There were plenty of strong performances from Britain’s elites at the ETU European Championships in Geneva, with Lucy Hall and Tom Bishop placing fifth in their respective races, while Ben Dijkstra claimed bronze in his junior men’s race.
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Commonwealth champ Jodie Stimpson finally returned to competition after an achilles injury, and was perfectly placed on the bike alongside Olympic gold and silver medal winners Nicola Spirig (SUI) and Lisa Norden (SWE), until a tyre flat forced Stimpson to stop for a wheel change. She eventually finished ninth.
Britain’s Lucy Hall and Jessica Learmonth were already up the road having led out of the swim. Early into the run Spirig took the lead and ran away to victory. Lucy Hall held on for fifth and Stimpson finished ninth.
@BritTri Lucy just in 4th after run lap 1 pic.twitter.com/E8NSc1hM30
— Hannah Clay (@Hannah_Clay97) July 11, 2015
In the men’s race, French athlete David Hauss managed to finish first ahead of Sven Riederer (SUI) and Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR). ITU World Champion Javier Gomez (ESP) suffered a similar misfortune to Stimpson and had to stop for a wheel change, eventually posting a DNF. Matt Sharp had a solid race, finishing ninth.
Action from the elite men’s race. Thanks @TriPhotographer pic.twitter.com/gFArOdv9P0
— British Triathlon (@BritTri) July 11, 2015
In the elite junior men’s event, Ben Dijkstra, Jimmy Kershaw and James Teagle all had strong races, at times dictating the pace on the bike from the front. Dijkstra, who is just 16 and racing against athletes up to three years older, was in contention right until the end, finishing third in a very tight sprint finish.
This is how close it was at the finish! @Ben_Dijkstra bronze #genève2015 pic.twitter.com/mZFrCLBW1u
— British Triathlon (@BritTri) July 11, 2015
British Triathlon’s performance director Brendan Purcell said: “The Europeans is a good opportunity to learn championship delivery. It’s particularly valuable for young and developing athletes.
“It was exciting to see the junior men riding off the front of the bike pack, and Ben getting a result at the end. There were some different tactics from Tom Bishop, which helped him to run well, and Lucy Hall demonstrated that the extra focus on her run is starting to pay off.
“It’s great to see Jodie back. She looked strong until the mechanical and although the result isn’t want she wanted, she got to practice a hard run off a hard bike, which helps set her up nicely.”
Paratriathlon
British paratriathletes came away with a bagful of medals: ITU World Champions Alison Patrick (PT5) and Lauren Steadman (PT4) won gold medals their respective categories, Faye McClelland (PT4) took silver, and Clare Cunningham (PT4) and Melissa Reid walked away with bronze (PT5).
Patrick, who was guided by Hazel Smith, said: “We had a really good swim today. That’s where I’m making gains, but we had the fastest bike split, which I wasn’t getting last year so that shows how well Hazel and I are working together.
“It’s amazing to be British, world and European champion for now and Hazel was so happy to win a first major title. It is really helping both of us that we are able to train together. We just know what each other are doing.
Paratriathlon @ETUtriathlon champions! @ali_p87 @LaurenSteadman #genève2015 pic.twitter.com/q8qJ6oJS8Y
— British Triathlon (@BritTri) July 10, 2015
Lauren Steadman led a British clean sweep of the podium in the PT4 category. Steadman, Faye McClelland and Clare Cunningham repeated their finishing order from last year’s ITU world championships and underlined their dominance in this category.
Steadman used her Paralympic swimming background to set herself up for another international gold medal, still at just 22 years old.
She said: “My swim was good, I found a rhythm. Overall it was really good, but I would like to improve on the bike a bit. I knew the other British girls would be hot on my heals, it’s great for Britain to get the top three, it’s great for the team.”
(Image: Dave Pearce)
Like Patrick, Steadman is now British, European and world champion. She added: “I’m really happy to have all of the titles, but you’re never certain about what’s round the corner, you can never settle for where you are.”
