it was a top-class line-up at the third race of the World Triathlon Series, WTS Yokohama, which included reigning world champion Mario Mola (ESP), double Olympic medallist Jonny Brownlee, five-time ITU world champ Javier Gomez (ESP) and Rio bronze medallist Henri Schoeman (RSA).
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Conditions in Yokohama, Japan, were wet and rainy, making it a slippy and unpredictable race. In the swim leg the men kept as a pack with Jonathan Brownlee leading after lap one and exiting the waters first.
However they still remained together and after a busy T1, 30 men emerged onto the bike leg, including some of the day’s biggest names Javier Gomez Noya, Mola and Brownlee.
The chase pack behind, which was being led by Aussie Jake Birtwhistle, had a large gap of over two minutes that they could not make up.
As the lead bike pack got close to the T2, it seemed that it would be Brownlee against the Spaniards on the run course, however, Brownlee got caught in a bike crash 1km from T2, which took him out of the running for the podium.
But with true Yorkshire grit running through his veins giving up was never going to be an option, and he picked up his bike and ran it in to T2 to be able to finish the race, where he ended up 42nd.
Brownlee said: “My first reaction was to get back on the bike, get back riding, but then I got to my bike and the handle bars were pointing wrong direct and I couldn’t move it. I still want to run, I’ve not come all the way to Japan not to finish.”
The bike is not supposed to look like that. Taken down by another athlete. Not had a lot of luck this year. Really disappointed pic.twitter.com/JjMD3NigKu
— Jonathan Brownlee (@jonny_brownlee) May 13, 2017
Out on the run leg South Africa’s Henri Schoeman, Hungary’s Gabor Faldum and Blummenfelt were the immediate frontrunners, but on the first lap, Mola picked up his pace and swiftly overtook them to take the lead, where he remained for the rest of the race.
Behind him, however was a battle going on for the remaining two medals between Schoeman, Alarza and Blummenfelt. The three took turns passing each other and eventually Alarza pulled ahead to take the silver and first podium of the year.
While it then looked like Schoeman would take bronze after Blummenfelt held a face of struggle, he then surprised even himself and sprinted ahead of Schoeman with just enough time to snag the last podium spot.
“I am very happy obviously, it has been a very good day for me. On the bike we had to be careful. We saw at the end I think it was Jonny who had a crash with so many others. But with this day you never know what is going to happen, today luckily it worked for well for me so I am very pleased with it,” said Mola.
“I have said this before with triathlon it doesn’t matter how fit or how good you think you are, races put you in a place where sometimes you are happy and sometimes you are disappointed. But I was confident that I made the work during the winter, I kept doing the same work and when the result comes around you have to be pleased, so I will just keep trying to work to do the same things in the future.”
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After suffering tooth ache and a root canal infection earlier in the week Javier Gomez finished 9th tweeting “9 today in Yokohama, gave everything it had, that certainly wasn’t much. Congratulations to the @mariomola cracks and @Fernando_Alarza! Great race!”
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Her return to WTS racing could not have gone better for Flora Duffy (BER). The ITU World Champion had missed the first two races of the season due to injury, but this performance in Yokohama signalled to the world she was not going to relinquish her world title lightly.
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As well as Duffy the women’s field at WTS Yokohama included Katie Zaferes (USA), Vicky Holland (GBR) and Non Stanford (GBR) but with wet and slippy conditions the race would prove anything but predictable.
In the swim Britain’s Jessica Learmonth and Lucy Hall took the lead and upon exiting the waters were among a group of five, which included Sophie Coldwell (GBR), Duffy and Summer Cook (USA), that headed into T1 ahead of the pack.
Proving her biking skills were still as good as ever Duffy then wasted no time in breaking away from the group, taking Coldwell with her.
And despite the best efforts of the chase group of 10, which contained Learmonth, Hall, Vicky Holland (GBR), Alice Betto (ITA), Zaferes, Kasper, Gillian Backhouse (AUS), Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS), Yuko Takahashi (JPN) and Minami Kubono (JPN), they could not catch Duffy and Coldwell.
The rain continued to pour down, and cause problems for the riders. A slip on a corner took GB’s Non Stanford out of the running for a podium finish, while on the eighth lap Learmonth and Zaferes took a tumble on the wet streets. This briefly took them out of the leading chase group, but they both managed to catch the group as they entered T2.
By the time Duffy and Coldwell headed out on the run they had created a lead of 1:21. Coldwell made an early break but within a couple of seconds Duffy overtook her to take the lead, and there she remained for the rest of the race, finishing 1 minute 51 seconds ahead of her rivals – a new WTS record.
