7 hours, 35 minutes and 39 seconds; on Sunday 17 July at Challenge Roth Jan Frodeno made triathlon history by destroying the previous long distance world record. Eclipsing the 2011 mark set by Andreas Raelert by an incredible margin of nearly six minutes, the German triathlete led through nearly the entire 226 km course in a breathtaking performance between him and the clock. Adding the world record to his 2008 Olympic gold medal and 2015 World Championship titles at both the short and long distances, the 34-year-old Frodeno asserted his dominance over the sport of triathlon.
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“I am incredibly happy that I got the record and just thankful that I didn’t break”, said Frodeno after the race, “but there wasn’t any other option except to risk it all and give everything I had. The time should hold for the next two or three years.”
#Project740: Take a Look Behind the Scenes of Frodeno’s World Record Performance
The Fastest Bike
Finishing the swim in first place in a time of 45:22, Frodeno quickly went to work defending his reputation as pre-race favourite and laid the foundation for his incredible wire-to-wire victory. During the bike ride, the Hawaii champion demonstrated his superiority with a 4:08:07 clocking that would remain the fastest bike split of the day. The deal was sealed in the final leg as Frodeno ran the marathon in a blistering 2:39:18 which brought him in a staggering 20 minutes ahead of the second place finisher. “The last kilometre of the marathon the pain was unbelievable, but the feeling at the finish of getting the world record was worth it.”
In an assault on a world record every second counts, so the engineers at Canyon wanted to make sure that Frodeno’s Speedmax CF SLX was up to the challenge. The handlebars were designed specifically for this race to place the World Champion in an extra aerodynamic position that would encourage him to shave seconds. A new hydration system was also created specifically to the triathlete’s preferences as well as custom tires which were made to have the least possible amount of rolling resistance and best possible aerodynamics in side winds. Every piece of the setup, from Frodeno’s position on the bike to his hydration system, helmet and speed suit, were all newly optimised through rigorous wind tunnel testing.
An energy drink created from ketones, rather than carbs or fat, improved performance by 2% when tested on elite cyclists, say scientists. The drink allowed the cyclists to add up to 400 metres of distance (2% increase) to their workouts.
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The supplement, which will be commercially available within the year, works by temporarily switching the primary source of cellular energy from glucose or fat to ketones — molecules derived from fat that are known to be elevated in people consuming a low-carb, Atkins-like diet.
In a study of 39 cyclists, including some former Olympians, they found that the muscles use ketones when provided in the diet, and that this uptake increased in proportion to the intensity of exercise.
In one experiment, the researchers gave the cyclists ‘energy drinks,’ each containing a different source of fuel — carbohydrates, fats, or ketones — and found that cyclists who had the ketone drink had the lowest levels of lactate, a byproduct of the body’s breakdown of glucose, which is often associated with muscular stress, or the achy, tired feeling felt after a strenuous workout. The observation could help explain why the high-performing cyclists on the ketone drink travelled an average of 400 metres farther over a half hour than those consuming the carbohydrate or fat drink.
“It’s really interesting; with a single drink of nutritional ketone you can do the same exercise with completely different metabolism,” says study author Dr. Pete Cox from the University of Oxford. “Given the findings of this study, which challenges our fundamental understanding of human physiology, it will be tempting for many to focus on pursuing the endurance and sport-related avenues, but it would be a great shame if the metabolic basis of this work was not further explored.”
Ketosis is a way for humans to deal with starvation. Ketones are made in the liver from mobilised body fat, so when the body doesn’t get enough fuel from food, internal fat stores are broken down to make ketones that feed the brain. Normal metabolism is driven by the burning of carbs and fat obtained in a balanced diet.
“The ketone itself is inhibiting glycolysis, so that with the same exercise you’re preserving glycogen and producing much less lactic acid — this hasn’t been seen before,” University of Oxford biochemist Professor Kieran Clarke says. “What may be happening is if you are doing something that isn’t a sprint, like going on a 26-mile run, you won’t hit the wall as quickly. Not only that, but it stops you from aching afterwards.”
While a good fit for endurance athletes, the ketone drink is unlikely to help sprinters and those whose exercise is primarily anaerobic, as the body needs oxygen to burn ketones. A University of Oxford spinout company, T?S® Ltd, will now develop and commercialise the ketone drink and aim to have the ketone food available for purchase by the end of the year.