Phil Hogg won Britain’s other medal, a silver in the PT1 (wheelchair) category. Andy Lewis demonstrated big improvements in the PT2 category to just miss out on bronze by 0.19secs.
Elite mixed relay
Rounding off a successful weekend for the elites was the mixed relay races, with the GB senior team winning bronze and the junior team claiming seventh.
(Image: Dave Pearce)
Jodie Stimpson, Matt Sharp, Lucy Hall and Tom Bishop were in contention right from the start over the super sprint distance course and battled with strong French and Swiss teams for the medals.
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The junior team of Sophie Alden, Jimmy Kershaw, Olivia Mathias and James Teagle gained valuable experience finishing seventh in a race again won by the French.
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Britain’s age-groupers put in some incredible performances at the ETU European Champs in Geneva to walk away with nearly 50 medals between them, including 12 golds.
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Britain’s medal winners in full were as follows:
Women
– Kayleigh Adams (F16-19 sprint): silver
– Alice Jenkins (F20-24): silver
– Hannah Johnston (F20-24): silver
– Imogen Simmonds (F20-24 sprint): silver
– Hannah Lord (F25-29): silver
– Hazel Smith (F25-29): bronze
– Anna Seymour (F25-29 sprint): gold
– Michelle Willcocks (F25-29 sprint): silver
– Elizabeth Bullivant (F35-29 sprint): silver
– Louise Croxson (F40-44): silver
– Gwen Kinsey (F40-44 sprint): gold
– Tanya Brightwell (F40-44 sprint): silver
– Lena Poulton (F40-44): bronze
– Dorothy Liviabella (F45-49): bronze
– Sarah Kerswell (F50-54 sprint): gold
– Claire Bloom (F50-54 sprint): bronze
– Beverley Childs (F55-59): silver
– Joyce Mark (F55-59 sprint): gold
– Truusje Gamlin (F60-64): bronze
– Wendy Read (F60-64 sprint): silver
– June Farnorth (F60-64 sprint): bronze
– Jane Leslie (F65-69): gold
– Sue Bathgate (F65-69 sprint): gold
– Carol Clarke (F65-69 sprint): silver
– Christine Sleight (F65-69 sprint) bronze
– Hillary Stevenson (F70-74): gold
– Georgina Jennings (F70-74 sprint): gold
First images back from @TriPhotographer in Geneva pic.twitter.com/x0AIZmZj3j
— British Triathlon (@BritTri) July 10, 2015
Men
– Luke Pollard (M20-24): gold
– Harry Preston (M18-19): bronze
– Thomas Davis (M20-24): silver
– Jordan Skelly (M20-24): bronze
– James Phillips (M20-24 sprint): bronze
– Michael Birchmore (M25-29): silver
– Iain Gillam (M25-29): bronze
– Edward Castro (M25-29 sprint): gold
– James Travers (M30-34): silver
– Chris Standidge (M35-39): gold
– Richard Munday (M35-39): bronze
– James Wilson (M35-39 sprint): silver
– Alan Bremner (M55-59 sprint) bronze
– Keith Bate (M60-64 sprint): bronze
– Michael Smallwood (M65-69 sprint): bronze
– Bill Shackcloth (M70-74): silver
– Alan Churcher (M70-74 sprint): silver
– Barry Johnson (M75-79): gold
– Les Humphrey (M75-79 sprint): bronze
Groom on the run #geneva2015. Dare we ask for captions? pic.twitter.com/2BDDmhguwg
— British Triathlon (@BritTri) July 10, 2015
These results follow a number of top-ten finishes by the British elites racing in Geneva on Friday (July 10), including fifth by Lucy Hall and Tom Bishop, and a ninth-place finish for Jodie Stimpson, who suffered a flat tyre on the bike.
The paratriathletes fared even better, winning six medals including two golds, two silvers and two bronzes – a fantastic haul as they ramp up their preparations for paratriathlon’s Olympic debut at Rio 2016.
Full results here.
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Were you racing in Geneva over the weekend? Let us know in the comments below!
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Britain’s age-groupers put in some incredible performances at the ETU European Champs in Geneva to walk away with nearly 50 medals between them, including 12 golds.
