Long Distance Triathlon World Titles on the line

by Erin Greene on 22 Jun, 2015 02:04 • Español

The ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships return to Sweden for the third time this weekend, with the town of Motala debuting as the host of an all-star list of athletes. Camilla Pedersen (DEN) returns to defend her crown over the likes of Mary Beth Ellis (USA) and Asa Lundstrom (SWE), while the men’s field welcomes an impressive depth for the races on Saturday including Dirk Bockel (LUX), Cyril Viennot (FRA), Joe Gambles (AUS), Samuel Betten (AUS), and Peter Robertson (AUS).

The Championships will be contested over a two-lap 4km swim in the bay, followed by a picturesque three-lap hilly 120km bike and will be finished off with a three-lap 30km run that traverses the stunning shoreline of Lake Vattern. In addition to the elite titles, the event will offer age group and paratriathlon races.

Women’s Preview
In 2014, Pedersen pedaled her way to her first World Championship title just a year after enduring a training accident that nearly rendered her incapable of competing ever again. The Dane is back this year to defend her title close to her native home of Denmark.

American Ellis, who trains with both the top standard distance and long distance triathletes, clocked a top 10 finish at the IRONMAN World Championships last year in Kona thanks to speedy swimming and cycling. With 10km less on the run than an IRONMAN event, Motala may just be the perfect distance for Ellis to elicit the title. 

But it’s Sweden’s own Lundstrom and Eva Nystrom that lineup with both experience and the hometown advantage. While Lundstrom is new to ITU racing she’s found success at IRONMAN events, having scored a top 20 finish in Kona last year. Nystrom, on the other hand, is dangerous on the bike and run as a former Long Distance Duathlon World Champion.

Women’s start list

Men’s Preview
With two-time reigning World Champion Bertrand Billard sitting Motola out, the men’s race will see a new World Champ named. But with a start list that includes Bockel, Gambles, Betten, Robertson and more, it will be anything but easy to covet this crown.

Without Billard, compatriot Cyril Viennot (FRA) will look to upgrade his 2014 bronze medal to gold. A strong cyclist, the Frenchman has steadily increased his finishes in longer distances with a career-high fifth in Kona last year.

Back from injury, Bockel bodes an impressive CV that includes four top 10 IRONMAN finishes and an ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championship bronze medal. While a hip injury deterred his 2014 season, Bockel rocked back this year with a win at Challenge Denmark.

Gambles returns to ITU racing after taking silver in 2011, joining a strong contingency of Aussie men this weekend. A back-half racer, he’s since won numerous IRONMAN and Challenge titles.

One of the most successful ITU male athletes, Robertson continues his quest to conquer long distance triathlons. After retiring in 2010 with three world titles, a Commonwealth Games bronze medal & two Olympic berths, the Aussie returned in 2012 with a new hunger for the sport.

Likewise, Rasmus Henning (DEN) is making a return since retiring in 2012 after an incredible ITU career. Henning was most successful at the Olympic distance but also scored silver 14 years ago at the 2001 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Champs.

While Samuel Betten is no match for Robertson’s and Henning’s history, the younger athlete is finding success in mid-distance racing & shouldn’t be discounted this weekend.

Men’s start list

The men and women will take off together at 9:00am local time on Saturday. To convert the time to your zone, click here.


Article gallery
Related Event: 2015 Motala ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
27 Jun, 2015 • event pageall results
Results: 18-19 Male AG
1. Tyler Allan AUS 06:00:13
2. Matthew Zupan USA 06:19:07
3. Leo Hassan SWE 06:46:21
Results: 20-24 Female AG
1. Jessica Åhlund SWE 06:35:50
2. Daniela Kaminska POL 06:41:06
3. Hollie Cradduck GBR 07:42:12
4. Emma Näsholm SWE 08:20:02
Results: 20-24 Male AG
1. Nathan Dortmann FRA 05:38:04
2. Martin Fredriksson SWE 05:51:22
3. Gustav Svensson SWE 05:52:40
4. Aled Smith GBR 05:54:35
5. Rob Scothern GBR 05:58:40
Results: 25-29 Female AG
1. Sara Svensk SWE 06:02:55
2. Jenny Nilsson SWE 06:08:34
3. Kate Comber GBR 06:12:58
4. Mirka Vahtera FIN 06:15:02
5. Susanna Huttunen FIN 06:16:40
Results: 25-29 Male AG
1. Adriel Young AUS 05:24:52
2. Christopher Ashford GBR 05:37:58
3. Georg Gottfried Horner AUT 05:38:50
4. Jeff Nordquist USA 05:43:19
5. Adam Stenman SWE 05:47:55
Results: 30-34 Female AG
1. Cecilia Jessen SWE 06:20:18
2. Julia Montgomery SWE 06:21:27
3. Ngarama Milner-Olsen NZL 06:25:00
4. Karin Magnusson SWE 06:27:11
5. Suvi Tiainen FIN 06:28:39
Results: 30-34 Male AG
1. Mike Wood GBR 05:31:31
2. Daniel Windisch SWE 05:39:21
3. Hamish Cropper AUS 05:39:44
4. Markus Hagberg SWE 05:47:03
5. Rasmus Sellehed SWE 05:51:12
Results: 35-39 Female AG
1. Estelle-Marie Kieffer FRA 06:09:16
2. Constance Mochar AUT 06:09:38
3. Tina Fastesson SWE 06:17:36
4. Sara Asp SWE 06:18:08
5. Kerry McGawley GBR 06:24:26
Results: 35-39 Male AG
1. Jan Henningsen DEN 05:30:13
2. Johan Larsson SWE 05:32:07
3. Christian Malmström SWE 05:34:57
4. Jan-Morten Ra NOR 05:36:45
5. Fredrik Robertsson SWE 05:36:57
Results: 40-44 Female AG
1. Kristina Beckendorf DEN 06:20:57
2. Jenny Eliasson SWE 06:27:46
3. Gunilla Cedergren SWE 06:29:03
4. Victoria Hill GBR 06:30:50
5. Susanne Bornmar SWE 06:32:53
Tracker Pixel for Entry