Coldwell then got passed by the two American athletes Zaferes and Kasper, who would then take silver and bronze respectively, but managed to hang on to take fourth spot. Vicky Holland finished in fifth
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“I didn’t know what I would have in the tank for today, I was pretty nervous coming into the race today, I felt like a WTS first-timer, but I had to keep reminding myself that I am the World Champ and I need to ride with confidence. So the race worked out great to my strengths and I am super happy,” said Duffy.
1.
Flora Duffy
BER
01:56:18
2.
Katie Zaferes
USA
01:58:09
3.
Kirsten Kasper
USA
01:58:17
4.
Sophie Coldwell
GBR
01:58:48
5.
Vicky Holland
GBR
01:58:50
6.
Ashleigh Gentle
AUS
01:58:57
7.
Non Stanford
GBR
01:59:04
8.
Jessica Learmonth
GBR
01:59:18
9.
Claire Michel
BEL
01:59:26
10.
Natalie Van Coevorden
AUS
01:59:32
Her return to WTS racing could not have gone better for Flora Duffy (BER). The ITU World Champion had missed the first two races of the season due to injury, but this performance in Yokohama signalled to the world she was not going to relinquish her world title lightly.
Advertisement
As well as Duffy the women’s field at WTS Yokohama included Katie Zaferes (USA), Vicky Holland (GBR) and Non Stanford (GBR) but with wet and slippy conditions the race would prove anything but predictable.
In the swim Britain’s Jessica Learmonth and Lucy Hall took the lead and upon exiting the waters were among a group of five, which included Sophie Coldwell (GBR), Duffy and Summer Cook (USA), that headed into T1 ahead of the pack.
Proving her biking skills were still as good as ever Duffy then wasted no time in breaking away from the group, taking Coldwell with her.
And despite the best efforts of the chase group of 10, which contained Learmonth, Hall, Vicky Holland (GBR), Alice Betto (ITA), Zaferes, Kasper, Gillian Backhouse (AUS), Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS), Yuko Takahashi (JPN) and Minami Kubono (JPN), they could not catch Duffy and Coldwell.
The rain continued to pour down, and cause problems for the riders. A slip on a corner took GB’s Non Stanford out of the running for a podium finish, while on the eighth lap Learmonth and Zaferes took a tumble on the wet streets. This briefly took them out of the leading chase group, but they both managed to catch the group as they entered T2.
By the time Duffy and Coldwell headed out on the run they had created a lead of 1:21. Coldwell made an early break but within a couple of seconds Duffy overtook her to take the lead, and there she remained for the rest of the race, finishing 1 minute 51 seconds ahead of her rivals – a new WTS record.
Coldwell then got passed by the two American athletes Zaferes and Kasper, who would then take silver and bronze respectively, but managed to hang on to take fourth spot. Vicky Holland finished in fifth
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“I didn’t know what I would have in the tank for today, I was pretty nervous coming into the race today, I felt like a WTS first-timer, but I had to keep reminding myself that I am the World Champ and I need to ride with confidence. So the race worked out great to my strengths and I am super happy,” said Duffy.
1.
Flora Duffy
BER
01:56:18
2.
Katie Zaferes
USA
01:58:09
3.
Kirsten Kasper
USA
01:58:17
4.
Sophie Coldwell
GBR
01:58:48
5.
Vicky Holland
GBR
01:58:50
6.
Ashleigh Gentle
AUS
01:58:57
7.
Non Stanford
GBR
01:59:04
8.
Jessica Learmonth
GBR
01:59:18
9.
Claire Michel
BEL
01:59:26
10.
Natalie Van Coevorden
AUS
01:59:32
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3x Ironman World Champion Craig Alexander, Olympic gold and silver medallist Simon Whitfield, 2x Ironman World Champion Erin Baker, and 11x Ironman champion Lisa Bentley, have been named as the captains for the International Team at The Collins Cup.
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Inspired by golf’s Ryder Cup, The Collins Cup is a long-distance team competition among USA, Europe and the Internationals. Each team will consist of 12 professional triathletes, six men and six women.
The Collins Cup: a new Ryder Cup-style team competition for long distance tri
New international team tri competition launched
These four captains join USA captains Dave Scott and Karen Smyers and European captains, Chrissie Wellington and Normann Stadler
“This will be a stunning competition,” said Erin Baker. I’m thrilled to be an International captain. Since the Collins Cup was first announced, I was excited to see this compelling forum and particularly the PTO’s commitment to our sport’s ethos of gender equality.
