With 8 out of the top 10 male triathletes lining up, it was an elite field that descended onto Abu Dhabi for the regular WTS curtain-raiser.
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Two not competing were Spaniard Javier Gomez, who is concentrating on his 70.3 races, and Ali Brownlee, who had to pull out due to his pulled calf muscle. However the rest of the high calibre field included his brother Jonny, who would be hoping for a strong performance to put last year’s disappointments behind him, and reigning World Champ Mario Mola.
It was back to the sprint distance for the United Arab Emirates race, and conditions were far from favourable, with rain falling for most of the day. The rain though did not affect the 750 metre swim and it was the South African Henri Schoeman who exited the water first, with USA athlete Ben Kanute in second, and Brownlee in third.
Because of the rain the technical bike leg, which took place over the twisty F1 track, would prove even more technical with slippery conditions, and there were some fallers in the early stages of the race.
The early leading group included Schoeman, Brownlee, Vincent Luis, and Kanute, with Mola some way back. Brownlee caused some drama, and British hearts to drop, in the latter stages of the first lap when, trying to push the pace, he went down. Luckily for the Commonwealth selectors, a grazed knee was all the damage he occurred, and by the end of lap two had managed to rejoin the leading group.
However the leading group wouldn’t stay at the front for long as in the early stages of the third lap Schoeman made a break and was soon 7secs up, which had extended to 14secs by the end of lap four.
With Mola putting in a sterling performance on the bike to join the chasers just after his break, this proved to be a great tactical move from the South African. Schoeman entered T2 with a 22 second lead over Mola and Brownlee, but could they chase him down on the 5km run?
With Brownlee’s run fitness still not quite there, it would be up to the Spaniard to catch him, and by the start of the last lap of the 5km run Mola was just 11secs behind. It looked like we were looking at our top two, but which way would they fall?
Schoeman carried on running strong and just managed to hold off Mola by 6 seconds to win his second World Triathlon Series race in a time of 57:05. He also became only the second man to lead from the start to win a World Triathlon Series race – the other being Alistair Brownlee back in 2014.
“I am so happy there are no words. Mario is a fantastic runner so I was running scared! I am so thrilled,” said Schoeman
Frenchman Vincent Luis finished in third with Brownlee in 7th.
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Brownlee said: “I didn’t realise how slippery some parts of the circuit were, and then I lost a bit of confidence and didn’t really get it back on the bike. I knew I wasn’t going to run very well, but that’s the first race done.”
It was another stellar field for the women’s sprint race in the United Arab Emirates. Nine of the top ten women would race, including reigning world champ Flora Duffy and Rio bronze medallist Vicky Holland. The only notable absentee was Olympic champ Gwen Jorgensen who has moved to marathon running.
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If you were a betting person your money would be on Flora Duffy for the victory. The double world champion dominated the 2017 season, and with a technical bike course WTS Abu Dhabi looked like it would all play out to her strengths
The early indications were that it would. Brit Jess Learmonth would lead the swim, with Duffy just behind. Out on the bike Duffy and Learmonth then made a leading duo until Duffy pulled away at the end of the first lap. It looked like it was about to become the all-familiar Duffy show.
However like in the men’s race, conditions in Abu Dhabi were not favourable with the rain and oil on the F1 track making life slippy for the triathletes. Duffy fell victim to this, falling in the tunnel where it was particularly bad. There was no way back for the Bermudan and suddenly the race was wide open.
Crashed out. I’m fine. Super slick course. So disappointed. https://t.co/YD5NSSG3sp
— Flora Duffy (@floraduffy) March 2, 2018
With about 5km to go there was a lead group of about eight triathletes, including Katie Zaferes (USA), Rachel Klamer (Netherlands), Sophie Coldwell (GB), Jess Learmonth (GB), Kirsten Kasper (USA), Natalie VanCoevorden (AUS), Lotte Miller (NOR) and Melanie Santos (POR) all in contention. But then the infamous tunnel claimed its next victims as Zaferes and Coldwell both fell. For the six remaining it was now just about survival and riding safely until T2.