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An energy drink created from ketones, rather than carbs or fat, improved performance by 2% when tested on elite cyclists, say scientists. The drink allowed the cyclists to add up to 400 metres of distance (2% increase) to their workouts.
Advertisement
The supplement, which will be commercially available within the year, works by temporarily switching the primary source of cellular energy from glucose or fat to ketones — molecules derived from fat that are known to be elevated in people consuming a low-carb, Atkins-like diet.
In a study of 39 cyclists, including some former Olympians, they found that the muscles use ketones when provided in the diet, and that this uptake increased in proportion to the intensity of exercise.
In one experiment, the researchers gave the cyclists ‘energy drinks,’ each containing a different source of fuel — carbohydrates, fats, or ketones — and found that cyclists who had the ketone drink had the lowest levels of lactate, a byproduct of the body’s breakdown of glucose, which is often associated with muscular stress, or the achy, tired feeling felt after a strenuous workout. The observation could help explain why the high-performing cyclists on the ketone drink travelled an average of 400 metres farther over a half hour than those consuming the carbohydrate or fat drink.
“It’s really interesting; with a single drink of nutritional ketone you can do the same exercise with completely different metabolism,” says study author Dr. Pete Cox from the University of Oxford. “Given the findings of this study, which challenges our fundamental understanding of human physiology, it will be tempting for many to focus on pursuing the endurance and sport-related avenues, but it would be a great shame if the metabolic basis of this work was not further explored.”
Ketosis is a way for humans to deal with starvation. Ketones are made in the liver from mobilised body fat, so when the body doesn’t get enough fuel from food, internal fat stores are broken down to make ketones that feed the brain. Normal metabolism is driven by the burning of carbs and fat obtained in a balanced diet.
“The ketone itself is inhibiting glycolysis, so that with the same exercise you’re preserving glycogen and producing much less lactic acid — this hasn’t been seen before,” University of Oxford biochemist Professor Kieran Clarke says. “What may be happening is if you are doing something that isn’t a sprint, like going on a 26-mile run, you won’t hit the wall as quickly. Not only that, but it stops you from aching afterwards.”
While a good fit for endurance athletes, the ketone drink is unlikely to help sprinters and those whose exercise is primarily anaerobic, as the body needs oxygen to burn ketones. A University of Oxford spinout company, T?S® Ltd, will now develop and commercialise the ketone drink and aim to have the ketone food available for purchase by the end of the year.
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Related
Energy gels: 10 of the best reviewed, test and rated
Aquabike combines long distance swimming and biking, and as the running stage is eliminated, great for people with joint problems.
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“The multisport world continues to grow at an incredible rate,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “Offering multisport races like Aquabike promotes the growth of triathlon worldwide, as it makes the sport accessible to everyone of all ages and abilities no matter where they are.”
“We are thrilled to be adding Aquabike World Championships to the docket at ITU Multisport World Championships in Penticton next August. The addition of aquabike means the Multisport World Championships is truly complete, with five world championship events,” said race executive director Michael Brown.
Aquabike joins duathlon, aquathlon, cross triathlon, and long distance triathlon at the champs. The race will see athletes swim 3km followed by 120 km bike, mirroring the length of the Long Distance Triathlon. The finish line will be right after the second transition, with athletes racking their bikes at a second transition, and then sprinting to cross the finish line.
The 10-day Multisport World Championships is expected to see more than 7,000 age groupers race in the heart of the city, with the epicentre being along the beachfront of Okanagan Lake and Okanagan Lake Park. The spectator friendly courses will feature a variety of terrain and include some of the area’s many vistas, wineries and landmarks, as well as the downtown area.
All participants and visitors will enjoy a full week of triathlon action, as well as concerts, street dance, race expo, parade of nations, kids races and awards presentations.
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For more information on ITU Multisport World Championship Festival here, #Penticton2017
Aquabike combines long distance swimming and biking, and as the running stage is eliminated, great for people with joint problems.
Advertisement
“The multisport world continues to grow at an incredible rate,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “Offering multisport races like Aquabike promotes the growth of triathlon worldwide, as it makes the sport accessible to everyone of all ages and abilities no matter where they are.”
