It’s the end of an era for ‘The Caveman’ – South Africa’s Conrad Stoltz says he’ll retire after Xterra UK this weekend (29-30 August).
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It’s the end of an era for ‘The Caveman’ – South Africa’s Conrad Stoltz says he’ll retire after Xterra UK this weekend (29-30 August).
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>>> Is there any stopping ‘Caveman’ Conrad Stoltz?
“I’m pretty sure this it,” says the four-time Xterra world champ. “I don’t have regrets. I’m 41, I had a fantastic career, have lots of memories and have done a lot of neat stuff.”
The most successful off-road triathlete ever, Stoltz has racked up 51 career championship wins (53 if you count Buffelspoort cross triathlon) and seven world titles, including four Xterra world titles and three ITU Cross Triathlon world titles.
Stoltz says the best thing that ever happened was the birth of his baby girl Xena in the off-season. “She changed our lives in a huge way. Everything else pales in comparison now that we have this little bundle. My retirement means we can really spend a lot of time with her and we literally have her with us all the time. Being a Dad is indescribable. It’s awesome.”
Hugely respected for his fearless downhill skills, fierce competitive streak and warm demeanour, Stoltz will be hoping to bow out with a win at Vachery Estate in Surrey this weekend – he won last year’s event by nearly three minutes.
Over the past 15 years racing Xterra, The Caveman has become known as one of the most approachable and generous athletes in the sport – from signing autographs and providing simple words of advice to full-blown mentoring gigs and visiting sick kids at children’s hospitals.
#TBT The story of my first XTERRA: http://t.co/zOAwuM9Apo @XTERRAoffroad
— Conrad Stoltz (@ConradStoltz) August 27, 2015
And the secret to his longevity? His Dad said: “I once showed him a dung beetle that was trying to roll his ball of dung up a very steep incline. The ball kept rolling back, but the beetle kept retrieving the ball and pressing forward. I said to Conrad, ‘That’s how one should live one’s life. One never gives up.’”
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Can The Caveman make it one last win in Cranleigh? Let us know in the comments!
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No sooner had Ironman revealed its new owner this morning than the comments started flying in on social media.
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>>> Ironman bought by China’s Dalian Wanda group for $650
No surprise really – it’s triathlon’s biggest corporate deal yet, and involves arguably the sport’s biggest player, a brand that has gone from a handful of endurance enthusiasts in Hawaii to a global business worth $650m.
So what do triathletes and other commentators think? Well some are (understandably) concerned this might lead to a rise in entry prices:
Others wonder if there will be a change at feed stations:
And Joe Richer hopes it doesn’t mean any changes for the famous finish line chute salute:
More than one reader thinks it’ll be ‘business as usual’:
Killian Long points out there’s still a long way for triathlon to go in China:
Tony Ball hopes the live coverage will benefit:
Finally, Tim Tansley says now might be the time to start investing in tattoo removal firms:
(Main image: Getty)
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No sooner had Ironman revealed its new owner this morning than the comments started flying in on social media.
Advertisement
>>> Ironman bought by China’s Dalian Wanda group for $650
No surprise really – it’s triathlon’s biggest corporate deal yet, and involves arguably the sport’s biggest player, a brand that has gone from a handful of endurance enthusiasts in Hawaii to a global business worth $650m.
So what do triathletes and other commentators think? Well some are (understandably) concerned this might lead to a rise in entry prices:
Others wonder if there will be a change at feed stations:
And Joe Richer hopes it doesn’t mean any changes for the famous finish line chute salute:
More than one reader thinks it’ll be ‘business as usual’:
Killian Long points out there’s still a long way for triathlon to go in China:
Tony Ball hopes the live coverage will benefit:
Finally, Tim Tansley says now might be the time to start investing in tattoo removal firms:
(Main image: Getty)
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What do you think? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook
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Yorkshire-born trio the ‘Wild Swimming Brothers’ have become the first people ever to swim the length of the River Eden from its source in the Cumbrian mountains to the sea – a journey of 145km.
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>>> How to conquer any open-water challenge
The three siblings Jack, Calum and Robbie Hudson took nine days to complete the challenge and finished last Sunday (23 August) in the Solway Firth, just south of Whitehaven.
It wasn’t all smiles though – middle brother Calum, 25, picked up an ear infection in the latter stages of the challenge and struggled. “I thought the hardest thing was getting up early and putting on a cold wetsuit. But then I got a really bad ear infection about two days ago. So I found out that the combination of earache and spending 10 hours a day in cold river water were my two least favourite things.”
