programme was imperative to the sport’s growth and prestige, and Sydney allowed us to showcase our dynamic multisport in a fantastic sporting arena with passionate supporters. It will be a great pleasure to return to the city next year.”
“As an athlete it’s very exciting to know we’ll be racing in Sydney and around the Opera House,” newly crowned 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Champion, Australia’s Emma Moffatt, said. “Watching triathlon’s debut at the Olympic Games was one of those moments that helped inspire me to become an elite triathlete, so to have the opportunity to defend my world title on home soil next year will be a magical experience.”
“Sydney is a spectacular edition to the 2010 calendar, it is a truly world class venue” said Paul Coleman, Managing Director of the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series. “Global TV audiences and enthusiastic Australian fans will now have a mouth-watering opportunity to watch the best triathletes in the world competing in the ultimate lifestyle sport in the ultimate lifestyle city.”
The Sydney course will closely resemble the 2000 Olympic route with most of the action taking place against the breathtaking backdrop of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, involving multiple lap bike and run courses to ensure a spectator friendly race. Although the races in 2010 will only include elite competitors there are plans to create a mass participation race, starting in 2011, allowing thousands of amateur triathletes the chance to compete alongside their Olympic heroes.
“Sydney and New South Wales’ experience in hosting world class events such as World Youth Day, the Rugby World Cup and the Olympic Games, made Sydney the ideal choice,” said Premier of New South Wales, Nathan Rees. “We know how to stage major international events and securing the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series is a real coup for Sydney.”
The 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series included stopovers in Washington DC, London, Hamburg, Madrid and Yokohama, creating a truly international and exciting race programme for the world’s best triathletes. The ITU’s full 2010 race calendar will be announced in early October.
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Snowsill out of Grand Final
Posted on September 3rd, 2009 No comments
Olympic and three-time world champion Emma Snowsill was today forced to withdraw from the upcoming Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Grand Final on the Gold Coast, Australia due to her recent hip surgery.Snowsill recently returned home from racing in Europe for medical attention to a labral tear and soft cartilage injury to her hip. Whereas keyhole surgery was successful, it required her to rest the troubled joint before returning to a heavy load of training. Despite being underdone, Snowsill was keen to race, but a weekend meeting with her surgeon convinced her and coach Craig Walton that it was not worth returning too early and causing potential long term damage.
“I am really disappointed that having the opportunity to compete at home in front of family and friends is not going to happen,” Snowsill said. “I have done everything possible I was allowed to in that short time, however, I can only be thankful it happened this year and not last year. I am still excited to witness the first Grand Final of the World Series unfold and will still feel proud to showcase our sport to the local community and the international athletes who are competing.”
Walton said Snowsill is a fierce competitor and extremely frustrated; however, it was always going to be a tall order to get her on the start line for the Grand Final on September 13.
“If Emma continues to push the envelope like she already has and competes with the labrum injury under repair, she would most likely be compromising the joint if she over stresses the area now, which may adversely impact on her longer term run-up to the next Olympics.”Snowsill’s withdrawal means all eyes will be on Emma Moffatt as she attempts to clinch her first world title in a year when, for the first time, the championship is decided over a series of races.
Snowsill current sits 11th in the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship rankings.
Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU Triathlon World Championship Grand Final
Race 8, Gold Coast, Australia
Elite Men: Saturday, September 12, 3.15pm AEST
Elite Women: Sunday, September 13, 2.45pm AEST -
Chicago triathlon: Reed rides like the wind
Posted on August 31st, 2009 1 comment
Matt Reed rode tailwind speeds of 36 or 37 mph on Lake Shore Drive to the lead in the bike portion of the 27th Chicago Triathlon and won in 1 hour, 48 minutes, 27 seconds Sunday. On the women’s side, Sarah Haskins led after all three legs, winning in 1:59:48. Both won $10,000.Wind was the biggest factor. The mainly northerlies topped 20 mph and put a near white-cap chop even inside Monroe Harbor by the seawall, where the swimming was held. The wind made for a headwind going north on Lake Shore Drive, then a wicked tailwind coming south from Foster Avenue.
Just how fast, even Reed wasn’t quite sure.
”My strength is the bike,” the 33-year-old from Boulder, Colo., said. ”It was pretty fast. I’ll have to ask the camera man how fast.”
The camera man put the top speed at 36 or 37.
On the swimming section, Haskins, a 27-year-old from Colorado Springs, Colo., conceded, ”The wind today definitely made for a very challenging course. But this type of course suits me. I love just putting my head down and going, and not turning.”
The pro waves began with a 1.5k (.93 mile) swim from off Balbo Avenue to the Shedd Aquarium, then back north to Randolph Street. The 40k (24.8 mile) bike race was looped on Lake Shore Drive from Randolph to Foster and back. The 10k run (6.2 miles) went south along LSD, through the Museum campus, then north to finish on Columbus Drive south of Balbo.
