http://www.triathlon.org/news/ en merryn.sherwood@gmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-01-31T22:30:08+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/itu_continues_partnership_with_powerman_for_2012_and_2013_long_distance_dua/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/itu_continues_partnership_with_powerman_for_2012_and_2013_long_distance_dua/#When:18:17:15Z The International Triathlon Union (ITU) is pleased to announce a continued partnership with the International Powerman Association (IPA) to stage the 2012 and 2013 ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships.  The event will be part of the Powerman Series and will remain in Zofingen, Switzerland, located approximately 60km west of Zurich. “With this continued partnership with Powerman, a stronger, brighter future is in store for international duathlon,” said Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member. “Zofingen offers a beautiful and challenging backdrop for the grueling test of long distance duathlon.” The event will be held on 1-2 September 2012 with the elite duathletes fighting it out for gold over a 10km run followed by a 150km bike then a 30km run.  A total prize purse of $50,000 USD will be on offer, equal for men and women. “In 2011 we established an ITU-Powerman working committee with the mission to boost duathlon and create more awareness for the sport,” said John Raadschelders, President of the International Powerman Association.  “Faith in each other is fundamental to this continued partnership for 2012 and 2013.” This year will mark the 24th edition of Powerman Zofingen and the fifth time it will serve as the ITU Duathlon Long Distance World Championship. “The extension of the co-operation between ITU and Powerman over two years is an important message for the sport of duathlon and opens to athletes and federations new perspectives,” said Stefan Ruf, President of Powerman Zofingen.  “The possibility to win the ITU World Championship title at the epic Powerman Zofingen event makes this race unique for the elite and age-group athletes.” At last year’s ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships in Zofingen, New Zealand’s Melanie Burke won her first world championship while Belgium’s Joerie Vansteelant cemented his position as the king of long distance duathlon by breaking the course record in the men’s race. Click here for more on Powerman Events, Media Centre, Press Release, Multisports, Long Distance Duathlon, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania 2012-02-10T18:17:15+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/marquee_names_set_for_geelong_sprint_oceania_cup_this_weekend/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/marquee_names_set_for_geelong_sprint_oceania_cup_this_weekend/#When:00:34:54Z An impressive line-up that includes a host of past Olympians, World Series and World Cup winners will be seen at the 2012 Geelong ITU Sprint Triathlon Premium Oceania Cup in what will be a season opener for most. Double ITU World Champion Emma Moffatt headlines the women’s field and will be hoping to use the home soil advantage for a good kick off to the season after working hard to reclaim her form in 2011 which led to a runner-up finish in Yokohama.   Great Britain’s Liz Blatchford, who finished ahead of Moffatt at the Beijing Grand Final last year will also be in contention. Blatchford and teammate in the men’s race, William Clarke are currently training in Australia until the ITU World Triathlon Series event in Sydney in April. “Training in Australia has been good and I’m looking forward to testing my form this weekend in the Geelong sprint event. I will use it to help me to find some speed and get race ready for the bigger races of the season. I’ll be racing the Mooloolaba World Cup followed by Sydney, San Diego and Madrid WTS in my effort to gain Olympic Selection,” said Blatchford. Also in the women’s race and no strangers on the world circuit are Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle, who broke through for her first world cup title in Edmonton last year, and Erin Densham who will both fight for a place on a podium. The field will miss Andrea Hewitt who was forced to pull out due to illness. Click here for full women’s start list However, Hewitt’s partner and coach Laurent Vidal will line up wearing number one in the elite men’s start list.  The Frenchman who has already earned a spot on his Olympic team, will be aiming for the podium after just missing out at his final race last season at the 2011 Auckland ITU Triathlon World Cup, finishing fourth. Also beginning the race year in Geelong is Clarke whose best result of 2011 was a silver medal in Hamburg. Australians Brendan Sexton and 7-time World Cup winner Courtney Atkinson may also prove to be a threat on home soil.  