Berlin-based eldest brother Robbie, 27, added that the swim had been “a challenge”. Youngest brother Jack, 23, said it was an “incredible achievement”. The three siblings were on home territory though – they grew up in the Cumbrian village of Langwathby, mere metres from the River Eden.
“From its bubbling source in the mountains of Mallerstang, through the steep gorges and cascades of Hell Gill, past our old family home at Langwathby, the deep sandstone ravines and rapids of Armathwaite, to the wide floodplains of Carlisle and out into the mud flats, estuary and sands of the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea, we swam, scrambled, crawled, walked, jumped, climbed and floated every single inch,” said the brothers afterwards.
Their exploits have already raised £2,200 for The Swimming Trust, and are aiming for a total of £2,500 (donate here). Every penny of the money raised will be put back into swimming through setting up a bursary scheme in Cumbria to help more swimming teachers gain their level 2 qualification.
Three key takeaways
For all 220 readers inspired by the Wild Swimming Brothers’ exploits, they offer three tips for planning your own river swim:
1. Trek to the source of a river, It’s fascinating, bizarre and will give you a totally different perspective on them. The Eden bubbles up from the ground at the top of a mountain, a deep dark hole belching up murky brown water which flowed through a deep soggy bog before cascading down a ravine, truly awesome!
2. Never underestimate the power of duct tape.
3. There are adventures to be had in the places you least expect.
“We would like to say HUGE thank you’s to every single person that has helped, supported, fed, advised, housed, donated, given us fresh milk, kayaked, swam with us and been part of this adventure,” say Robbie, Calum and Jack.
“We’d like to give a special thank you to James Silson who was alongside us every single mile, we couldn’t have done it without him, an honorary brother! Also David Ronton who kayaked five full days with us and kept us motivated and supplied us with whisky.
“Also our Dad Ralph Hudson who was a crucial support car, all round fixer and cartographer. Finally our Mum Tina Wild who appeared countless times out of nowhere to rescue us when we were at our lowest points and in dire need of food and support. Truly a team effort and something we will never forget!”
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Head to our Training section for lots more open-water swimming advice
Veste en jean au petit-déjeuner, tendre baiser au déjeuner et voile au goûter : en quelques heures seulement, Meghan Markle, très chaleureusement accueillie en Afrique du Sud avec le prince Harry, aura puissamment marqué les esprits, mardi 24 septembre 2019 au Cap !
Le couple avait attaqué la deuxième journée de sa visite officielle sur le continent africain pied au plancher : au bord de la plage de Monwabisi, battue par le vent du large, Meghan et Harry s’étaient prêtés de bon matin à une séance collective animée par l’association Waves for Change consistant en différents exercices destinés à créer des liens entre les participants. Jeux, interactions physiques et même méditation étaient au programme, dans une ambiance bon enfant avec… les nombreux enfants présents.
Le duc et la duchesse de Sussex se sont ensuite séparés, non sans avoir échangé un tendre baiser qui devrait rester dans les annales des tournées royales, pour partir dans deux directions opposées : tandis que Meghan retournait à la résidence du Haut Commissaire pour retrouver leur fils Archie, âgé de 4 mois et demi et qui les accompagne lors de ce voyage, Harry embarquait avec la police maritime pour Seal Island, afin de s’informer sur la lutte contre le braconnage des ormeaux.
Les amoureux de Windsor se sont retrouvés quelques moments plus tard et sont réapparus ensemble dans l’après-midi à l’occasion de leur visite de la mosquée Auwal, la plus ancienne de toute l’Afrique du Sud, dans le quartier de Bo-Kaap, réputé pour ses maisons aux façades colorées. La duchesse Meghan avait abandonné son ensemble décontracté et inédit du matin – une veste en jean Madewell portée avec un jean noir et des chaussures plates – au profit d’une jolie robe kaki lui tombant jusqu’aux chevilles. A son arrivée main dans la main avec son époux, en costume clair, elle portait un foulard crème pour dissimuler sa chevelure.
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Une fois déchaussés, Harry et Meghan ont pénétré à l’intérieur de la mosquée, où la duchesse, élevée dans le protestantisme et convertie à l’anglicanisme avant son mariage avec le prince, a gentiment aidé une autre femme à nouer son foulard. Ils ont rencontré un groupe de fidèles et de leaders spirituels de différentes confessions – musulmane, judaïque, chrétienne, anglicane. Des étudiants impliqués dans un programme d’échange interconfessionnel étaient également présents pour cette visite princière qui avait lieu en lien avec l’Heritage Day, un jour férié en Afrique du Sud où le pays célèbre sa culture, sa diversité et ses traditions.