Which they did and when safely out on the 5km run the six soon became four as Kasper, Klamer, Learmonth, and VanCoevorden broke away. Then as the bell went for the last lap of the 5km run it became two as Learmonth and Klamer made their move.
Running strong Klamer then left a tired Learmonth with about 800 yards to go and claim her first WTS victory. A penalty for Kasper assured a tiring Learmonth of second and a sprint finish from VanCoevorden earned her the final podium place.
“I am so happy, there was no way I was expecting this,” says Klamer. “I have to say I was quite scared on the bike because the last few months I have been training on only straight roads and didn’t do any corners. There was a lot of women crashing so I just decided to take it easy, ride hard, but just go easy through the corners. I ended up sitting behind a couple crashes, which wasn’t smart so I had to chase one whole lap to get back to the front pack. But I am happy I stayed on my bike.
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“When we started running I tried to focus on my breathing because normally at the start of the season I often get side stitches. I stayed at the back of the back on the first lap, but on the last lap I thought I would just give it a try.”
It was another stellar field for the women’s sprint race in the United Arab Emirates. Nine of the top ten women would race, including reigning world champ Flora Duffy and Rio bronze medallist Vicky Holland. The only notable absentee was Olympic champ Gwen Jorgensen who has moved to marathon running.
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If you were a betting person your money would be on Flora Duffy for the victory. The double world champion dominated the 2017 season, and with a technical bike course WTS Abu Dhabi looked like it would all play out to her strengths
The early indications were that it would. Brit Jess Learmonth would lead the swim, with Duffy just behind. Out on the bike Duffy and Learmonth then made a leading duo until Duffy pulled away at the end of the first lap. It looked like it was about to become the all-familiar Duffy show.
However like in the men’s race, conditions in Abu Dhabi were not favourable with the rain and oil on the F1 track making life slippy for the triathletes. Duffy fell victim to this, falling in the tunnel where it was particularly bad. There was no way back for the Bermudan and suddenly the race was wide open.
Crashed out. I’m fine. Super slick course. So disappointed. https://t.co/YD5NSSG3sp
— Flora Duffy (@floraduffy) March 2, 2018
With about 5km to go there was a lead group of about eight triathletes, including Katie Zaferes (USA), Rachel Klamer (Netherlands), Sophie Coldwell (GB), Jess Learmonth (GB), Kirsten Kasper (USA), Natalie VanCoevorden (AUS), Lotte Miller (NOR) and Melanie Santos (POR) all in contention. But then the infamous tunnel claimed its next victims as Zaferes and Coldwell both fell. For the six remaining it was now just about survival and riding safely until T2.
Which they did and when safely out on the 5km run the six soon became four as Kasper, Klamer, Learmonth, and VanCoevorden broke away. Then as the bell went for the last lap of the 5km run it became two as Learmonth and Klamer made their move.
Running strong Klamer then left a tired Learmonth with about 800 yards to go and claim her first WTS victory. A penalty for Kasper assured a tiring Learmonth of second and a sprint finish from VanCoevorden earned her the final podium place.
“I am so happy, there was no way I was expecting this,” says Klamer. “I have to say I was quite scared on the bike because the last few months I have been training on only straight roads and didn’t do any corners. There was a lot of women crashing so I just decided to take it easy, ride hard, but just go easy through the corners. I ended up sitting behind a couple crashes, which wasn’t smart so I had to chase one whole lap to get back to the front pack. But I am happy I stayed on my bike.
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“When we started running I tried to focus on my breathing because normally at the start of the season I often get side stitches. I stayed at the back of the back on the first lap, but on the last lap I thought I would just give it a try.”
You won’t need to hang around for the triathletes at this year’s Commonwealth Games. Both the women’s and men’s contests take place on the first morning of competition, with the rapid-fire mixed relay following two days later. It will also be a Commonwealth debut for paratriathlon, with the wheelchair racers taking centre stage.