The Aussies will have extra motivation with national glory on the line as the event also doubles as the Australian Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships. Clarke commented: “I’m really excited to get out there amongst it for the first race of my 2012 season. I’ve been training really hard out in Australia and want to blow away the cobwebs with a good hard race. I’m in decent shape but you never know with the first race of the season, the Australians are always... Events, Continental Cup, Regions, Europe, Oceania 2012-02-10T00:34:54+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/mcilroy_royle_triumph_over_dutch_in_kinloch/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/mcilroy_royle_triumph_over_dutch_in_kinloch/#When:10:42:12Z Australia’s Aaron Royle made the most of Beijing Olympian Kris Gemmell’s misfortune to win the 2012 Kinloch OTU Sprint Triathlon Oceania Cup. Wearing the number one for the event, Gemmell was forced to retire due to mechanical failure on the bike, when his derailler broke, bringing his race to an abrupt end. But one man’s misfortune was another man’s gain and Royle, runner-up in last year’s Oceania Championship, seized the opportunity to record a 4-second win over Dutchman Jan van Berkel in second with fellow Australians Jamie Huggett and Peter Kerr in third and fourth respectively. Royle produced his trump card on the bike, exiting onto the run alongside New Zealand pair Tom Davison and Edward Rawles with the two Kiwi youngsters keeping the elite company honest. “I came into this race confident, it is my first race for the year and I know I am probably the fittest I have ever been,” said Royle.  “I was able to get a good swim and really take it out on the bike (and it was) the bike that got me the win today. We had a good group, (including) Rawles and Davison and for a while Richard Varga. “I was concerned knowing that there were a few good guys that could bridge the gap on the run if my legs didn’t keep me going but I was able to push through to the end and hold the lead.” Meanwhile in the women’s race, New Zealand’s Kate McIlroy recorded an impressive season opener, running away from the ever improving Dutch pair of Rachel Klamer and Danne Boterenbrood.  McIlroy’s teammates Debbie Tanner ran home fourth and Nicky Samuels finished fifth. This group of five established a strong lead early on the bike after exiting the 750m swim together, with the field trailing behind as the pace went on around the tight and demanding multi-lap 20km bike course. Onto the 5km run it was Samuels who faded first, leaving the two Dutch and two Kiwis to hammer away in front of a huge crowd lining the Kinloch course. Into the home straight for the final time it was McIlroy who proved strongest, pulling away in a great display of strength and leg speed, especially for so early in the season. “I’m really happy, it was a really hard race, we pushed the whole way,” said McIlroy.  “The bike was aggressive and on the run there was a group of us pushing the whole way. Team tactics didn’t come into it at all; I think we all had a plan of trying to bike really hard and keep the chasing group away from us and maintain that gap. “Once on the run the pace was... Events, Continental Cup, Multisports, Sprint Distance Triathlon, Regions, Europe, Oceania 2012-02-06T10:42:12+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/itu_announces_2012_and_2013_itu_cross_triathlon_world_championships/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/itu_announces_2012_and_2013_itu_cross_triathlon_world_championships/#When:01:37:40Z The International Triathlon Union (ITU) is pleased to announce the 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships will be held in Pelham, Alabama, on May 19 in a partnership with the XTERRA Southeast Championship.  The event will feature $20,000 USD in prize money for elite athletes, who will compete over a 1.5km swim, 30km mountain bike and 10km trail run.  Under23, junior, age-group and paratriathlon races will also be contested in Pelham. Marisol Casado, ITU President & IOC Member: “The triathlon and multisport family is extensive and far reaching and ITU is delighted to form a partnership with XTERRA for our 2012 Cross Triathlon World Championships. We are confident the strong race organization and dynamic course will continue to push Cross Triathlon to a new level.” Dave Nicholas, Race Director, XTERRA Southeast Championships “TEAM unlimited is excited about bringing the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship to the USA.  By combining the XTERRA series with ITU we are reaching new heights in cooperation between directors and the federations. Oak Mountain and Shelby County are the perfect place to host this event.” The course at Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County, located in the southernmost part of the Appalachian Chain, is praised by competitors as being one of the most fun, fast, scenic and difficult on the XTERRA schedule. Pelham will mark the second ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships, following last year’s successful event in Extremadura, Spain won by Canadian Melanie McQuaid and South Africa’s Conrad Stoltz. Both McQuaid and Stoltz are also the defending champions in Pelham. ITU has also awarded the 2013 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships to Den Haag (The Hague), Netherlands.  