Advertisement
Britain’s medal winners in full were as follows:
Women
– Kayleigh Adams (F16-19 sprint): silver
– Alice Jenkins (F20-24): silver
– Hannah Johnston (F20-24): silver
– Imogen Simmonds (F20-24 sprint): silver
– Hannah Lord (F25-29): silver
– Hazel Smith (F25-29): bronze
– Anna Seymour (F25-29 sprint): gold
– Michelle Willcocks (F25-29 sprint): silver
– Elizabeth Bullivant (F35-29 sprint): silver
– Louise Croxson (F40-44): silver
– Gwen Kinsey (F40-44 sprint): gold
– Tanya Brightwell (F40-44 sprint): silver
– Lena Poulton (F40-44): bronze
– Dorothy Liviabella (F45-49): bronze
– Sarah Kerswell (F50-54 sprint): gold
– Claire Bloom (F50-54 sprint): bronze
– Beverley Childs (F55-59): silver
– Joyce Mark (F55-59 sprint): gold
– Truusje Gamlin (F60-64): bronze
– Wendy Read (F60-64 sprint): silver
– June Farnorth (F60-64 sprint): bronze
– Jane Leslie (F65-69): gold
– Sue Bathgate (F65-69 sprint): gold
– Carol Clarke (F65-69 sprint): silver
– Christine Sleight (F65-69 sprint) bronze
– Hillary Stevenson (F70-74): gold
– Georgina Jennings (F70-74 sprint): gold
First images back from @TriPhotographer in Geneva pic.twitter.com/x0AIZmZj3j
— British Triathlon (@BritTri) July 10, 2015
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Men
– Luke Pollard (M20-24): gold
– Harry Preston (M18-19): bronze
– Thomas Davis (M20-24): silver
– Jordan Skelly (M20-24): bronze
– James Phillips (M20-24 sprint): bronze
– Michael Birchmore (M25-29): silver
– Iain Gillam (M25-29): bronze
– Edward Castro (M25-29 sprint): gold
– James Travers (M30-34): silver
– Chris Standidge (M35-39): gold
– Richard Munday (M35-39): bronze
– James Wilson (M35-39 sprint): silver
– Alan Bremner (M55-59 sprint) bronze
– Keith Bate (M60-64 sprint): bronze
– Michael Smallwood (M65-69 sprint): bronze
– Bill Shackcloth (M70-74): silver
– Alan Churcher (M70-74 sprint): silver
– Barry Johnson (M75-79): gold
– Les Humphrey (M75-79 sprint): bronze
Groom on the run #geneva2015. Dare we ask for captions? pic.twitter.com/2BDDmhguwg
— British Triathlon (@BritTri) July 10, 2015
These results follow a number of top-ten finishes by the British elites racing in Geneva on Friday (July 10), including fifth by Lucy Hall and Tom Bishop, and a ninth-place finish for Jodie Stimpson, who suffered a flat tyre on the bike.
The paratriathletes fared even better, winning six medals including two golds, two silvers and two bronzes – a fantastic haul as they ramp up their preparations for paratriathlon’s Olympic debut at Rio 2016.
Full results here.
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Were you racing in Geneva over the weekend? Let us know in the comments below!
Darren Jenkins and Bethan Fowler took the titles after a tough day’s racing at The Bastion iron-distance triathlon at Hever Castle on Sunday (12 July).
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>>> Gallery: The Bastion 2014
Australian Jenkins produced a race-best 3hr 15min marathon – 20mins faster than any other competitor – to haul in long-time leader Karl Alexander on the run.
It was testament to the demands of the course that Jenkins, who was fourth in last year’s Challenge Weymouth and has clocked 8.54 in Hawaii, did not break 10hrs for the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run.
Yet with 2,800m of ascent on a three-lap rolling bike course through Kent’s High Weald and Ashdown Forest, followed by a hilly trail run, he still only missed Fraser Cartmell’s course record set in the inaugural contest last year by 5mins.