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Men to watch Alistair Brownlee, England
Having defended his Olympic title in Rio, Brownlee now attempts the feat at Commonwealth level. But while it might appear a more straightforward task than faced in Brazil, nothing is simple where the Yorkshireman is concerned. Last season was again cut short by injury and operation, and Brownlee’s pledge to race longer – such as Dubai 70.3 last month, which he won in dominating style – is at odds to the sprint distance test of Gold Coast. That said, the smaller field, and bags of experience still mean he’ll start as odds-on favourite.
Jonny Brownlee, England
Can the younger Brownlee finally step out of the shadow of his brother on a global stage? While it’s a perennial poser, the shorter format of 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run should suit the 27-year-old, whose rare triumphs over a fit big brother have come over the sprint distance, such as Hamburg in 2013. Their race plan – and best chance of success – will be to distance the competition by T2 and turn it into another head-to-head family showdown.
Jake Birtwhistle, Australia
The long-striding Australian might be the man to upset the Brownlees – if he can reach the run leg in contention. A multiple Australian champion over middle distance on the track, his switch to triathlon yielded an Under-23 world title in 2015 and two runners-up berths on the World Triathlon Series – both over the sprint distance – last year. The Tasmanian, just 23, will not be short of support on the Gold Coast and has the further fillip of being part of Australia’s reigning world mixed relay team.
Also watch out for…
The calibre of triathlon among Commonwealth nations is always high and the South Africans, Olympic bronze medallist Henri Schoeman (who will be heading there riding high after his convincing win over the sprint distance at WTS Abu Dhabi on March 2) and Richard Murray – fourth at the Rio Olympics – offer a medal threat. England’s Tom Bishop, ranked seventh in last year’s World Triathlon Series, and the Scottish duo of Marc Austin, a former world under-23 silver medallist, and Grant Sheldon, a former world junior bronze medallist, will all hope to break into the top five. The sprint distance should also suit Australia’s world under-23 bronze medallist Luke Willian, just 21, who raced to sixth in the World Series on the Gold Coast course last year.
Women to watch
Flora Duffy, Bermuda
With seven wins in her last nine World Triathlon Series races (and in one of the other two she was second and at WTS Abu Dhabi she DNFed after a crash on the bike forced her to retire), the Bermudan will be a marked woman on Gold Coast – and won’t care a jot. Her race plan is simple. Go hard from the front and hold on. That formidable record does make her the woman to beat – but neither the flat course, nor the sprint distance really play into her hands as the best biker in the field. That said, her improved run leg can be argued to be on par with the competition, so only a few seconds advantage emerging from T2 might be enough.
Jess Learmonth, England
Last year was a breakthrough year for the Leeds’ triathlete, who ended 2017 with a first podium on the World Triathlon Series in the Grand Final in Rotterdam and she has started 2018 in great form with a second at WTS Abu Dhabi. As the best female swimmer in short course racing, and with strong biking skills honed on the Yorkshire Dales, the reigning European champion has proved the perfect front-running foil to help Duffy put time into the chasing pack. If that game-plan again plays out in Gold Coast, then expect Learmonth to challenge for a medal.
Vicky Holland, England
The 32-year-old has an impressive major competition pedigree as a two-time Olympian, with bronze in 2016 making her Britain’s first female triathlon medallist. Having pipped then-housemate Non Stanford in Rio, she left the Leeds’ high performance centre and re-rooted to Bath, where she’s now coached by partner Rhys Davey. Holland also has an individual bronze and team gold in the mixed relay to show from the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Also watch out for…
England’s formidable trio is completed by Sophie Coldwell, 22, who was selected ahead of reigning champion and training partner Jodie Stimpson. Stanford, the 2013 ITU world champion, who missed Glasgow 2014 through injury, will hope to regain enough fitness to win a medal for Wales. And Scotland’s Beth Potter is worth looking out for as a former track athlete with a 10km PB of 32min 3sec. The host’s hopes rest with world-ranked number three, Ashleigh Gentle, although team-mate Charlotte McShane is a threat as a previous Under-23 world champion. If it’s not to be Aussie success, almost as popular would be a win for New Zealand’s Andrea Hewitt. The evergreen Kiwi will turn 36 the day before the race, and already has a bronze medal from when the Commonwealth Games were last contested in Australia, in 2006.