The event is slated for July 13, 2013 and will offer 35,000 EUR in prize money for elite athletes and will also hold under23, junior age-group and paratriathlon categories.  In preparation for the event, the city will host the European Cross Triathlon Championships this year.  Events, Media Centre, Press Release, Multisports, Cross Triathlon, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania 2012-02-01T01:37:40+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/over_500_sign_on_for_vitoria-gasteiz_long_distance_world_titles/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/over_500_sign_on_for_vitoria-gasteiz_long_distance_world_titles/#When:05:10:03Z More than 500 athletes have already registered for the 2012 Vitoria-Gasteiz ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships, with just six months to go until the event in Spain. After the first period of registration closed, more than 500 participants had entered from 11 different countries. They included triathletes from Denmark, USA, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Holland and Portugal. It includes 234 international registrations and over 300 Spanish pre-registered in the different age groups: 264 men, 28 women and five paratriathletes. Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the province of Álava and of the autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain, and is the home of two-time Olympian and triathlon legend Eneko Llanos. It hosted the European Long Distance Championships in 2010. The course starts with a one-lap 4km swim in lake Ullibarri-Gamboa, before a two-lap 120km bike leg that winds through the plains of Alava, with the lake on one side and the Elguea mountain range on the other. The four-lap 30km run course then starts and finishes in the medieval district of Vitoria-Gasteiz. The second registration period will be open until May 29, with fees at 125 EUR for Spanish entrants and 150 EUR for entrants from other countries. The price difference is due to the 25 EUR subsidy the Spanish Triathlon Federation (FETRI) offers to each Spanish competitor. For late entries from May 30 onwards, the registration fee will rise to 175 EUR. The final participants list will be published on May 29, but forecasts point to a total of 1300 athletes in total, so make sure you sign up now to secure your spot. Spain, as the host, has 25 places for each age-group. All registrations are processed on-line through FETRI, www.triatlon.org. Please proceed to register your athletes through the ITU online entry system and the LOC will invoice each National Federation. Events, Multisports, Long Distance Triathlon, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania 2012-01-31T05:10:03+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/db_schenker_joins_itu_world_triathlon_series_as_global_logistics_partner/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/db_schenker_joins_itu_world_triathlon_series_as_global_logistics_partner/#When:11:00:49Z The International Triathlon Union (ITU)—in collaboration with its global marketing partner Upsolut—today announced that DB Schenker has signed on to become the Global Logistics Partner of the ITU World Triathlon Series.  An industry leader, DB Schenker will provide transportation and logistics services for the ITU World Triathlon Series which will visit eight different countries on four continents, beginning with Sydney on April 14. The ITU World Triathlon Series and DB Schenker have agreed to partner for the next three years. Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member: “The ITU World Triathlon Series is all about excellence so we are proud to welcome DB Schenker, a new partner that represents just that.  World class delivery and logistics support from DB Schenker is a wonderful addition and will contribute to the continuing success of the ITU World Triathlon Series.” Dr. Thomas C. Lieb, Chairman of the Management Board of Schenker AG: “We are excited to be partnering with the ITU World Triathlon Series. Triathlon events continue to grow across all five continents and the level of competition at all levels is far reaching. So to that end, to support and provide logistics services to the ITU series is a great honour for us. Transporting the goods and equipment across the eight events is what our service offering is all about – on time and in full.” In 2011 the ITU World Triathlon Series doubled its media figures compared to 2010. The TV duration was 917 hours; the coverage reached an audience of 207 million and made 4.6 billion FASPO contacts. The events had more than one million spectators while 27,500 participants competed in one of the age-group races. Entering its fourth year, the ITU World Triathlon Series is the premier triathlon series in the world and the most competitive.  Athletes compete in series events with total points added to determine the ITU Triathlon World Champion.  