Like 2016, Olympic bronze medallist Henri Schoeman choice of bike for the 2017 season will be a new custom-painted Hypervox.
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“It’s designed as an aero bike, which suits the kind of racing we do, but it’s actually pretty smooth too,” he said. “With the road surfaces we often have to ride on – like in Stockholm and Rio – you really don’t want to feel beaten up by your bike before the run. On the tight circuits you are constantly accelerating and braking so having a bike that handles well is so important, plus you want every watt going onto the road.”
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The new bike features a Toray and Mitsubishi-Rayon composite matrix, tuned to be rigid around the head tube and BB area and compliant at the rear seat stays. Parts spec includes Shimano Dura Ace Di2 with Rotor cranks, Mavic wheels, Schwalbe tyres and some special CeramicSpeed parts and bearings. See full details below.
Schoeman has signed a 2-year partnership with the emerging bike brand. His 2017 season kicks off with ITU’s Discovery Triathlon World Cup Cape Town, held at the V&A Waterfront.
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Production Hypervox frames and complete builds are available on swiftcarbon.com
Twenty-three of the world’s best male triathletes, including the Brownlees, Javier Gomez and Mario Mola, are to race for US$1.5 million in the all-new Super League Triathlon series. Launching in March with a ‘stake-in-the-ground’ event on Hamilton Island, Australia, the series will officially continue in October 2017 through to March 2018.
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Co-founded by two-time Ironman world champion Chris McCormack, the new series sees the traditional swim, bike and run triathlon turned on its head. In total, there will be five unique race formats, each comprising a 300m swim, 6km bike and 2km run (see table below for each format). In each event, athletes will compete for prize money, championship series points and the prestigious ‘series leader’ jersey and the individual ‘swim, bike and run leader’ jerseys.
The five formats
“Our race formats are a game changer and we’re going to find out who is truly the greatest multisport athlete on the planet,” said McCormack. “We’ve seen it so often over the years with the Brownlees and Gomez dominating in short course and in long course we see a relatively similar story unfold race after race.
“Of course, we’re expecting the blockbuster clashes between the Brownlees, Gomez and Mola, however, it may not always be at the front of the field. Our race formats also play to the strengths of the standout swimmers, bikers and runners who can destroy the traditional race strategy and lead from the front. And, then there’s the young brigade of super talented athletes like Jake Birtwhistle whose blistering run speed is made for Super League Triathlon racing. These next generation athletes have little regard for reputation and Super League Triathlon is the ultimate platform for them to shake up the establishment.”
The series will officially run from October 2017 until March 2018 in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions, with the inaugural Super League Triathlon event taking place seven months earlier on Hamilton Island, on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Open to male athletes only (15 women will be invited to join for the October leg), the three-day event (17-19 March) will showcase the Triple Mix (17th), Equalizer (18th) and Eliminator (19th) formats. The winner will be the triathlete with the fastest overall time.
“Super League Triathlon will be exciting, dynamic racing and great viewing for all sports fans,” said Ali Brownlee. “There’s a bit of chatter from the younger guys about the heat, the shorter distances, and a few of them fancy themselves for the win. While the formats are new and innovative, they’ve still got to swim, bike and run and they have to remember that their weaknesses will still be highlighted. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
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Super League Hamilton Island will be broadcast live on Fox Sports (Australia), Eurosport (Europe) and across the globe at www.superleaguetriathlon.com. For more on the Series and inaugural race, check out the latest issue of 220, on sale 1 March.
Twenty-three of the world’s best male triathletes, including the Brownlees, Javier Gomez and Mario Mola, are to race for US$1.5 million in the all-new Super League Triathlon series. Launching in March with a ‘stake-in-the-ground’ event on Hamilton Island, Australia, the series will officially continue in October 2017 through to March 2018.
Advertisement
Co-founded by two-time Ironman world champion Chris McCormack, the new series sees the traditional swim, bike and run triathlon turned on its head. In total, there will be five unique race formats, each comprising a 300m swim, 6km bike and 2km run (see table below for each format). In each event, athletes will compete for prize money, championship series points and the prestigious ‘series leader’ jersey and the individual ‘swim, bike and run leader’ jerseys.
The five formats
“Our race formats are a game changer and we’re going to find out who is truly the greatest multisport athlete on the planet,” said McCormack. “We’ve seen it so often over the years with the Brownlees and Gomez dominating in short course and in long course we see a relatively similar story unfold race after race.
“Of course, we’re expecting the blockbuster clashes between the Brownlees, Gomez and Mola, however, it may not always be at the front of the field. Our race formats also play to the strengths of the standout swimmers, bikers and runners who can destroy the traditional race strategy and lead from the front. And, then there’s the young brigade of super talented athletes like Jake Birtwhistle whose blistering run speed is made for Super League Triathlon racing. These next generation athletes have little regard for reputation and Super League Triathlon is the ultimate platform for them to shake up the establishment.”