“We are thrilled to be adding Aquabike World Championships to the docket at ITU Multisport World Championships in Penticton next August. The addition of aquabike means the Multisport World Championships is truly complete, with five world championship events,” said race executive director Michael Brown.
Aquabike joins duathlon, aquathlon, cross triathlon, and long distance triathlon at the champs. The race will see athletes swim 3km followed by 120 km bike, mirroring the length of the Long Distance Triathlon. The finish line will be right after the second transition, with athletes racking their bikes at a second transition, and then sprinting to cross the finish line.
The 10-day Multisport World Championships is expected to see more than 7,000 age groupers race in the heart of the city, with the epicentre being along the beachfront of Okanagan Lake and Okanagan Lake Park. The spectator friendly courses will feature a variety of terrain and include some of the area’s many vistas, wineries and landmarks, as well as the downtown area.
All participants and visitors will enjoy a full week of triathlon action, as well as concerts, street dance, race expo, parade of nations, kids races and awards presentations.
The men’s Olympic triathlon will be contested on August 18, while the women will take to Copacabana Beach on August 20.
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“Congratulations to all of the athletes that have worked so hard for so long to make it to the Olympics,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “The men’s and women’s start list reflect deep fields riddled with talent from all over the world. Come August 18 and 20, the word will be inspired and entertained by these 110 men and women.”
A record number of 42 nations have qualified spots for the triathlon at Rio , the highest number ever for triathlon at an Olympic Games. In London 2012, there were 39 nations, with 37 represented in Beijing 2008, 33 in Athens and 34 in Sydney.
These include six that have qualified a spot for the first time in the history of Olympic triathlon including Azerbaijan, Barbados, Israel, Jordan, Norway and Puerto Rico.
Seven nations will see the maximum allowance of three women compete are Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Spain, Russia, and the United States.
In the men’s race, eight nations have qualified the maximum of three men including Australia, France, Great Britain, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain and the United States.
Start numbers are drawn at random and assigned in groupings to National Olympic Committees, determining where athletes rack their bikes in transition. However, athletes will select their start position based in order of their Olympic rankings at the athlete briefing in Rio. The first ten athletes’ selections will not be revealed until all 55 athletes have chosen their spot.
The GB men’s team (Brownlees and Gordon Benson) are numbered 4,5 & 6 while the women’s team (Helen Jenkins, Vicky Holland and Non Stanford) are numbered 14, 15 & 16.
Start numbers 30-39 hold good omens as to who might podium at Rio. So far five gold medals have come from start numbers between 30 and 39. These included Emma Snowsill (34), Brigitte McMahon (35), Kate Allen (39), Jan Frodeno (32) and Alistair Brownlee (30).
However the number with the most success is 34. It was worn by Emma Snowsill (Gold in Beijing), Magali di Marco Messmer (Bronze in Sydney), and Susan Williams (Bronze in Athens). Start number 27 has also been a successful number, with Bevan Docherty claiming both his medals, silver in Athens and bronze in Beijing, in that start number.
Women’s start list Men’s start list
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The men’s Olympic triathlon will be contested on August 18, while the women will take to Copacabana Beach on August 20.
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“Congratulations to all of the athletes that have worked so hard for so long to make it to the Olympics,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “The men’s and women’s start list reflect deep fields riddled with talent from all over the world. Come August 18 and 20, the word will be inspired and entertained by these 110 men and women.”
A record number of 42 nations have qualified spots for the triathlon at Rio , the highest number ever for triathlon at an Olympic Games. In London 2012, there were 39 nations, with 37 represented in Beijing 2008, 33 in Athens and 34 in Sydney.
These include six that have qualified a spot for the first time in the history of Olympic triathlon including Azerbaijan, Barbados, Israel, Jordan, Norway and Puerto Rico.
Seven nations will see the maximum allowance of three women compete are Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Spain, Russia, and the United States.
In the men’s race, eight nations have qualified the maximum of three men including Australia, France, Great Britain, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain and the United States.
Start numbers are drawn at random and assigned in groupings to National Olympic Committees, determining where athletes rack their bikes in transition. However, athletes will select their start position based in order of their Olympic rankings at the athlete briefing in Rio. The first ten athletes’ selections will not be revealed until all 55 athletes have chosen their spot.