“I’ve done 20 Ironmans around the world and that is the toughest course I’ve done anywhere,” he said. “But you get a great personal experience here. You are not ‘just a number’. How many other events have this stunning castle backdrop?”
Great work @karlralexander for a stomping bike split today! Kept me working with someone to chase 😉 @CastleTriSeries
— Darren Jenkins (@_Nevagivin) July 12, 2015
Alexander, who had both the fastest swim (58:31) and cycle (5:28) in the individual event, admitted he tried to goad Jenkins into upping the pace on the bike in an attempt to take the sting out of his run legs, but the Australian was too canny and resisted.
“I went off well and was first off the bike but kudos to Darren, he was the best on the day,” Alexander said. “This was the toughest event I’ve ever done. If you’re going to do one, make it this one, it has serious bragging rights.”
Women’s race
Professional Bethan Fowler, who has had plenty of domestic success including winning the middle distance Cotswold 113 event last year, was a comfortable winner in the women’s race from Ruth Thompson with Louise Clinton in third.
Bethan Fowler crosses the line
Probably the most remarkable feat though, was by Scarborough’s Anthony Gerundini, who completed his 100th official full iron-distance race and is still enjoying every minute of it.
“I’d forgotten how good this event was having done it last year,” he said. “It is truly stunning. There are so many marshals we are spoilt and the Castle Triathlon Series really look after us. The bike course is a dream.”
Anthony Gerundini celebrates finishing his 100th iron-distance triathlon
Over half of the competitors were first timers, with 61 finishers and 12 DNFs, another mark of how tough a challenge the Bastion presents. It is set to return to Hever Castle on July 10, 2016 and pre-registration is now open here.
Male
1. Darren Jenkins 10:01:15
2. Karl Alexander 10:24:50
3. Matthew Dowle 10:45:35
Female
1. Bethan Fowler 12:04:19
2. Ruth Thompson 13:48:22
3. Louise Clinton 15:50:11
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Did you race The Bastion? Let us know in the comments below!
Darren Jenkins and Bethan Fowler took the titles after a tough day’s racing at The Bastion iron-distance triathlon at Hever Castle on Sunday (12 July).
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Advertisement
>>> Gallery: The Bastion 2014
Australian Jenkins produced a race-best 3hr 15min marathon – 20mins faster than any other competitor – to haul in long-time leader Karl Alexander on the run.
It was testament to the demands of the course that Jenkins, who was fourth in last year’s Challenge Weymouth and has clocked 8.54 in Hawaii, did not break 10hrs for the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run.
Yet with 2,800m of ascent on a three-lap rolling bike course through Kent’s High Weald and Ashdown Forest, followed by a hilly trail run, he still only missed Fraser Cartmell’s course record set in the inaugural contest last year by 5mins.
“I’ve done 20 Ironmans around the world and that is the toughest course I’ve done anywhere,” he said. “But you get a great personal experience here. You are not ‘just a number’. How many other events have this stunning castle backdrop?”
Great work @karlralexander for a stomping bike split today! Kept me working with someone to chase 😉 @CastleTriSeries
— Darren Jenkins (@_Nevagivin) July 12, 2015
Alexander, who had both the fastest swim (58:31) and cycle (5:28) in the individual event, admitted he tried to goad Jenkins into upping the pace on the bike in an attempt to take the sting out of his run legs, but the Australian was too canny and resisted.
“I went off well and was first off the bike but kudos to Darren, he was the best on the day,” Alexander said. “This was the toughest event I’ve ever done. If you’re going to do one, make it this one, it has serious bragging rights.”
Women’s race
Professional Bethan Fowler, who has had plenty of domestic success including winning the middle distance Cotswold 113 event last year, was a comfortable winner in the women’s race from Ruth Thompson with Louise Clinton in third.
Bethan Fowler crosses the line
Probably the most remarkable feat though, was by Scarborough’s Anthony Gerundini, who completed his 100th official full iron-distance race and is still enjoying every minute of it.
“I’d forgotten how good this event was having done it last year,” he said. “It is truly stunning. There are so many marshals we are spoilt and the Castle Triathlon Series really look after us. The bike course is a dream.”