More images from Heritage Day in Bo Kaap. As part of their visit, Their Royal Highnesses visited the Auwal Mosque the first and oldest Mosque in South Africa. Standing as a symbol of the freedom of former slaves to worship, the Mosque hosts events with Muslim, Christian and Jewish young leaders, and encourages friendship and understanding between South Africa’s varied communities. The Duke and Duchess also got to view the first known manuscript of the Qu’ran in Africa, drafted by Tuan Guru from memory, whilst he was imprisoned on Robben Island. Heritage Day celebrated the great diversity of cultures, beliefs and traditions that make up the rainbow nation. Bo Kaap streets filled with colour and music while Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed to one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods in Cape Town. The area has seen inter-community tension rise over the last few years, yet days like today show how faith, traditions, food and music bring people together, and celebrate the things that unite each and every one of us. #RoyalVisitSouthAfrica Photo Shutterstock / PA images
Happy Heritage Day South Africa! Today we are celebrating the great diversity of cultures, beliefs and traditions that make up the rainbow nation. Bo Kaap streets filled with colour and music while Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed to one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods in Cape Town. The area has seen inter-community tension rise over the last few years, yet days like today show how faith, traditions, food and music bring people together, and celebrate the things that unite each and every one of us. The Duke and Duchess are so happy to have been invited to the festivities in Bo Kaap today, and were overwhelmed by the amazing welcome. #RoyalVisitSouthAfrica Photo photos PA images / SussexRoyal
Lundi 23 septembre 2019, le cinéma Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, à Londres, accueillait l’avant-première du documentaire Hitsville : The Making Of Motown. Diffusé l’été dernier sur la chaîne américaine Showtime, il est désormais proposé au cinéma.
Lors de cette soirée, on a eu la surprise de voir l’actrice Teri Hatcher prendre la pose sur le tapis rouge. L’ancienne star de Desperate Housewives a fait crépiter les appareils des photographes en s’affichant dans une robe composée d’un bas noir et d’un haut ample très décolleté sur la poitrine. Une tenue de la marque australienne Georgy. Parmi les autres invités, il fallait aussi compter sur Lemar, Mica Paris, Kelly Holmes, Jack Garratt ou encore Nabhaan Rizwan, Jordan Stephens, Lizzie Cundy, Izzy Bizu…
Réalisé par Gabe Turner et Benjamin Turner, le documentaire Hitsville : The Making Of Motown relate l’histoire de la célèbre maison de disques Motown, qui fête ses 60 ans cette année. On retrouve des interviews exclusives du fondateur de l’entreprise, Berry Gordy, et celles de divers artistes de premier plan comme John Legend, Smokey Robinson ou Jamie Foxx ainsi que des performances rares sorties d’archives personnelles. C’est l’occasion d’en apprendre plus sur cette maison de disques qui a vu le jour à Detroit avant de se relocaliser à Los Angeles dans les années 1970.
Thomas Montet
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Yorkshire-born trio the ‘Wild Swimming Brothers’ have become the first people ever to swim the length of the River Eden from its source in the Cumbrian mountains to the sea – a journey of 145km.
Advertisement
>>> How to conquer any open-water challenge
The three siblings Jack, Calum and Robbie Hudson took nine days to complete the challenge and finished last Sunday (23 August) in the Solway Firth, just south of Whitehaven.
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It wasn’t all smiles though – middle brother Calum, 25, picked up an ear infection in the latter stages of the challenge and struggled. “I thought the hardest thing was getting up early and putting on a cold wetsuit. But then I got a really bad ear infection about two days ago. So I found out that the combination of earache and spending 10 hours a day in cold river water were my two least favourite things.”
Berlin-based eldest brother Robbie, 27, added that the swim had been “a challenge”. Youngest brother Jack, 23, said it was an “incredible achievement”. The three siblings were on home territory though – they grew up in the Cumbrian village of Langwathby, mere metres from the River Eden.
“From its bubbling source in the mountains of Mallerstang, through the steep gorges and cascades of Hell Gill, past our old family home at Langwathby, the deep sandstone ravines and rapids of Armathwaite, to the wide floodplains of Carlisle and out into the mud flats, estuary and sands of the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea, we swam, scrambled, crawled, walked, jumped, climbed and floated every single inch,” said the brothers afterwards.
Their exploits have already raised £2,200 for The Swimming Trust, and are aiming for a total of £2,500 (donate here). Every penny of the money raised will be put back into swimming through setting up a bursary scheme in Cumbria to help more swimming teachers gain their level 2 qualification.