The GB men’s team (Brownlees and Gordon Benson) are numbered 4,5 & 6 while the women’s team (Helen Jenkins, Vicky Holland and Non Stanford) are numbered 14, 15 & 16.
Start numbers 30-39 hold good omens as to who might podium at Rio. So far five gold medals have come from start numbers between 30 and 39. These included Emma Snowsill (34), Brigitte McMahon (35), Kate Allen (39), Jan Frodeno (32) and Alistair Brownlee (30).
However the number with the most success is 34. It was worn by Emma Snowsill (Gold in Beijing), Magali di Marco Messmer (Bronze in Sydney), and Susan Williams (Bronze in Athens). Start number 27 has also been a successful number, with Bevan Docherty claiming both his medals, silver in Athens and bronze in Beijing, in that start number.
Women’s start list Men’s start list
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5 of the best moments in Olympic triathlon history
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Current European triathlon champion India Lee is to head up Insurance company Pedalcover’s, new triathlon team, launched to support emerging British talent.
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Lee will be joined by current British Champions Sophie Coldwell and Morgan Davies who together won silver at the U23 European championships in the mixed relay team.
Over the course of the season, the team will compete for Team Pedalcover across the world.
As part of Team Pedalcover, triathletes will get kit, clothing and branded merchandise, in addition to insurance cover.
Pedalcover also sponsors GB triathletes Vicky Holland and Tom Bishop, partners with Welsh Triathlon, and have launched an affiliate scheme to donate money to grassroots development.
Pedalcover’s founder Darren Thomas said: “As a former semi-professional cyclist and Ironman I know how hard it is at the start of your career. Through Pedalcover, I wanted to be in a position to support the next generation of GB triathletes.
“Through Team Pedalcover we aim to nurture the talent we have in triathlon in the UK and give something back to the sport we love.
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“We’ve got an exceptional bunch of elite athletes who are great ambassadors for us and we’re looking forward to following their success over the course of the season.”
Current European triathlon champion India Lee is to head up Insurance company Pedalcover’s, new triathlon team, launched to support emerging British talent.
Advertisement
Lee will be joined by current British Champions Sophie Coldwell and Morgan Davies who together won silver at the U23 European championships in the mixed relay team.
Over the course of the season, the team will compete for Team Pedalcover across the world.
As part of Team Pedalcover, triathletes will get kit, clothing and branded merchandise, in addition to insurance cover.
Pedalcover also sponsors GB triathletes Vicky Holland and Tom Bishop, partners with Welsh Triathlon, and have launched an affiliate scheme to donate money to grassroots development.
Pedalcover’s founder Darren Thomas said: “As a former semi-professional cyclist and Ironman I know how hard it is at the start of your career. Through Pedalcover, I wanted to be in a position to support the next generation of GB triathletes.
“Through Team Pedalcover we aim to nurture the talent we have in triathlon in the UK and give something back to the sport we love.
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“We’ve got an exceptional bunch of elite athletes who are great ambassadors for us and we’re looking forward to following their success over the course of the season.”
The Championship event is an upgrade to existing Challenge Melbourne event and will take place in St Kilda rather than Brighton, where it has taken place for the last three years.
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Martin Jolly, Chief Executive Officer of Sports Media and Entertainment 360, owners and operators of the event, said: “We are super excited to announce that Challenge Melbourne has moved venues in 2017 and will be held at the iconic Catani Gardens in St Kilda. We are also extremely excited for this event to have been chosen to host the 2017 Asia Pacific Championship.
“This picturesque beach side venue in Melbourne Australia is the perfect location to stage an event of this caliber as it has an abundance of accommodation, cafes, tourist activities and nightlife that promises a great weekend or holiday in this famous city.”
It is expected more than 1,500 triathletes will complete a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run, and the pros will fight it out for a $30,000 prize purse and the title of Asia-Pacific Champion. The event will also carry double qualification slots for the Challenge Family’s World Championship event at the half distance.
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While Challenge Melbourne is the Asia-Pacific Championship for 2017, triathletes of all levels are welcome to register for the event, and pre-sale registrations are available now at www.challengemelbourne.com.au.