Sarah Groff was happy to push to second in 2:00:23. ”I was far back going into the run,” the 27-year-old from Colorado Springs said. ”I was happy to close the gap.”
Matt Chrabot, who was born in Park Ridge, was second on the men’s side in 1:49:24. Chicagoan Emily Cocks took eighth in 2:12.
Beside the wind, bike spills were big factors, claiming a top male and female contender. Andy Potts had a collision with an age-group competitor on a straightaway and later was taken by ambulance to have abrasions checked. Julie Dibens wiped out on a turnaround and sported a bandage on her right knee.
More than 9,000 competitors raced in all divisions of the world’s largest triathlon, which was being billed as a showcase for the 2016 Olympics bid.
”I think it would be awesome to have the [2016 Olympic] games here,” said Haskins, who originally is from St. Louis and had many relatives watching.
If Chicago gets the Games, she and her husband already have family planning in mind to allow her to compete.
TOP 10 FINISHERS
MEN | 1. Matt Reed, Boulder, Col., 1:48:27; 2. Matt Chrabot, Virginia Beach, Va., 1:49.24; 3. Timothy O’Donnell, Boulder, Col. 1:49:58; 4. David Thompson, St. Paul, Minn. 1:50:34; 5. Mark Fretta, Portland, Ore., 1:51:19; 6. Paul Matthews, Boulder, Colo., 1:51:54; 7. Cameron Dye, Boulder, Col., 1:52:12; 8. Michael Raelert, Drage, Germany, 1:52:37; 9. Maksym Kriat, Fair Lawn, N.J., 1:52:42; 10. Richie Cunningham, Austin, Tex., 1:53:07.
WOMEN | 1. Sarah Haskins, Colorado Springs, Col., 1:59:48; 2. Sarah Groff, Colorado Springs, Col., 2:00:23; 3. Becky Lavelle, Los Gatos, Calif., 2:02:45; 4. Rebeccah Wassner, New Paltz, N.Y., 2:04:11; 5. Jenna Shoemaker, Boulder, Col., 2:07:31; 6. Laurel Wasser, New Paltz, N.Y., 2:08:38; 7. Kelly Spearing, Victoria, B.C., Canada, 2:11:05; 8. Emily Cocks, Chicago, 2:12:00; 9. Jocelyn Petrella, Boston, 2:13:39; Heather Leiggi, Bryn Mawr, Pa., 2:16:44.Source: Suntimes.com
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Olympic Champion Gets first major Win in Yokohama
Posted on August 23rd, 2009 No comments
Reigning Olympic Champion, Jan Frodeno of Germany, finally claimed his first major win outside of the Olympic Games today at the Yokohama Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series event in a time of 1 hour 44 minutes and 31 seconds. Thousands of spectators lined the streets of the Tokyo suburb to watch a daring breakaway on the bike and a solid run by the German, giving him his first world series win. Eighteen seconds behind him was New Zealand’s Kris Gemmell in second place as he outsprinted defending world champion Javier Gomez from Spain.“After Hamburg I was really disappointed and I went back to the drawing board to refocus,” said Frodeno. “Today was awesome. Thanks to the boys, Atko [Courtney Atkinson] and Maik [Petzold]. If they hadn’t gone on the bike you never know what would have happened. I’m already looking ahead with one eye on next season. I’ll take this win with confidence.”
Despite a non-wetsuit swim the men were to exit the water in one large group to head onto the bike course. 2007 world champion Daniel Unger of Germany pulled out early with an allergic reaction to a jellyfish sting acquired during the swim warm up.
Over the first 25 kilometres of the bike all of the top contenders seemed content to sit and wait until Australia’s Courtney Atkinson leapt from the pack to test his legs. It was not long until the German duo of Frodeno and Maik Petzold decided to join the strong Aussie at the front. Working in tandem the three leaders managed to put 41 seconds into the unorganized chase group including Gemmell and Gomez.
Frodeno was the one to show strength in pulling away from Petzold and Atkinson early in the run. The chase group of Gomez, Gemmell and young Laurent Vidal of France swallowed up Petzold in the first lap and then Atkinson before the four kilometre mark. Early on it looked as though Frodeno would be next after the chasing trio knocked his lead down to 22 seconds within the first lap. It was not to be as Frodeno found his second wind on the third lap and stretched his lead. With time to spare the Olympic champion slapped hands and played to the large crowd gathered at the finish line, relishing every minute of his first Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series win.
With three kilometres to go Gomez cranked up the speed, dropping Vidal but not Gemmell. The crafty Kiwi stayed on the Spaniards heels until the final few hundred metres when he bolted away.
“I asked him [Gomez] if he was ready for a sprint and he said ‘no, not really’,” laughed Gemmell. “I said before London that the goal was the end of the year and my form is coming together. What a great day for Frodeno, anyone who races like that deserves to win.”
“It was an uncomfortable week, the podium is good but it was not a good day for me,” said Gomez. “I did not feel good all day and I don’t do well in the heat but I’m happy seeing as I crashed in London only a week ago.”