The series will officially run from October 2017 until March 2018 in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions, with the inaugural Super League Triathlon event taking place seven months earlier on Hamilton Island, on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Open to male athletes only (15 women will be invited to join for the October leg), the three-day event (17-19 March) will showcase the Triple Mix (17th), Equalizer (18th) and Eliminator (19th) formats. The winner will be the triathlete with the fastest overall time.
“Super League Triathlon will be exciting, dynamic racing and great viewing for all sports fans,” said Ali Brownlee. “There’s a bit of chatter from the younger guys about the heat, the shorter distances, and a few of them fancy themselves for the win. While the formats are new and innovative, they’ve still got to swim, bike and run and they have to remember that their weaknesses will still be highlighted. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
Advertisement
Super League Hamilton Island will be broadcast live on Fox Sports (Australia), Eurosport (Europe) and across the globe at www.superleaguetriathlon.com. For more on the Series and inaugural race, check out the latest issue of 220, on sale 1 March.
He’s been off the racing scene since last summer when a training exercise destroyed his Rio chances, but with a 70.3 win already under his belt what can we expect from the five-time ITU world champion in 2017? Over to Javier Gomez…
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Congratulations on your win in Dubai. How did you find the return to racing? Just to be on the start line was something special for me after many months out of racing. I was a bit more nervous than usual the day before the race as I wanted to achieve a good result and build some confidence after 2016, which did not go as I expected.
When did you start training for 70.3 Dubai, and what did you focus on? I started training late October, but very easily, once my elbow was recovered. I’ve been increasing progressively, but I didn’t follow any specific training programme for the 70.3 distance. I just did what I do every year, expect maybe a little bit more TT riding than usual, but that’s it!
How’s your arm now following your accident and surgery last summer? It’s fine, but to be honest it’s not the same as before the surgery. I can do everything and it doesn’t affect my performance, but I still feel some discomfort
What rehab did you do to recover from your injury? Was it a lot of arm and shoulder work? Obviously I had to work on the elbow flexibility, but I also had to focus on arm strength, after my arm was in a cast for nearly six weeks. I lost all muscle lvolume, strength and tension. [The recovery] was harder and longer than I expected.
How did you deal with the disappointment of not being able to race the Olympics? It was hard, that’s for sure, but I tried to remain positive. The crash was very simple and stupid, I was riding very slow. But to win five world championships you need to have good luck at some point, this time I had bad luck. That’s just sport.
Did you watch the men’s Olympic race? If so, how was that for you? Yes I did, it was tough because I wanted to be there. The race went as I expected it would, which I think would have suited my type of racing. The Brownlees did a great job and deserved the two medals. I felt sorry for [teammate] Mario [Mola], he did a good swim and he nearly caught the first group.
What are your plans for 2017? Will you still race ITU? Yes I will be focussing on ITU races, but I might try to do 70.3 World Champs depending when that the situation is before the Grand Final.
Is Tokyo 2020 still a possibility? This is a decision I will make at the end of 2017, but I still think I can be there racing for the medals.
He’s been off the racing scene since last summer when a training exercise destroyed his Rio chances, but with a 70.3 win already under his belt what can we expect from the five-time ITU world champion in 2017? Over to Javier Gomez…
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Congratulations on your win in Dubai. How did you find the return to racing? Just to be on the start line was something special for me after many months out of racing. I was a bit more nervous than usual the day before the race as I wanted to achieve a good result and build some confidence after 2016, which did not go as I expected.
When did you start training for 70.3 Dubai, and what did you focus on? I started training late October, but very easily, once my elbow was recovered. I’ve been increasing progressively, but I didn’t follow any specific training programme for the 70.3 distance. I just did what I do every year, expect maybe a little bit more TT riding than usual, but that’s it!
How’s your arm now following your accident and surgery last summer? It’s fine, but to be honest it’s not the same as before the surgery. I can do everything and it doesn’t affect my performance, but I still feel some discomfort
What rehab did you do to recover from your injury? Was it a lot of arm and shoulder work? Obviously I had to work on the elbow flexibility, but I also had to focus on arm strength, after my arm was in a cast for nearly six weeks. I lost all muscle lvolume, strength and tension. [The recovery] was harder and longer than I expected.
How did you deal with the disappointment of not being able to race the Olympics? It was hard, that’s for sure, but I tried to remain positive. The crash was very simple and stupid, I was riding very slow. But to win five world championships you need to have good luck at some point, this time I had bad luck. That’s just sport.
Did you watch the men’s Olympic race? If so, how was that for you? Yes I did, it was tough because I wanted to be there. The race went as I expected it would, which I think would have suited my type of racing. The Brownlees did a great job and deserved the two medals. I felt sorry for [teammate] Mario [Mola], he did a good swim and he nearly caught the first group.