Three key takeaways
For all 220 readers inspired by the Wild Swimming Brothers’ exploits, they offer three tips for planning your own river swim:
1. Trek to the source of a river, It’s fascinating, bizarre and will give you a totally different perspective on them. The Eden bubbles up from the ground at the top of a mountain, a deep dark hole belching up murky brown water which flowed through a deep soggy bog before cascading down a ravine, truly awesome!
2. Never underestimate the power of duct tape.
3. There are adventures to be had in the places you least expect.
“We would like to say HUGE thank you’s to every single person that has helped, supported, fed, advised, housed, donated, given us fresh milk, kayaked, swam with us and been part of this adventure,” say Robbie, Calum and Jack.
“We’d like to give a special thank you to James Silson who was alongside us every single mile, we couldn’t have done it without him, an honorary brother! Also David Ronton who kayaked five full days with us and kept us motivated and supplied us with whisky.
“Also our Dad Ralph Hudson who was a crucial support car, all round fixer and cartographer. Finally our Mum Tina Wild who appeared countless times out of nowhere to rescue us when we were at our lowest points and in dire need of food and support. Truly a team effort and something we will never forget!”
Advertisement
Head to our Training section for lots more open-water swimming advice
Following yesterday’s news that Ironman has been bought by a Chinese conglomerate, many commentators have predicted further price rises or worse for the iconic triathlon brand. 220 columnist Tim Heming mulls it over.
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I suppose you can still include chasing a Double Gloucester down Cooper’s Hill, snorkelling a few bogs in Llanwrtyd Wells, and maybe even pulling on the oars in the lung-busting Varsity Boat Race, but to find a sport where the Corinthian ideals of amateurism still survive at the highest level is no easy task.
M-dot tattoos are just one example of the brand loyalty Ironman enjoys (image: iStockPhoto)
Sport is now business. Big business. And in that respect, at least, you could say that Ironman is leading the way. In the USA, triathlon is Ironman, yet Ironman is also a for-profit private company – not a federation – as we are constantly reminded by countless examples of its revenue-optimising decisions.
Even so, selling bathroom scales (‘body composition monitors’) and online coaching accreditation pale against the latest example of capitalist intent, this week’s sale to Chinese corporate behemoth Dalian Wanda Group for £650million plus a mopping up of debts. It marks the bumper return former owners Providence Equity Partners (PEP) were looking for, yet is little more than chump change to the fast-diversifying Wanda Group whose assets totalled $86.6billion last year.
Leading from the front
Already the world’s largest property developer and cinema chain operator, Wanda has shown a penchant for sport in 2015, picking up a stake in Spanish football side, the 2014 Champions League finalists Atlético Madrid, and Swiss sports marketing agency Infront, which holds the broadcast rights to the next two World Cups.
Whether the new boss, 60-year-old Wian Jianlin, will lead from the front and have a go himself as CEO Andrew Messick did remains to be seen, but given Jianlin spent 17 years in the People’s Liberation Army, I cannot imagine an Ironman holding too many fears. Whether it also paves the way for 50 professional women in Kona is perhaps more of a hot topic for discussion, and an anomaly where the new owners could score quick public relations success by rectifying.
Chrissie Wellington racing in Kona
On social forums there has been some agitation at the prospect of Far Eastern governance dragging premier long distance triathlon still further from its spiritual home in Hawaii. But this is a changing world. In our own capital city, foreign investment has stampeded at every opportunity.
Look around you. From Arsenal Football Club’s stadium to The ExCel convention centre in Docklands – home to the biggest triathlon in the world. Wanda itself is already financing a five-star hotel next to the Thames costing $1.1billion and has bought up a UK-based maker of luxury yachts used in Bond movies.
What do these examples have in common? First class service and a few quibbles over the price to the consumer… Pretty much on par with what the PEP version of Ironman delivered, then.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose?
Ironman has changed hands for money before and the rumour mill was in overdrive with takeover talk, fed by Messick’s constant referencing of global growth as a carrot for suitors every time he stood behind a microphone. In the USA, the triathlon market is flatlining, in Western Europe and Australasia it is mature, but in the Far East, South America, Eastern Europe and even the Middle East – as we know from the stirrings in Bahrain – there is strong appetite.
As these societies develop and become increasingly cash-rich and diet-poor, the bucket-list goal of Ironman looks a tempting prospect. Without rapid expansion it will take a few years to retrieve the initial investment, so expect more race choice in exotic locations that will see pasty Brits struggle with heat acclimatisation and become neurotic over the local cuisine.
Racing along Tenby harbour at Ironman Wales
For the average UK age-grouper, devoted to the backstreets of Bolton or the extended transitions of Tenby, it’s unlikely much will differ, at least in the short term. Perhaps the new owners will want to put down a marker, but when you have a brand that customers are prepared to tattoo on to their calves, it would be foolish to test that loyalty. Prices will be dictated by demand and even with Ironman’s aggressive business tactics there is no shortage of non-WTC events available to keep soaraway entry fees in check.