In 2012, the series will be staged in eight different countries, kicking off in Sydney in April and wrapping up in October at the Grand Final in Auckland where the ITU World Champions will be crowned. The deal is brokered by Upsolut Event GmbH, ITU’s commercial and marketing partner. Existing partners and sponsors of the ITU World Triathlon Series are: Dextro Energy, Samsung, Suunto, Skins, Specialized, Oakley and now DB Schenker. About DB Schenker: DB Schenker stands for the transportation and logistics activities of Deutsche Bahn (DB) and... Events, World Championship Series, Media Centre, Press Release, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania 2012-01-26T11:00:49+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/prize_money_for_itu_world_triathlon_series_increases_for_2012/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/prize_money_for_itu_world_triathlon_series_increases_for_2012/#When:22:25:04Z The International Triathlon Union (ITU) is pleased to confirm the prize money for the 2012 ITU World Triathlon Series, with the total prize pool surpassing two million dollars next year. With an overall increase of 15 per cent, prize money from the eight series events and the year-end bonus pool will total $2.06-million (all funds USD). “Across the board we are seeing tremendous growth in our premier series - from spectators to participants to sponsors to broadcast partners and now with prize money for our elite athletes,” said Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member.  “On the back this growth, 2012 is poised to be the greatest and most exciting triathlon season to date.” The Grand Final in Auckland will feature a $270,000 prize purse while the prize money for every other series event will be $170,000. Also, each race and the Grand Final will also now award prize money down to the 20th place, whereas in 2011 only athletes who finished in the top-15 claimed prize money. Athletes will vie for an additional $600,000 in the year-end bonus pool which pays the top 30 ranked women and men - up from top-20 - at season’s end. This figure is up from $500,000 in the 2011 season. Overall, it means that there is an increase of $260,000 to the overall pool, up from $1.8-million to $2.06-million.  Finishing the year atop the series rankings will not only earn an athlete the coveted title of “ITU World Champion” but also net $60,000 of the bonus pool. The 2012 ITU World Triathlon Series kicks off on 14-15 April in Sydney, Australia.  With eight events in eight different countries, the 2012 ITU World Champions will be crowned at the Grand Final in Auckland, New Zealand on 20-22 October. The ITU World Triathlon Series was launched in 2009, expanding the former single-day World Championship race.  Points are accrued throughout the season and athletes who win the overall series are crowned the ITU World Champions. For more information on the series and a full prize money breakdown please click here. Events, World Championship Series, Media Centre, Press Release, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania 2012-01-17T22:25:04+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/team_itu_set_for_mooloolaba_and_huatulco_in_2012/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/team_itu_set_for_mooloolaba_and_huatulco_in_2012/#When:00:31:56Z The Team ITU programme will have an added Olympic boost in 2012, with the two ITU World Cup events selected within the Olympic qualifying period. The primary objective of the development programme is to provide support, resources and expertise to athletes from emerging and developing National Federations, who have the potential to qualify for London 2012, to compete at a World Cup level. This year the first Team ITU event will be the 2012 Mooloolaba World Cup, in Australia on March 25th. The next is the 2012 Huatulco World Cup, in Mexico on May 6th.  The points gathered from both go directly towards athletes’ qualifying totals for London, as the the official Olympic qualifying period doesn’t close until 31 May 2012. “Since the inception of the Team ITU project in 2006, athletes and coaches alike place a high value on the benefit the on-site support (coaches, physiotherapists and bike mechanics) in terms of their performance.  ITU is excited to be able to continue with this programme in this very important Olympic year,” said Libby Burrell, Director of ITU Development. “The team will target prospective Olympic participants from the developing and emerging nations.” The support includes a travel stipend, accommodation and meals as well as the priceless support of a world class coaching team, including specialised triathlon coaches, physiotherapists and bike technicians. Developing NFs may nominate a maximum of 2 men and 2 women. The application deadline for Mooloolaba is Februrary 6 and the deadline for Huatulco is March 30.  