What are your plans for 2017? Will you still race ITU? Yes I will be focussing on ITU races, but I might try to do 70.3 World Champs depending when that the situation is before the Grand Final.
Is Tokyo 2020 still a possibility? This is a decision I will make at the end of 2017, but I still think I can be there racing for the medals.
This news follows Alistair Brownlee’s announcement, in December 2016, that he will be racing longer distances in 2017.
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Ali Brownlee to target Ironman 70.3 Worlds
“The next couple of years will see me race over longer distances, though I will still be at Leeds WTS this year,” Brownlee says. “I’m looking to be as competitive as I have been over the Olympic distance, although I have a lot to learn. I’m strong over all three disciplines and I will look to use that to my advantage.
“I’m really pleased to be joining the Bahrain Endurance team; they are the best athletes in the world, men and women.”
Fellow British triathlete and current Ironman 70.3 World Champion Holly Lawrence is also looking forward to wearing the racing red alongside her new teammates. Lawrence left ITU racing in favour of middle distance two years ago, and won the 2016 Ironman 70.3 world title in Mooloolaba, Australia.
Lawrence says: “I’m excited to be part of the team, to join legends like Jan Frodeno, Javier Gomez and Daniela Ryf who I’ve always looked up to.”
The Bahrain Endurance 13 tri team, under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, race middle-distance and full-distance triathlons in the team’s iconic red colours.
This news follows Alistair Brownlee’s announcement, in December 2016, that he will be racing longer distances in 2017.
Advertisement
Ali Brownlee to target Ironman 70.3 Worlds
“The next couple of years will see me race over longer distances, though I will still be at Leeds WTS this year,” Brownlee says. “I’m looking to be as competitive as I have been over the Olympic distance, although I have a lot to learn. I’m strong over all three disciplines and I will look to use that to my advantage.
“I’m really pleased to be joining the Bahrain Endurance team; they are the best athletes in the world, men and women.”
Fellow British triathlete and current Ironman 70.3 World Champion Holly Lawrence is also looking forward to wearing the racing red alongside her new teammates. Lawrence left ITU racing in favour of middle distance two years ago, and won the 2016 Ironman 70.3 world title in Mooloolaba, Australia.
Lawrence says: “I’m excited to be part of the team, to join legends like Jan Frodeno, Javier Gomez and Daniela Ryf who I’ve always looked up to.”
The Bahrain Endurance 13 tri team, under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, race middle-distance and full-distance triathlons in the team’s iconic red colours.
Competing on home turf Kiwi pro Dougal Allan won Challenge Wanaka at the weekend in a new course record of 8:26:38, beating Richard Ussher’s 2010 time by nearly nine minutes.
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Up-and-coming New Zealander, Mike Phillips led out of the water in 50:21, neck and neck with veteran Kiwi, Bryan Rhodes. Simon Cochrane (NZL), Luke Bell (AUS) and Per Bittner (GER) were all within 10 seconds, while Allan posted a 54.32 in eighth.
Rhodes, Phillips and Bell dominated the first 30km of the bike, but behind them McKenzie and Allan were showing their form as two of the sport’s strongest bikers. By 70km, McKenzie had taken the lead, setting the pace with Bell and Phillips after Rhodes had a mechanical at the Red Bridge.
And that’s the way it stayed until Allan made his move on the bike’s second lap at the 135km mark. From there Allan continued to increase his lead with the only real challenge coming from Phillips. He also smashed his own bike course record in 4:27:37. Phillips finished in second in 8:32:00, while Luke Bell came in third.
“I knew I was going to suffer and suffer I did!” said Allan. “I was really pleased with my swim and it gave me a bit of leeway on the bike, which was good as I didn’t want to go too hard on the first lap. I knew the course record would go today, and that’s not me being arrogant but the calibre of athletes was just exceptional and the conditions were perfect and I was just lucky it was me.
“I knew Mike was going to be hard to beat. The gap between us was not comfortable on the first lap of the run and I just had to trust my experience. He was the underdog and no-one was talking about him before the race except me. He’s going to be a lot more dangerous next year!”
Like last year the battle for the women’s race was between Dutchwoman Yvonne van Vlerken, and Brit Laura Siddall, but in the end it would prove van Vlerken’s day, winning in a new course record of 9:15:44. Siddall was chasing her all the way and finished just 27 seconds behind.
Emma Bilham (SUI) led out of the swim in 54:32, 3:37 ahead of Siddall in second, but it wasn’t long before the two strongest bike riders in the race, Siddall and van Vlerken, were pushing the pace and taking the lead at the 55km mark.
The two continually fought each other for the lead while increasing the gap to Bilham in third to over 16 minutes by T2. Siddall posted a new bike course record of 4:58:58 in the process.