“Having men and women professional athletes competing together as a team once again puts on display the unique nature of triathlon’s position in the sporting world.”
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Craig Alexander said: “It is a privilege to have been selected as one of the International Team Captains for the inaugural Collins Cup and to serve with Simon, Erin, and Lisa. The Collins Cup is an exciting new concept and with legendary Captains Dave Scott, Karen Smyers, Chrissie Wellington and Normann Stadler coming together to help lead today’s top athletes, it should be an epic event. It will be an incredible celebration of our sport, and I am excited and honoured to be a part of it.”
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3x Ironman World Champion Craig Alexander, Olympic gold and silver medallist Simon Whitfield, 2x Ironman World Champion Erin Baker, and 11x Ironman champion Lisa Bentley, have been named as the captains for the International Team at The Collins Cup.
Advertisement
Inspired by golf’s Ryder Cup, The Collins Cup is a long-distance team competition among USA, Europe and the Internationals. Each team will consist of 12 professional triathletes, six men and six women.
The Collins Cup: a new Ryder Cup-style team competition for long distance tri
New international team tri competition launched
These four captains join USA captains Dave Scott and Karen Smyers and European captains, Chrissie Wellington and Normann Stadler
“This will be a stunning competition,” said Erin Baker. I’m thrilled to be an International captain. Since the Collins Cup was first announced, I was excited to see this compelling forum and particularly the PTO’s commitment to our sport’s ethos of gender equality.
“Having men and women professional athletes competing together as a team once again puts on display the unique nature of triathlon’s position in the sporting world.”
Advertisement
Craig Alexander said: “It is a privilege to have been selected as one of the International Team Captains for the inaugural Collins Cup and to serve with Simon, Erin, and Lisa. The Collins Cup is an exciting new concept and with legendary Captains Dave Scott, Karen Smyers, Chrissie Wellington and Normann Stadler coming together to help lead today’s top athletes, it should be an epic event. It will be an incredible celebration of our sport, and I am excited and honoured to be a part of it.”
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Exercising hard and regularly can slow down the ageing process by about nine years, new research from Brigham Young University reveals.
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“Just because you’re 40, doesn’t mean you’re 40 years old biologically,” exercise science professor Larry Tucker said. “We all know people that seem younger than their actual age. The more physically active we are, the less biological ageing takes place in our bodies.”
The study, published in the medical journal Preventive Medicine, finds that people who have consistently high levels of physical activity have significantly longer telomeres than those who have sedentary lifestyles, as well as those who are moderately active.
Telomeres are the protein endcaps of our chromosomes. They’re like our biological clock and they’re extremely correlated with age; each time a cell replicates, we lose a tiny bit of the endcaps. Therefore, the older we get, the shorter our telomeres.
Tucker found adults with high physical activity levels have telomeres with a biological ageing advantage of nine years over those who are sedentary, and a seven-year advantage compared to those who are moderately active. To be highly active, women had to engage in 30 minutes of jogging per day (40 minutes for men), five days a week.
“If you want to see a real difference in slowing your biological ageing, it appears that a little exercise won’t cut it,” Tucker said. “You have to work out regularly at high levels.”
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Tucker analysed data from 5,823 adults who participated in the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, one of the few indexes that includes telomere length values for study subjects. The index also includes data for 62 activities participants might have engaged in over a 30-day window, which Tucker analysed to calculate levels of physical activity.
His study found the shortest telomeres came from sedentary people — they had 140 base pairs of DNA less at the end of their telomeres than highly active folks. Surprisingly, he also found there was no significant difference in telomere length between those with low or moderate physical activity and the sedentary people.
Although the exact mechanism for how exercise preserves telomeres is unknown, Tucker said it may be tied to inflammation and oxidative stress. Previous studies have shown telomere length is closely related to those two factors and it is known that exercise can suppress inflammation and oxidative stress over time.
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“We know that regular physical activity helps to reduce mortality and prolong life, and now we know part of that advantage may be due to the preservation of telomeres,” Tucker said.
How ageing affects athletic performance
High-intensity interval training helps battle ageing affects
Exercising hard and regularly can slow down the ageing process by about nine years, new research from Brigham Young University reveals.
Advertisement
“Just because you’re 40, doesn’t mean you’re 40 years old biologically,” exercise science professor Larry Tucker said. “We all know people that seem younger than their actual age. The more physically active we are, the less biological ageing takes place in our bodies.”
The study, published in the medical journal Preventive Medicine, finds that people who have consistently high levels of physical activity have significantly longer telomeres than those who have sedentary lifestyles, as well as those who are moderately active.