Mixed Relay
England
While the two-man, two-woman team will not be named until after the individual competition, you can perm two of three from either gender – the Brownlee brothers and Bishop, or Learmonth, Holland and Coldwell – and the England team will not be significantly weakened. The Brownlees and Holland were part of the winning squad in 2014, where victory was secured by a comfortable 49secs, but expect it to be a stiffer test this time around.
Australia
The host nation has every reason to be optimistic about improving on the bronze medal from Glasgow. Despite an all-changed quartet from 2014, Australia are the reigning world champions, with McShane, Matt Hauser, Gentle and Birtwhistle beating the USA to the title in Hamburg last year. All four have been selected for Gold Coast, and with McShane the oldest at 27, they have youth – as well as home support – on their side.
South Africa
Already strong on the men’s side with consistent World Series performers Schoeman and Murray, the Commonwealth silver medallists from 2014 have received a further boost with Simone Ackermann switching allegiance from New Zealand having felt misled by the governing body over her omission from the Rio Olympics. Richmond-based two-time Olympian Gillian Sanders makes up the four, having successfully combined with Murray and Schoeman in Strathclyde Park four years ago.
Paratriathlon
Men to watch PT1
Bill Chaffey, Australia
Although 42 years old, the five-time ITU world champion is still the man to beat. Turned to wheelchair racing after being hit by a truck in 2005 while training for Ironman, Chaffey is undefeated against triathletes from the Commonwealth. But the Australian police officer is not infallible having missed a Paralympic medal in 2016 when finishing fourth. Chaffey’s aggressive style means thrills – and spills – are to be expected. He recently lost his national title by crashing out of his chair 200m from the finish line in the recent Australian championships on the Gold Coast.
Joe Townsend, England
Former marine who lost both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan is a genuine medal contender after his bronze in the World Triathlon Grand Final in September. The two Dutch athletes that beat him on that occasion will not be in competition, but Australian nemesis Chaffey, who finished ahead of Townsend in the Paralympics will be. The 29-year-old paratriathlete was sixth in Rio, but is still improving, and having comfortably won the national championship in August, is indisputably the British number one.
Mark Conway, England
The 38-year-old lost a leg in his fight against bone cancer as a teenager, but was inspired to tri by wheelchair ace David Weir’s medal-winning heroics at London 2012. The Lincolnshire paratriathlete just missed out on a place at the Rio Olympics to the experienced Phil Hogg, but has been rewarded for his dedication with a starting berth on Gold Coast. Seven weeks full-time training, including a trip to Mallorca, has given him a break from the day job with the county council and the hope he can break into medal contention.
Also watch out for…
Paralysed from the waist down due to a neurological condition, 31-year-old Queenslander Nic Beveridge will be the pacesetter by virtue of receiving a 3min head start over triathletes deemed to have less of a disability. Since taking up the sport five years ago, he’s also improved every season and came in just seven seconds behind Townsend in the Grand Final in September. Beverideg’s form is just ahead of the third member of the host nation, Scott Crowley, 38, who sustained spinal injuries 12 years ago and was formerly a professional wheelchair basketball player in Italy.
Women to watch PT1
Emily Tapp, Australia
The gold medal favourite and five-time ITU world champion hasn’t been beaten since Chicago 2015 – although Jade Jones-Hall came within 58sec in Rotterdam last year. The 26-year-old Sydney-born racer was selected for the Australian para-athletics team for the Rio Paralympics but had to withdraw after suffering severe burns before flying to pre-Games training camp. As an H1-rated athlete, Tapp will start with a 3min 58sec time advantage over less disabled competitors, and is joined by fellow Aussies Sara Tait and Lauren Parker. The latter finished second in the 2015 Ironman world championship in her age-group before breaking her back and pelvis in a bike crash in 2017.