Anthony Gerundini celebrates finishing his 100th iron-distance triathlon
Over half of the competitors were first timers, with 61 finishers and 12 DNFs, another mark of how tough a challenge the Bastion presents. It is set to return to Hever Castle on July 10, 2016 and pre-registration is now open here.
Male
1. Darren Jenkins 10:01:15
2. Karl Alexander 10:24:50
3. Matthew Dowle 10:45:35
Female
1. Bethan Fowler 12:04:19
2. Ruth Thompson 13:48:22
3. Louise Clinton 15:50:11
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Did you race The Bastion? Let us know in the comments below!
More than 200 competitors descended on Devon for the first ever Croyde Ocean Triathlon last Saturday, with the organisers hoping to raise £10,000 for charity. The new Olympic-distance triathlon put seasoned triathletes and first timers through their paces.
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The new course, which was designed by professional cyclist Chris Green, took competitors from Putsborough Sands in North Devon, through the coastal villages of Braunton and the Victorian town of Llfracombe and back to Putsborough Sands.
Competitors had to overcome 1.5km swim in the Atlantic Ocean followed by a 40km bike route across the steep hills of North Devon. Participants then complete 12km off-road trail run allowing the athletes to take in the beautiful panoramic views of Putsborough, Saunton and Croyde Bays.
Local success in the individual category
There was a running theme for first ever Croyde Ocean Triathlon, with winners in the men’s individual, men’s relay and mixed relay all coming from the local area.
Sam Petty, from Barnstaple, was the first winner of the Croyde Ocean Triathlon, finishing 16secs ahead of runner-up Andrew Cole.
So happy to have won the #croydeoceantri this morning. It was a very very #toughrace ! 1200m wavey… https://t.co/QGYZM3feFX
— Sam Petty (@SamPetty3) July 11, 2015
Claire Moodie, who also hails from Devon, took second in the women’s individual category, rounding off a magnificent day for triathletes from the South West. Jessica Parry-Williams saw off Moodie to take the win.
Passing the baton
James Hardiman, Jon Hall and Mike Everett, all from Croyde, were the first male team to finish the course, with Mike putting in the strongest swim to leave his team in a strong position.
Sisters Lucy and Ruth Tighe, who travelled from London, won the women’s relay race in a highly competitive field.
Sibling success spilled over into the mixed relay as Kevin and Sarah Sheppard, based just 8km north of Croyde in Braunton, teamed with Andrew Cork to take the victory.
The Reaction
Event Directors Mike Morris and Lyn Strahan were delighted with how the event went and is already looking forward to next year. Mike said: “The atmosphere has been brilliant and everyone has embraced the beach and coastal vibe making for a fantastic event.
‘The course makes for a tough triathlon but we really wanted to encourage everyone to take part, regardless of experience. We really saw that today- we had a great mix of serious triathletes taking part alongside those simply wanting to give it a go.”
Where’s the money going?
Four charities are set to benefit from the first ever Croyde Ocean Triathlon, two local to the area and two international. Surfers Against Sewage, Surfers Not Street Children, Croyde Surf Lifesaving Club and Children’s Hospice South West were all named as the events charities.
Croyde Ocean Champions
Individual Male
Sam Petty – 2:35:27
Individual Female
Jessica Parry- Williams – 2:50:49
Relay teams
James Hardiman, Jon Hall and Mike Everett – 2:57: 32
Lucy and Ruth Tighe – 3:14:51
Mixed Relay team
Kevin Sheppard, Sarah Sheppard and Andrew Cork – 2:35:39
For full results: http://croydeocean.co.uk/croyde-ocean-triathlon-north-devon/
Organisers hope that the Croyde Triathlon will become known as ‘Destination Triathlon’. They want to encourage competitors to make a weekend out of the event and explore the surrounding towns and villages, which have become a holiday hot spot for families.
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Were you racing in Croyde last weekend? Let us know in the comments below!