Telomeres are the protein endcaps of our chromosomes. They’re like our biological clock and they’re extremely correlated with age; each time a cell replicates, we lose a tiny bit of the endcaps. Therefore, the older we get, the shorter our telomeres.
Tucker found adults with high physical activity levels have telomeres with a biological ageing advantage of nine years over those who are sedentary, and a seven-year advantage compared to those who are moderately active. To be highly active, women had to engage in 30 minutes of jogging per day (40 minutes for men), five days a week.
“If you want to see a real difference in slowing your biological ageing, it appears that a little exercise won’t cut it,” Tucker said. “You have to work out regularly at high levels.”
Tucker analysed data from 5,823 adults who participated in the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, one of the few indexes that includes telomere length values for study subjects. The index also includes data for 62 activities participants might have engaged in over a 30-day window, which Tucker analysed to calculate levels of physical activity.
His study found the shortest telomeres came from sedentary people — they had 140 base pairs of DNA less at the end of their telomeres than highly active folks. Surprisingly, he also found there was no significant difference in telomere length between those with low or moderate physical activity and the sedentary people.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Although the exact mechanism for how exercise preserves telomeres is unknown, Tucker said it may be tied to inflammation and oxidative stress. Previous studies have shown telomere length is closely related to those two factors and it is known that exercise can suppress inflammation and oxidative stress over time.
Advertisement
“We know that regular physical activity helps to reduce mortality and prolong life, and now we know part of that advantage may be due to the preservation of telomeres,” Tucker said.
How ageing affects athletic performance
High-intensity interval training helps battle ageing affects
Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee has announced he will race ‘The Championship 2017’ on the 3 June in Samorin, Slovakia.
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This new middle-distance championship is for professional and age-group triathletes alike, and has been organised by Challenge Family. To ensure racing is fair for all a 20 metre draft rule has been implemented on the bike leg.
Alistair’s announcement follows his two middle-distance wins, at Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria and the North American Pro Championship in Utah.
The field includes fellow ITU racers Richard Murray (RSA) and Richard Varga (SVK), who will both be debuting at the middle distance, as well as German athletes Sebastian Kienle and Andreas Dreitz
Alistair said: “There is a good field assembled for The Championship 2017 so I am excited to race, especially as the venue looks amazing. The bike course is relatively flat but the 20m draft rule will keep everyone honest and it should be a good race.”
The event will take place at the incredible x-bionic® sphere in Samorin, Slovakia.
“Not only is Alistair a remarkable sportsman in his own right, he is also a great ambassador for the sport and we look forward to welcoming him to the start line,” said Zibi Szlufcik, Challenge Family CEO.
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“The Championship 2017 line-up is full of exceptional talent and big names who, I have no doubt, will all put on a hard and fast race at the stunning x-bionic® sphere next month.”
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Alistair Brownlee’s key triathlon training sessions
Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee has announced he will race ‘The Championship 2017’ on the 3 June in Samorin, Slovakia.
Advertisement
This new middle-distance championship is for professional and age-group triathletes alike, and has been organised by Challenge Family. To ensure racing is fair for all a 20 metre draft rule has been implemented on the bike leg.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Alistair’s announcement follows his two middle-distance wins, at Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria and the North American Pro Championship in Utah.
The field includes fellow ITU racers Richard Murray (RSA) and Richard Varga (SVK), who will both be debuting at the middle distance, as well as German athletes Sebastian Kienle and Andreas Dreitz
Alistair said: “There is a good field assembled for The Championship 2017 so I am excited to race, especially as the venue looks amazing. The bike course is relatively flat but the 20m draft rule will keep everyone honest and it should be a good race.”
The event will take place at the incredible x-bionic® sphere in Samorin, Slovakia.
“Not only is Alistair a remarkable sportsman in his own right, he is also a great ambassador for the sport and we look forward to welcoming him to the start line,” said Zibi Szlufcik, Challenge Family CEO.
Advertisement
“The Championship 2017 line-up is full of exceptional talent and big names who, I have no doubt, will all put on a hard and fast race at the stunning x-bionic® sphere next month.”
Alistair Brownlee’s key triathlon training sessions
Conditions in Lanzarote might not have been as windy as previous years but the scorching sun and temperature of 26°C made the day challenging for many.
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Known for her fast swim, Lucy Charles was first out of the water and entered the bike leg with a healthy 5 minute lead over Kate Comber (GBR) and 8 minute lead over Saleta Castro (ESP). Defending champion Tine Holst (DNK) was 16 minutes down to Charles, and the race seemed over before it even began for the defending champion.
@lucycharles93 out swam most of the pro men this morning
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