Jade Jones-Hall, England
The 22-year-old law student from Middlesbrough might be inexperienced in triathlon – her first ITU race was in Yokohama last year – but is already a two-time Paralympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist over 1,500m in Glasgow. Medal hopes are well founded having finished second in the 2017 Grand Final in Rotterdam, and mentored by 11-time Paralympic champion Tanni Grey-Thompson, she will also return to wheelchair racing action, taking part in both the 1,500m and the marathon.
Lizzie Tench, England
The 43-year-old from Shropshire broke her back after being hit by the trailer of an overtaking car in 2012 and was recruited by British Triathlon after a Talent ID programme in 2014. British paratriathlon champion for the past three years, she’s competitive on the world stage, becoming European champion and world silver medallist in 2016. Will be Tench’s first opportunity to race paratri at a global multisport festival because the women’s PT1 class was omitted from the Paralympics, although the men’s wheelchair division did race.
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Also watch out for…
Another H1 paratriathlete, Scotland’s Karen Darke was paratriathlon world champion in Auckland 2012, having won Paralympic silver on the hand-cycle at London 2012 a month earlier. That turned to time trial gold in Rio 2016, after which she was awarded an MBE for her services to sport. Having returned to tri, she won in Italy last year and finished second to Tench in the national championship in the East Midlands.
You won’t need to hang around for the triathletes at this year’s Commonwealth Games. Both the women’s and men’s contests take place on the first morning of competition, with the rapid-fire mixed relay following two days later. It will also be a Commonwealth debut for paratriathlon, with the wheelchair racers taking centre stage.
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Men to watch Alistair Brownlee, England
Having defended his Olympic title in Rio, Brownlee now attempts the feat at Commonwealth level. But while it might appear a more straightforward task than faced in Brazil, nothing is simple where the Yorkshireman is concerned. Last season was again cut short by injury and operation, and Brownlee’s pledge to race longer – such as Dubai 70.3 last month, which he won in dominating style – is at odds to the sprint distance test of Gold Coast. That said, the smaller field, and bags of experience still mean he’ll start as odds-on favourite.
Jonny Brownlee, England
Can the younger Brownlee finally step out of the shadow of his brother on a global stage? While it’s a perennial poser, the shorter format of 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run should suit the 27-year-old, whose rare triumphs over a fit big brother have come over the sprint distance, such as Hamburg in 2013. Their race plan – and best chance of success – will be to distance the competition by T2 and turn it into another head-to-head family showdown.
Jake Birtwhistle, Australia
The long-striding Australian might be the man to upset the Brownlees – if he can reach the run leg in contention. A multiple Australian champion over middle distance on the track, his switch to triathlon yielded an Under-23 world title in 2015 and two runners-up berths on the World Triathlon Series – both over the sprint distance – last year. The Tasmanian, just 23, will not be short of support on the Gold Coast and has the further fillip of being part of Australia’s reigning world mixed relay team.
Also watch out for…
The calibre of triathlon among Commonwealth nations is always high and the South Africans, Olympic bronze medallist Henri Schoeman (who will be heading there riding high after his convincing win over the sprint distance at WTS Abu Dhabi on March 2) and Richard Murray – fourth at the Rio Olympics – offer a medal threat. England’s Tom Bishop, ranked seventh in last year’s World Triathlon Series, and the Scottish duo of Marc Austin, a former world under-23 silver medallist, and Grant Sheldon, a former world junior bronze medallist, will all hope to break into the top five. The sprint distance should also suit Australia’s world under-23 bronze medallist Luke Willian, just 21, who raced to sixth in the World Series on the Gold Coast course last year.
Women to watch
Flora Duffy, Bermuda
With seven wins in her last nine World Triathlon Series races (and in one of the other two she was second and at WTS Abu Dhabi she DNFed after a crash on the bike forced her to retire), the Bermudan will be a marked woman on Gold Coast – and won’t care a jot. Her race plan is simple. Go hard from the front and hold on. That formidable record does make her the woman to beat – but neither the flat course, nor the sprint distance really play into her hands as the best biker in the field. That said, her improved run leg can be argued to be on par with the competition, so only a few seconds advantage emerging from T2 might be enough.