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More than 200 competitors descended on Devon for the first ever Croyde Ocean Triathlon last Saturday, with the organisers hoping to raise £10,000 for charity. The new Olympic-distance triathlon put seasoned triathletes and first timers through their paces.
Advertisement
The new course, which was designed by professional cyclist Chris Green, took competitors from Putsborough Sands in North Devon, through the coastal villages of Braunton and the Victorian town of Llfracombe and back to Putsborough Sands.
Competitors had to overcome 1.5km swim in the Atlantic Ocean followed by a 40km bike route across the steep hills of North Devon. Participants then complete 12km off-road trail run allowing the athletes to take in the beautiful panoramic views of Putsborough, Saunton and Croyde Bays.
Local success in the individual category
There was a running theme for first ever Croyde Ocean Triathlon, with winners in the men’s individual, men’s relay and mixed relay all coming from the local area.
Sam Petty, from Barnstaple, was the first winner of the Croyde Ocean Triathlon, finishing 16secs ahead of runner-up Andrew Cole.
So happy to have won the #croydeoceantri this morning. It was a very very #toughrace ! 1200m wavey… https://t.co/QGYZM3feFX
— Sam Petty (@SamPetty3) July 11, 2015
Claire Moodie, who also hails from Devon, took second in the women’s individual category, rounding off a magnificent day for triathletes from the South West. Jessica Parry-Williams saw off Moodie to take the win.
Passing the baton
James Hardiman, Jon Hall and Mike Everett, all from Croyde, were the first male team to finish the course, with Mike putting in the strongest swim to leave his team in a strong position.
Sisters Lucy and Ruth Tighe, who travelled from London, won the women’s relay race in a highly competitive field.
Sibling success spilled over into the mixed relay as Kevin and Sarah Sheppard, based just 8km north of Croyde in Braunton, teamed with Andrew Cork to take the victory.
The Reaction
Event Directors Mike Morris and Lyn Strahan were delighted with how the event went and is already looking forward to next year. Mike said: “The atmosphere has been brilliant and everyone has embraced the beach and coastal vibe making for a fantastic event.
‘The course makes for a tough triathlon but we really wanted to encourage everyone to take part, regardless of experience. We really saw that today- we had a great mix of serious triathletes taking part alongside those simply wanting to give it a go.”
Where’s the money going?
Four charities are set to benefit from the first ever Croyde Ocean Triathlon, two local to the area and two international. Surfers Against Sewage, Surfers Not Street Children, Croyde Surf Lifesaving Club and Children’s Hospice South West were all named as the events charities.
Croyde Ocean Champions
Individual Male
Sam Petty – 2:35:27
Individual Female
Jessica Parry- Williams – 2:50:49
Relay teams
James Hardiman, Jon Hall and Mike Everett – 2:57: 32
Lucy and Ruth Tighe – 3:14:51
Mixed Relay team
Kevin Sheppard, Sarah Sheppard and Andrew Cork – 2:35:39
For full results: http://croydeocean.co.uk/croyde-ocean-triathlon-north-devon/
Organisers hope that the Croyde Triathlon will become known as ‘Destination Triathlon’. They want to encourage competitors to make a weekend out of the event and explore the surrounding towns and villages, which have become a holiday hot spot for families.
Advertisement
Were you racing in Croyde last weekend? Let us know in the comments below!
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Details are confirmed for the 2016 World Triathlon Series, with governing body the ITU revealing that WTS Yokohama will offer the last chance to score Olympic Qualification Points for Rio 2016.
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The 2016 series will stop in nine cities across five continents, with six races featuring Olympic distance races, and three events offering sprints.
Hamburg will serve as the final WTS event before the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which start on August 5, and will also host the Mixed Relay World Championships.