If you are of the calibre to line up in Hawaii though, you might find qualifying becoming a little trickier. With further expansion of the 250 or so races the Word Triathlon Corporation runs, it will be increasingly difficult to win a spot on the hallowed Kona pier.
(Main image: Paul Phillips)
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What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
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Moins d’une heure après son allocution télévisée, Emmanuel Macron est arrivé au domicile parisien de Jacques Chirac. Accompagné de son épouse Brigitte Macron, le président de la République s’est recueilli devant la dépouille de son prédécesseur, décédé dans la matinée du 26 septembre 2019, à l’âge de 86 ans. Comme le précise Le Parisien, il est le seul à avoir pu faire ses adieux à l’ancien président afin de “ne pas troubler” le deuil de Bernadette Chirac.
Plus tôt dans la journée, François Pinault, son épouse Maryvonne et leur fils François-Henri Pinault se sont également rendus au 4 rue de Tournon, dans l’hôtel particulier qu’ils prêtent à la famille Chirac depuis plusieurs années. “Dire adieu à un ami est un exercice difficile, a témoigné François Pinault dans Le Point, ce jeudi. Jacques Chirac fut l’un de mes plus chers amis. Ce qui avait commencé comme une relation de circonstances s’est mué, avec le temps, en un lien fort, solide et indissoluble. Cela tenait beaucoup à la nature de cet homme exceptionnel (…). Il était le plus précieux de mes amis. Jacques Chirac est désormais rendu à l’Histoire et à la mémoire d’un peuple qui l’a tant aimé.“
À la demande d’Emmanuel Macron, les portes du palais de l’Élysée ont été ouvertes dès jeudi soir, et ce jusqu’à dimanche inclus “afin que les Français qui le souhaitent puissent exprimer leurs condoléances“. Dans le vestibule d’honneur du palais, un recueil de condoléances est mis à disposition. “Le président de la République a souhaité que les Français puissent rendre hommage au président Jacques Chirac disparu aujourd’hui”, a fait savoir l’Élysée. Jacques Chirac l’a occupé de 1995 à 2007. Le 30 septembre 2019 sera une journée de deuil national. Comme l’a annoncé le palais présidentiel à l’AFP, un service solennel lui sera rendu lundi 30 septembre à 12h en l’église Saint-Sulpice. Les services religieux officiels se déroulent traditionnellement en la cathédrale Notre-Dame, fermée au public depuis l’incendie qui l’a ravagée le 15 avril.
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Avant de pousser pour accueillir son fils Milann, Nabilla Benattia, qui est enceinte de son premier enfant, s’entraîne à pousser un objet indispensable quand on a un bébé. Jeudi 26 septembre 2019, la femme de Thomas Vergara a partagé des stories dans lesquelles elle prend un cours… de poussette.
La belle brune de 27 ans et son époux ont misé sur la marque Cybex. Et la poussette pour laquelle ils ont opté est semble-t-il très complexe car un homme est venu chez eux leur expliquer comment elle fonctionnait. Il faut dire que Nabilla et Thomas ont souhaité s’offrir celle qui a une assistance électrique. Elle détecte les surfaces et facilite les montées et les descentes avec la sensation de rouler sur du plat. Quand la future maman a voulu l’enlever, elle a donc dévalé une pente à toute vitesse. “Il nous faut l’assistance électrique c’est sûr“, a déclaré Nabilla hilare.
Cette dernière a semble-t-il hâte d’accoucher. Une fois son cours de poussette terminé, elle s’est offert une petite balade. “Je suis en train de marcher un petit peu car il paraîtrait que si je marche un peu, j’accoucherais plus vite“, a-t-elle confié. Il faut dire que le 23 septembre dernier, Nabilla Benattia n’a pas caché être “épuisée“. “Je me repose, j’ai des contractions“, a-t-elle ajouté.
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La belle brune a partagé toute sa grossesse sur les réseaux sociaux. Nul doute donc qu’une fois qu’elle aura accouché, elle dévoilera rapidement l’heureuse nouvelle. Mi-septembre, Nabilla a par exemple révéléavoir pris environ 16 kilos : “Il me reste 5 semaines de grossesse. Je vois mon gynécologue dans deux jours, je vais lui demander, je pense ce n’est pas excessif. (…) Je pense que c’était vraiment des kilos essentiels étant donné que je mange assez bien. (…) Donc c’est simplement des kilos d’amour.“