Jess Learmonth, England
Last year was a breakthrough year for the Leeds’ triathlete, who ended 2017 with a first podium on the World Triathlon Series in the Grand Final in Rotterdam and she has started 2018 in great form with a second at WTS Abu Dhabi. As the best female swimmer in short course racing, and with strong biking skills honed on the Yorkshire Dales, the reigning European champion has proved the perfect front-running foil to help Duffy put time into the chasing pack. If that game-plan again plays out in Gold Coast, then expect Learmonth to challenge for a medal.
Vicky Holland, England
The 32-year-old has an impressive major competition pedigree as a two-time Olympian, with bronze in 2016 making her Britain’s first female triathlon medallist. Having pipped then-housemate Non Stanford in Rio, she left the Leeds’ high performance centre and re-rooted to Bath, where she’s now coached by partner Rhys Davey. Holland also has an individual bronze and team gold in the mixed relay to show from the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Also watch out for…
England’s formidable trio is completed by Sophie Coldwell, 22, who was selected ahead of reigning champion and training partner Jodie Stimpson. Stanford, the 2013 ITU world champion, who missed Glasgow 2014 through injury, will hope to regain enough fitness to win a medal for Wales. And Scotland’s Beth Potter is worth looking out for as a former track athlete with a 10km PB of 32min 3sec. The host’s hopes rest with world-ranked number three, Ashleigh Gentle, although team-mate Charlotte McShane is a threat as a previous Under-23 world champion. If it’s not to be Aussie success, almost as popular would be a win for New Zealand’s Andrea Hewitt. The evergreen Kiwi will turn 36 the day before the race, and already has a bronze medal from when the Commonwealth Games were last contested in Australia, in 2006.
While the two-man, two-woman team will not be named until after the individual competition, you can perm two of three from either gender – the Brownlee brothers and Bishop, or Learmonth, Holland and Coldwell – and the England team will not be significantly weakened. The Brownlees and Holland were part of the winning squad in 2014, where victory was secured by a comfortable 49secs, but expect it to be a stiffer test this time around.
Australia
The host nation has every reason to be optimistic about improving on the bronze medal from Glasgow. Despite an all-changed quartet from 2014, Australia are the reigning world champions, with McShane, Matt Hauser, Gentle and Birtwhistle beating the USA to the title in Hamburg last year. All four have been selected for Gold Coast, and with McShane the oldest at 27, they have youth – as well as home support – on their side.
South Africa
Already strong on the men’s side with consistent World Series performers Schoeman and Murray, the Commonwealth silver medallists from 2014 have received a further boost with Simone Ackermann switching allegiance from New Zealand having felt misled by the governing body over her omission from the Rio Olympics. Richmond-based two-time Olympian Gillian Sanders makes up the four, having successfully combined with Murray and Schoeman in Strathclyde Park four years ago.
Paratriathlon
Men to watch PT1
Bill Chaffey, Australia
Although 42 years old, the five-time ITU world champion is still the man to beat. Turned to wheelchair racing after being hit by a truck in 2005 while training for Ironman, Chaffey is undefeated against triathletes from the Commonwealth. But the Australian police officer is not infallible having missed a Paralympic medal in 2016 when finishing fourth. Chaffey’s aggressive style means thrills – and spills – are to be expected. He recently lost his national title by crashing out of his chair 200m from the finish line in the recent Australian championships on the Gold Coast.
Joe Townsend, England
Former marine who lost both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan is a genuine medal contender after his bronze in the World Triathlon Grand Final in September. The two Dutch athletes that beat him on that occasion will not be in competition, but Australian nemesis Chaffey, who finished ahead of Townsend in the Paralympics will be. The 29-year-old paratriathlete was sixth in Rio, but is still improving, and having comfortably won the national championship in August, is indisputably the British number one.