Click here more information, including application forms. “Post London 2012, the new phase of Team ITU will begin with the World Junior and U23 Camp in Auckland, New Zealand where a new crop of talented athletes will have the opportunity to be noticed by the ITU coaches and the march towards Rio 2016 will begin,” said Burrell. Team ITU celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2011 with a blockbuster year. The programme has helped names like Sweden’s Lisa Norden, Chile’s Barbara Riveros Diaz and South Africa’s Kate Roberts find their feet on the elite circuit quickly. Norden and Riveros Diaz are now ITU World Champions, after capturing the sprint world titles in 2010 and 2011 respectively. It also has a record of meeting its Olympic goals, all four of the programme’s very first athletes back in 2006 – Mari Rabie, Flora Duffy, Roberts and Norden – all competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In 2011 the programme... Events, World Cup, Media Centre, Press Release, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania, Sport Development 2012-01-17T00:31:56+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/itu_releases_website_dedicated_to_olympic_games/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/itu_releases_website_dedicated_to_olympic_games/#When:22:28:02Z With exactly 200 days to go until the triathlon competition at the London Olympic Games, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) today launched its official Olympic website: triathlon.org/olympics.  The site will keep fans and media abreast of all the latest news and developments with the triathlon competition at the Olympics, including a breakdown of the complex qualification process. “Triathlon enters its fourth Olympic Games in what is undeniably an exciting sports year as London takes centre stage this summer and we can already see the high demand and appetite for Olympic information and news,” said Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member.  “We expect triathlon to be one of the most popular and marquee sports of the London Olympics.” The website includes a course map of the triathlon competition, plus a list of all the live sites in the UK, as well as race reviews and photo galleries from the triathlons at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.  The site will also gather the names that will make up the Olympic start lists as National Olympic Committees (NOCs) officially confirm their athletes that will compete in London. The women’s triathlon in the London Olympic Games will take place at 9am on Saturday 4 August while the men’s race will go at 11:30am on Tuesday 7 August.  ITU’s Olympic qualification period concludes with the ITU World Triathlon Madrid on May 26-27. Click here to visit ITU’s Olympic website Events, Major Games, Olympics, Olympic Tab Player, Media Centre, Event Release, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania 2012-01-16T22:28:02+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/brault_butterfield_stun_at_patco_championships/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/brault_butterfield_stun_at_patco_championships/#When:05:21:52Z The first major race of the 2012 produced a pair of surprising results as a newcomer from Canada and a veteran from Bermuda triumphed at the PATCO Pan American Triathlon Championships in La Paz, Argentina today.  Sarah-Anne Brault, the reigning Canadian National champion, blitzed the women’s field for her first elite Pan American title, having previously won the junior crown in 2008.  While in the men’s field, Bermuda’s Tyler Butterfield claimed his first ITU victory ahead of a pair of Canadians. Elite Women’s Review Twenty-one women from ten countries began the race with a two-lap 1.5km swim and first to emerge from the water was Mexico’s Claudia Rivas.  Behind her by 24 seconds was a group of eight women that included Brault and fellow Canadian Kathy Tremblay, along with Pan Am Games bronze medallist Pamela Nascimento Oliveira, Ecuador’s Elizabeth Bravo and Margaret Shapiro of the U.S. A group of more than ten women came together on the bike which also included American Jillian Petersen, Canada’s Kirsten Sweetland and Bermuda’s Flora Duffy.  The group opened up a significant lead on the chase group which included Lauren Campbell and Flavia Fernandes of Brazil.  The leaders came into T2 with a comfortable lead on the chase pack.  And out on the slightly long 10km run course, Brault and Tremblay surged to the early lead.  But Brault soon took over and was untouchable.  Clocking the day’s fastest run, she cruised to gold with a final time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 10 seconds, more than a full minute a head of her closest competitor. Petersen came from behind to take silver, adding to her bronze from the 2010 Pan American Championships in Mexico.  She edged out teammate Shapiro by four seconds as the U.S. claimed two of the three podium spots. Tremblay finished up in fourth place while Bravo rounded out the top five. Click here for full field results Elite Men’s Review More than 40 men representing 13 countries began the race in search of the 2012 Pan American title.  Argentina’s own Luciano Farias got the fans excited as he was first out of the water, followed closely by American Brian Lamar and Brent McMahon.  His Canadian teammate Kyle Jones was a further ten seconds behind him while Butterfield was well back, more than 50 seconds behind the leader. There were three distinct packs early in the 40km bike, but they soon all came together before they hit the midway mark.  On the fourth... Events, Continental Championships, Media Centre, Event Release, Regions, Americas 2012-01-16T05:21:52+00:00