Mario Mola, Vincent Luis and Richard Murray on the run at WTS Abu Dhabi 2015
The season starts in Abu Dhabi next March, and concludes in Cozumel, Mexico with the Grand Final in September – but not before heading to Roundhay Park in Leeds for the UK leg in June. Also missing from next year’s line-up are Auckland and Chicago:
2016 World Triathlon Series
Abu Dhabi, UAE – March 4-5 – Olympic
Gold Coast, Australia – April 9-10 – Olympic
Cape Town, South Africa– April 23-24 – Sprint
Yokohama, Japan – May 14-15 – Olympic
Leeds, England – June 11-12 – Olympic
Stockholm, Sweden – July 2-3 – Olympic
Hamburg, Germany – July 16-17 – Sprint
Edmonton, Canada – September 3-4 – Sprint
Cozumel, Mexico – September 11-18 – Olympic
GB paratriathletes on a training ride in Lanzarote
Paratriathlon was accepted into the Paralympic Games in 2010 and will make its Paralympic debut in Rio 2016: British hopes run high with potential medal-winners across many categories, as demonstrated by Team GB’s strong performances at the ETU European Champs in Geneva last weekend.
For more info on the World Triathlon Series head to www.triathlon.org.
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(Images: Janos Schmidt)
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Details are confirmed for the 2016 World Triathlon Series, with governing body the ITU revealing that WTS Yokohama will offer the last chance to score Olympic Qualification Points for Rio 2016.
Advertisement
The 2016 series will stop in nine cities across five continents, with six races featuring Olympic distance races, and three events offering sprints.
Hamburg will serve as the final WTS event before the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which start on August 5, and will also host the Mixed Relay World Championships.
Mario Mola, Vincent Luis and Richard Murray on the run at WTS Abu Dhabi 2015
The season starts in Abu Dhabi next March, and concludes in Cozumel, Mexico with the Grand Final in September – but not before heading to Roundhay Park in Leeds for the UK leg in June. Also missing from next year’s line-up are Auckland and Chicago:
2016 World Triathlon Series
Abu Dhabi, UAE – March 4-5 – Olympic
Gold Coast, Australia – April 9-10 – Olympic
Cape Town, South Africa– April 23-24 – Sprint
Yokohama, Japan – May 14-15 – Olympic
Leeds, England – June 11-12 – Olympic
Stockholm, Sweden – July 2-3 – Olympic
Hamburg, Germany – July 16-17 – Sprint
Edmonton, Canada – September 3-4 – Sprint
Cozumel, Mexico – September 11-18 – Olympic
GB paratriathletes on a training ride in Lanzarote
Paratriathlon was accepted into the Paralympic Games in 2010 and will make its Paralympic debut in Rio 2016: British hopes run high with potential medal-winners across many categories, as demonstrated by Team GB’s strong performances at the ETU European Champs in Geneva last weekend.
For more info on the World Triathlon Series head to www.triathlon.org.
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(Images: Janos Schmidt)
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Challenge Roth began well for the British with Harry Wiltshire leading out of the opening 3.8km swim in 47:24mins.
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Despite banging shoulders with Henry Beck of Germany, the former Olympic-distance athlete from Leeds led the field into the first transition of the German long-distance event famed for its fast course and fanatic crowds.
>>> Bracht and Carfrae win Challenge Roth 2014
Cannon fire and hot-air balloons were still filling the early morning skies above the swimmers in the Donau-Kanal as Wiltshire pedalled out on to the rolling, high-speed Roth roads. Unfortunately the Brit was unable hold the pace to needed to remain at the front. But few people could, as this year’s race saw a new record bike split set by Andrew Starykowicz.
Well and truly popped from the front bike group, those boys were shifting. I’m going to employ the cliche and sum it up with “learnt lots”
— HarryWiltshire (@harrywiltshire) July 12, 2015
The American blasted round the course churning a 55-tooth chainring to post 4:09:13 for the 180km bike leg – bettering the previous record set by Andreas Raelert in 2011 by more than two minutes.
One of the few people that was just about able to live with the red-hot pace being set by Starykowicz was the German Nils Frommhold. His bike split was only 27secs slower than the American’s, and would have been good enough to be the new benchmark itself were it not for Starykowicz.
While the men were rewriting the record books, the women were also tearing through the German countryside and parting the seas of spectators crowded on the Solarer Berg climb and packed into the village of Obermassing.
