220: You already organise some Tour de France-themed single day bike races, but what impact will the buyout have on your multisport events? Can we expect to see Human Race expand into long-distance triathlon and duathlon events?
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Nick Rusling: Good question. Although ASO don’t organise triathlons currently, with Human Race in the ASO family they’ve just acquired 26 years of triathlon experience. We still have people working on those events who started in 1990. ASO love triathlon and our calendar of events was a key part of why they wanted to buy Human Race. We added a middle-distance race at the Woburn Abbey Triathlon this year also (the WoBurner). We’ve begun long-term planning conversations already about what the future can hold for us together and it’s a case of watch this space in terms of triathlon and duathlon.
The popularity of duathlon in France eclipses the UK’s love for the sport. Does this represent a major opportunity for the growth of run/bike/run events in the UK?
I’m not so sure. I was part of launching the London Duathlon in 2007 and had high hopes for the sport as a great way to bridge the gap – especially as so many people don’t fancy the swim. Quite simply, duathlon isn’t as sexy or as well known as triathlon. It still needs defining to the audience, which is a tough place to start in promoting an event. This is a shame as our Ballbuster event has stood the test of time after 26 years and it’s a fantastic sport.
AOS’ flagship events have major television coverage and productions. Can we expect to see increased TV exposure of your multisport events?
It’s definitely an area to explore. We started working with Bike Channel across all our sportives this year. They followed the events, getting under the skin of the participants and personalities, despite the fact it isn’t a race. They want to explore something similar with triathlon also. This is also an area of expertise where we aren’t specialists, so we very much hope to be able to learn. If we can bring some of that magic to multisport then we’d love to.
Where does your remit with ASO extend to in terms of locations? Will you have a pure UK focus or can we expect a HR extension into European and worldwide events?
We’ll be focused as a team on the UK, however, especially with our triathlon history and expertise, we’ll be hoping to get stuck into other global opportunities. The main focus, with such an exciting and competitive landscape in the UK, is to get our events right and brimming with new ideas and improved experiences in the UK. For example, we launched a new event with Jessica Ennis-Hill that’s based around running with music called VitalityMove.
We’d love to see a unique multi-day, multi-stage triathlon event along the lines of the Tour of Britain. Is that something that may be explored?
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Great idea – we should team up with 220 perhaps. Why not? It’s this type of creativity that participants are demanding and all events need. We also know people want tougher challenges all the time, plus regions want their landscape to be showcased.
This year’s Ironman Hawaii had everything you could possibly want from a World Championship; drama from the outset, broken records and great racing. Daniela Ryf’s record breaking performance that saw her take victory for the second year running proved her to be one of the greatest female triathletes ever, while Iron-distance record holder Jan Frodeno’s victory rarely looked in doubt.
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Photographs by Paul Phillips, www.competitiveimage.us
This year’s Ironman Hawaii had everything you could possibly want from a World Championship; drama from the outset, broken records and great racing. Daniela Ryf’s record breaking performance that saw her take victory for the second year running proved her to be one of the greatest female triathletes ever, while Iron-distance record holder Jan Frodeno’s victory rarely looked in doubt.
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Photographs by Paul Phillips, www.competitiveimage.us
The half-distance race consists of a 1.9km swim, followed by a 90km cycle and a 21km run. The bike leg starts in Peguera and takes in Es Capdellà, Calvià, Palmanova, Magaluf, El Toro, Santa Ponça before returning to Paguera for the run leg.
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Riders also venture into the foothills of Serra de la Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The half-distance race consists of a 1.9km swim, followed by a 90km cycle and a 21km run. The bike leg starts in Peguera and takes in Es Capdellà, Calvià, Palmanova, Magaluf, El Toro, Santa Ponça before returning to Paguera for the run leg.
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Riders also venture into the foothills of Serra de la Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fed up with your bike being pinched stolen locking it securely? A pair of inventors from San Francisco could have a novel solution that could detour thieves The Guardian have reported.
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The entrepreneurs, Daniel Idzkowski and Yves Perrenoud, have invented a bike lock called SkunkLock that looks like a standard bike lock, but when compromised is anything but as it emits a noxious chemical deterrent.
Called formula D_1, the pair say that the chemical is a US legally compliant pressurised gas that, when expelled, causes shortness of breathing, potentially compromised sight, and induces vomiting.
“At two feet it was pretty bad. It was absolutely vomit inducing in 99% of people. At five feet it’s very noticeable and the initial reaction is to move away from it. At 10ft it’s definitely detectable and very unpleasant,” they told The Guardian.
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The SkunkLock creators are now turning to crowdfunding to help them move to the future. Find out more about their Indiegogo fund here
Fed up with your bike being pinched stolen locking it securely? A pair of inventors from San Francisco could have a novel solution that could detour thieves The Guardian have reported.
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The entrepreneurs, Daniel Idzkowski and Yves Perrenoud, have invented a bike lock called SkunkLock that looks like a standard bike lock, but when compromised is anything but as it emits a noxious chemical deterrent.
Called formula D_1, the pair say that the chemical is a US legally compliant pressurised gas that, when expelled, causes shortness of breathing, potentially compromised sight, and induces vomiting.
“At two feet it was pretty bad. It was absolutely vomit inducing in 99% of people. At five feet it’s very noticeable and the initial reaction is to move away from it. At 10ft it’s definitely detectable and very unpleasant,” they told The Guardian.
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The SkunkLock creators are now turning to crowdfunding to help them move to the future. Find out more about their Indiegogo fund here
Olympic gold and silver medallists, Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, along with bronze medallist Vicky Holland, will be attending British Triathlon’s annual award ceremony on 12 November.
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Joining them will be Paralympic gold medallist Andy Lewis and silver medallist Alison Patrick, as well as triathlon volunteers, officials and coaches from across the country.
Alistair said: “It’s been a fantastic year for the sport and I’m looking forward to celebrating the team’s achievements in Rio.
“The British Triathlon Awards Dinner is always a fantastic evening and it’ll be great to catch up with my teammates in my home town next month.”
The Rio heroes will also be taking part in a question and answer session during the evening, led by BBC Breakfast presenter and amateur triathlete, Louise Minchin.
The awards evening will be hosted by BBC sports reporter Vassos Alexander.
Vassos said: “It’s an honour to be part of the British Triathlon Awards Dinner following a hugely successful year for the sport.
“There have been some fantastic achievements across all levels of triathlon throughout 2016, reaching a crescendo in Rio at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I’m greatly looking forward to re-living them next month in Leeds.”
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The British Triathlon Awards Dinner will be held at Royal Armouries International, Leeds, and tickets, priced at £55, are now available until 27 October. Book here. Price includes a drinks reception, three-course dinner with wine and evening party.