Siddall was the first one to set the pace on the run and created a gap between the two that lasted for the first 15km. Van Vlerken then overtook her but didn’t get more than a 1:40 lead. Siddall whittled her down in the second half the run to just seconds at the finish line. Both athletes broke the previous course record with van Vlerken setting a new benchmark in 9:16:11. Emma Bilham rounded out the podium 14:55 behind in 9:30:39.
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220 rated Challenge Wanaka as the 7th best triathlon in the world, the 11th toughest Iron-distance triathlon in the world and its bike leg one of the world’s most scenic
Competing on home turf Kiwi pro Dougal Allan won Challenge Wanaka at the weekend in a new course record of 8:26:38, beating Richard Ussher’s 2010 time by nearly nine minutes.
Advertisement
Up-and-coming New Zealander, Mike Phillips led out of the water in 50:21, neck and neck with veteran Kiwi, Bryan Rhodes. Simon Cochrane (NZL), Luke Bell (AUS) and Per Bittner (GER) were all within 10 seconds, while Allan posted a 54.32 in eighth.
Rhodes, Phillips and Bell dominated the first 30km of the bike, but behind them McKenzie and Allan were showing their form as two of the sport’s strongest bikers. By 70km, McKenzie had taken the lead, setting the pace with Bell and Phillips after Rhodes had a mechanical at the Red Bridge.
And that’s the way it stayed until Allan made his move on the bike’s second lap at the 135km mark. From there Allan continued to increase his lead with the only real challenge coming from Phillips. He also smashed his own bike course record in 4:27:37. Phillips finished in second in 8:32:00, while Luke Bell came in third.
“I knew I was going to suffer and suffer I did!” said Allan. “I was really pleased with my swim and it gave me a bit of leeway on the bike, which was good as I didn’t want to go too hard on the first lap. I knew the course record would go today, and that’s not me being arrogant but the calibre of athletes was just exceptional and the conditions were perfect and I was just lucky it was me.
“I knew Mike was going to be hard to beat. The gap between us was not comfortable on the first lap of the run and I just had to trust my experience. He was the underdog and no-one was talking about him before the race except me. He’s going to be a lot more dangerous next year!”
Like last year the battle for the women’s race was between Dutchwoman Yvonne van Vlerken, and Brit Laura Siddall, but in the end it would prove van Vlerken’s day, winning in a new course record of 9:15:44. Siddall was chasing her all the way and finished just 27 seconds behind.
Emma Bilham (SUI) led out of the swim in 54:32, 3:37 ahead of Siddall in second, but it wasn’t long before the two strongest bike riders in the race, Siddall and van Vlerken, were pushing the pace and taking the lead at the 55km mark.
The two continually fought each other for the lead while increasing the gap to Bilham in third to over 16 minutes by T2. Siddall posted a new bike course record of 4:58:58 in the process.
Siddall was the first one to set the pace on the run and created a gap between the two that lasted for the first 15km. Van Vlerken then overtook her but didn’t get more than a 1:40 lead. Siddall whittled her down in the second half the run to just seconds at the finish line. Both athletes broke the previous course record with van Vlerken setting a new benchmark in 9:16:11. Emma Bilham rounded out the podium 14:55 behind in 9:30:39.
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220 rated Challenge Wanaka as the 7th best triathlon in the world, the 11th toughest Iron-distance triathlon in the world and its bike leg one of the world’s most scenic
A volcanic crater swim? Check. A race far from the triathlon trail? Check. The East African sun? Oh yes. The Kyaninga Triathlon in Uganda returns in April 2017 for another rare showcase of East African triathlon.
As the memorable images above from the December 2016 show, the race is located at the base of the Ruwenzori Mountains and situated on a volcanic crater lake that’s 224m deep.
The 2017 race, which includes sprint, standard and relay options, will again be hosted at the Kyaninga Lodge in western Uganda, with the date set as 1st April.
“Of the international events that I’ve participated in, this has been one of the truly memorable triathlons that I’ve taken part in,” says Adam Cameron, who finished third in December. “This is ultimately down to the warmth and friendliness of the local Ugandans, who gave us so much extra energy. And if you’re ever in this part of the world? This really offers a unique way to see the country and its people.”
THE COURSES
Medium Course: 750m swim/16.5km mountain bike/4km run
Long Course: 1.5km swim/33km mountain bike/8km run
All proceeds from the event go towards ‘Kyaninga Child Development Centre’, which is an organization focusing on the rehabilitation and integration of children living with disabilities. Head to here to enter.
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Meanwhile, the Running the Rift marathon from the same race organisers will take place on the 11 November 2017 (www.runningtheriftmarathon.com).
The volcanic crater swim start
Competitors from the 2016 event head to the swim start
The race briefing flanked by the Ruwenzori Mountains
A competitor attempts the Brian Clough walking on water trick…
The 224m deep swim has either 750m or 1.5km distances