Mark Conway, England
The 38-year-old lost a leg in his fight against bone cancer as a teenager, but was inspired to tri by wheelchair ace David Weir’s medal-winning heroics at London 2012. The Lincolnshire paratriathlete just missed out on a place at the Rio Olympics to the experienced Phil Hogg, but has been rewarded for his dedication with a starting berth on Gold Coast. Seven weeks full-time training, including a trip to Mallorca, has given him a break from the day job with the county council and the hope he can break into medal contention.
Also watch out for…
Paralysed from the waist down due to a neurological condition, 31-year-old Queenslander Nic Beveridge will be the pacesetter by virtue of receiving a 3min head start over triathletes deemed to have less of a disability. Since taking up the sport five years ago, he’s also improved every season and came in just seven seconds behind Townsend in the Grand Final in September. Beverideg’s form is just ahead of the third member of the host nation, Scott Crowley, 38, who sustained spinal injuries 12 years ago and was formerly a professional wheelchair basketball player in Italy.
Women to watch PT1
Emily Tapp, Australia
The gold medal favourite and five-time ITU world champion hasn’t been beaten since Chicago 2015 – although Jade Jones-Hall came within 58sec in Rotterdam last year. The 26-year-old Sydney-born racer was selected for the Australian para-athletics team for the Rio Paralympics but had to withdraw after suffering severe burns before flying to pre-Games training camp. As an H1-rated athlete, Tapp will start with a 3min 58sec time advantage over less disabled competitors, and is joined by fellow Aussies Sara Tait and Lauren Parker. The latter finished second in the 2015 Ironman world championship in her age-group before breaking her back and pelvis in a bike crash in 2017.
Jade Jones-Hall, England
The 22-year-old law student from Middlesbrough might be inexperienced in triathlon – her first ITU race was in Yokohama last year – but is already a two-time Paralympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist over 1,500m in Glasgow. Medal hopes are well founded having finished second in the 2017 Grand Final in Rotterdam, and mentored by 11-time Paralympic champion Tanni Grey-Thompson, she will also return to wheelchair racing action, taking part in both the 1,500m and the marathon.
Lizzie Tench, England
The 43-year-old from Shropshire broke her back after being hit by the trailer of an overtaking car in 2012 and was recruited by British Triathlon after a Talent ID programme in 2014. British paratriathlon champion for the past three years, she’s competitive on the world stage, becoming European champion and world silver medallist in 2016. Will be Tench’s first opportunity to race paratri at a global multisport festival because the women’s PT1 class was omitted from the Paralympics, although the men’s wheelchair division did race.
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Also watch out for…
Another H1 paratriathlete, Scotland’s Karen Darke was paratriathlon world champion in Auckland 2012, having won Paralympic silver on the hand-cycle at London 2012 a month earlier. That turned to time trial gold in Rio 2016, after which she was awarded an MBE for her services to sport. Having returned to tri, she won in Italy last year and finished second to Tench in the national championship in the East Midlands.
220 Triathlon is to be the Official Print Media Supplier for this summer’s ITU World Triathlon Leeds 2018 event taking place on 9th and 10th June in the Yorkshire city, taking place on 9th and 10th June in the Yorkshire city.
At the ITU World Triathlon Series, the world’s best triathletes travel to iconic cities, including Leeds in June, to compete head-to-head in Standard and Sprint distance races for a chance to be crowned World Champion. For the third consecutive year, the ITU World Triathlon Leeds will also host thousands of amateur triathletes competing in front of a host of excited sports fans lining the streets.
This year’s event has already surpassed 2017’s total number of standard distance entries and organisers of the event are excited to be working with 220 Triathlon, engaging with its readers and generating a great buzz around the event within the triathlon community.