The duo of Atkinson and Petzold ultimately paid the price for the breakaway, fading throughout the run to finish in eight and tenth respectively.
Gemmell’s second place moves him into third in the rankings. Gomez’s third place keeps him in second and within 351 points of series leader Alistair Brownlee heading to the Grand Final in Gold Coast, Australia in three weeks time.
“You never know what can happen on the day. So I will be ready to give my best in Gold Coast,” answered Gomez when asked if Brownlee can be caught in Gold Coast.
Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series
Official Rankings – Round 7 of 8
1st – Alistair Brownlee (GBR) 3,200 pts
2nd – Javier Gomez (ESP) 2,849
3rd – Kris Gemmell (NZL) 2,559
4th – Maik Petzold (GER) 2,493
5th -Laurent Vidal (FRA) 2,404Yokohama Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Elite Men – Unofficial Results
Gold – Jan Frodeno (GER) 01:44:31
Silver – Kris Gemmell (NZL) 01:44:49 +:18
Bronze – Javier Gomez (ESP) 01:44:52 +:21
4th – Laurent Vidal (FRA) 01:45:05 +:34
5th – Bevan Docherty (NZL) 01:45:39 +1:08
6th – Jarrod Shoemaker (USA) 01:45:49 +1:18
7th – Yulian Malyshev (RUS) 01:45:51 +1:20
8th – Courtney Atkinson (AUS) 01:46:07 +1:36
9th – Dan Wilson (AUS) 01:46:18 +1:47
10th – Maik Petzold (GER) 01:46:35 +2:04Source: triathlon.org
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Russians Clean Sweep Tiszi Podium
Posted on August 9th, 2009 No comments
Russia enjoyed their most successful day of ITU Triathlon World Cup history as they swept aside every other nation to take the top three positions at the Tiszaujvaros ITU Triathlon World Cup in Hungary. Dmitry Polyansky crossed the line to win in a time of 1:48:45 with Alexander Brukhankov nine seconds behind. Ivan Tutukin ran his way into third as Russia went on to place four in the top five.
It was the Russian men who pushed the early pace as they forced an early breakaway with Denis Vasiliev orchestrating the early push of pace as the top ten men out of the 1500m swim escaped into the bike. As they shared the pacing between them the chase pack could only maintain a gap of thirty seconds as the small breakaway tried to make the most of the technical bike course.
The relentless work of Australia’s James Seear brought the chasers back into contention with just 10km of cycling to go, and a pack of 28 men exited second transition with 10km of running separating them from the finish tape.
Polyansky and Brukhankov quickly set the early pace, surging away from the chasers and pulling out a sizeable advantage. With just one kilometre to go Polyansky made his decisive move, pulling himself clear of the finishing kick of Brukhankov. Further back it look as though Volodymyr Polikarpenko from the Ukraine would take the bronze medal, however he faded on the final 2.5km lap allowing Tutukin onto the podium making it a clean sweep for the Russians. Gregory Rouault from France came through late on to take fourth.
“I’m really happy with my win because it’s the first victory for my country in 2009,” said Polyansky. “I knew Alexander [Brukhankov] had a very strong finishing sprint so I wanted to get away and I pushed on in the final kilometre. I’m going to London to race at the Olympic venue next week at the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship race before heading to Cyprus to prepare for the Grand Final on Australia’s Gold Coast.”
“My summer has gone very well,” said Brukhankov. “I’m much faster than I was last year, but I was hoping for the win today, maybe there was a bit of fatigue still in my legs from the Hamburg Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series race from two weeks ago. Dmitry [Polyansky] and I lead right from the start of the run and so we backed off and just looked to maintain the lead. We have the same coach so for him it doesn’t matter who wins, but I felt a bit tired in the final kilometre and couldn’t respond.”
“My swimming is not very strong so I expected a really hard ride out there today, but I am very confident in my running ability,” commented Tutukin. “I knew I had a chance once I got off the bike with the leaders. Turbaevskiy and Polikarpenko are very experienced and strong runners but I knew that I had a chance and I took it.”
Tiszaujvaros ITU Triathlon World Cup, Hungary
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Elite Men – Official Results
Gold – Dmitry Polyansky (RUS) 1:48:45
Silver – Alexander Brukhankov (RUS) 1:48:54 +0:09
Bronze – Ivan Tutukin (RUS) 1:49:49 +1:04
4th – Gregory Rouault (FRA) 1:49:55 +1:10
5th – Vladimir Turbaevskiy (RUS) 1:50:03 +1:17
6th – Volodymyr Polikarpenko (UKR) 1:50:09 +1:24
7th – Franz Loeschke (GER) 1:50:14 +1:29
8th – Balazs Pocsai (HUN) 1:50:18 +1:33
9th – Artem Parienko (RUS) 1:50:21 +1:36
10th – Leonardo Chacon (CRC) 1:50:24 +1:39