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Yvonne van Vlerken and Carrie Lester swap places on the bike leg
Although America’s Laura Bennett had led out of the water, a trio of women – ‘the flying Dutchwoman’ and previous Roth winner Yvanne Van Vlerken, Aussie Carrie Lester and, to the joy of the fans, local girl Anja Beranek – made their way through the top 10 to take up and trade the first three positions on the road. Van Vlerken had the fastest bike split of 4:47:34 but her two closest pursers were both within 30secs of her time.
In the men’s race, the red-hot bike pace took its toll on Starykowicz, and he dropped back during the run, eventually finishing 26th. Frommhold, however, was managing to hold on to the lead despite the runners behind him making up some of the ground they’d lost during the cycling, most notably Germany’s 39-year-old previous Roth winner Timo Bracht and a last-minute Roth entrant David Dellow of Australia.
Men’s podium
Frommhold had almost 12mins’ advantage on Bracht going into the marathon. The 27-year-old lost more than half of it during the final 42.2km and was clearly suffering as he made his way through the final metres.
As he approached the stadium to take the tape and, with it, his victory, he seemed almost confused by the crowds leaning over the barriers to high-five and cheer him home.
He stopped the clock at the line in 7:51:28 and a little more than five minutes later, Bracht did the same having eased up slightly after realising the gap to Frommhold couldn’t be closed in the remaining distance.
Dellow meanwhile had to up his pace after hearing via his girlfriend Caroline Steffen and her coach Chris McCormack that he could go under 8hrs if he hurried. Dellow did just that and squeaked home in 7:59:28.
Left to right: Timo Bracht (GER), Nils Frommhold (GER), David Dellow (AUS)
Women’s podium
Less than an hour later the women’s podium would be decided, and while a place on the 2015 men’s podium required a sub-8hr time, a place on the women’s would need an equally impressive sub-9hr time. Van Vlerken took the top step, to gain her third Roth crown, with 8:50: 53, while Lester (8:53:09) and Beranek (8:55:19) followed her home in second and third.
Local hero Beranek was especially happy with her time – a new personal best that also won her the German long-distance championship title – as she had crashed out of last year’s race on the bike leg. “I didn’t think about last year when I was out there. I just thought about all the experiences I had when I was growing up and training here, which are all such good memories.
“My strategy was to try and get away on the bike because I needed to get away from the fast runners but I didn’t have the best legs today and I couldn’t open up as big a gap as I needed… But overall it was a good performance and I’m very happy with it.”
Anja Beranek crosses the line in just under 9hrs
Van Vlerken, who had thought her race might be ruined after a seemingly severe reaction to an insect bite earlier in the week, was just glad to take the win. “My energy was just gone by kilometre 32 on the run. But the spectators on the course were amazing – they really pushed me through. Every time I started to walk they would shout, “No! You can’t walk” So I had to start running again. It was very hard… I suffered out there but when you win you don’t feel it anymore.”
Hard work
She wasn’t the only victor to suffer. Men’s winner Frommhold also had to toil harder than he’d hoped in the closing stages. “My bike performance was pretty strong and that was why I suffered on the run quite a lot. From about the 12km mark I had to start taking some short walking breaks and I wasn’t really able to enjoy the last 3km and take in the support of the spectators… It might take a few days for what I did here to sink in but I’m very proud of what happened today.”
Second-placed Bracht was pleased to show there’s still life in him yet. “All the stories this weekend have been about ‘Timo Bracht is turning 40 in days’ time, he’s an old man’. But it’s not bad going under 8hrs. I said I will end my career with my best race performance and today I was 30secs too slow so I need anther year of training before I can think about stopping.”
Australia’s David Dellow on the bike at Challenge Roth
It had not only been an eventful day for third-place finisher Dellow, as the Australian’s last seven days had been filled with drama. “I was racing in Ironman Frankfurt last weekend and punctured on the bike. So that was disappointing.
“But the next day at breakfast my friends said, ‘well why not try Roth?’ So we got on the phone and the guys here were kind enough to give me a slot and that puncture turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”
For full results head here.
(All images: Getty)
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