With three months to go until the start of the ITU World Triathlon Leeds 2018, there is still plenty of time for people to get their entries in for: GO TRI, sprint and standard distance events. Organisers are encouraging people to take part in the triathlon challenge this summer at: leeds.triathlon.org/enter_now/
220 named Go Tri Leeds as the UK’s 6th best short (supersprint and sprint) triathlons for beginners
Chief Executive of British Triathlon,Andy Salmon commented, “It’s fantastic to have 220 Triathlon on board for what we know is going to be a spectacular weekend of triathlon in Leeds. 220 Triathlon is the industry leading magazine for our sport and our new relationship highlights the continued growth of this year’s event both in terms of participation and attractiveness for commercial brands to showcase their products alongside one of the world’s leading triathlon events.”
Event Director for the ITU World Triathlon Leeds 2018 event, Wayne Coyle added, “We’re delighted to welcome 220 Triathlon to our family of supporters for the ITU World Triathlon Leeds 2018. It’s great working with an instantly recognisable brand within the triathlon community and we look forward to sharing the story of the event over the coming months with 220 Triathlon.”
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Editor of 220 Triathlon, Helen Webster said, “We’re really excited to be media sponsors for the ITU World Triathlon Leeds 2018. This promises to be a fantastic weekend and is a great opportunity for us to engage with our audience. Not only will our readers be able to race on the same course as some of the biggest names in the sport, but it’s also a chance for 220 Triathlon and British Triathlon to show spectators and newcomers why this is a sport they should get involved with.”
220 Triathlon is to be the Official Print Media Supplier for this summer’s ITU World Triathlon Leeds 2018 event taking place on 9th and 10th June in the Yorkshire city, taking place on 9th and 10th June in the Yorkshire city.
At the ITU World Triathlon Series, the world’s best triathletes travel to iconic cities, including Leeds in June, to compete head-to-head in Standard and Sprint distance races for a chance to be crowned World Champion. For the third consecutive year, the ITU World Triathlon Leeds will also host thousands of amateur triathletes competing in front of a host of excited sports fans lining the streets.
This year’s event has already surpassed 2017’s total number of standard distance entries and organisers of the event are excited to be working with 220 Triathlon, engaging with its readers and generating a great buzz around the event within the triathlon community.
With three months to go until the start of the ITU World Triathlon Leeds 2018, there is still plenty of time for people to get their entries in for: GO TRI, sprint and standard distance events. Organisers are encouraging people to take part in the triathlon challenge this summer at: leeds.triathlon.org/enter_now/
220 named Go Tri Leeds as the UK’s 6th best short (supersprint and sprint) triathlons for beginners
Chief Executive of British Triathlon,Andy Salmon commented, “It’s fantastic to have 220 Triathlon on board for what we know is going to be a spectacular weekend of triathlon in Leeds. 220 Triathlon is the industry leading magazine for our sport and our new relationship highlights the continued growth of this year’s event both in terms of participation and attractiveness for commercial brands to showcase their products alongside one of the world’s leading triathlon events.”
Event Director for the ITU World Triathlon Leeds 2018 event, Wayne Coyle added, “We’re delighted to welcome 220 Triathlon to our family of supporters for the ITU World Triathlon Leeds 2018. It’s great working with an instantly recognisable brand within the triathlon community and we look forward to sharing the story of the event over the coming months with 220 Triathlon.”
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Editor of 220 Triathlon, Helen Webster said, “We’re really excited to be media sponsors for the ITU World Triathlon Leeds 2018. This promises to be a fantastic weekend and is a great opportunity for us to engage with our audience. Not only will our readers be able to race on the same course as some of the biggest names in the sport, but it’s also a chance for 220 Triathlon and British Triathlon to show spectators and newcomers why this is a sport they should get involved with.”
The Brownlee Brothers blood test includes the most relevant markers that can both be affected by exercise and affect performance, and is aimed to offer people a broader understanding of their body, enabling them to take control of their health and physical performance.
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Alistair Brownlee said: “When we saw the robust approach to health that Werlabs takes, we knew we wanted to get involved and create a blood test that would be of benefit to people whether or not they are athletes.
“To get through the mental and physical wear and tear of our training it is vital that we are in peak condition, both physically and mentally. Together with Werlabs we created this blood test, that looks at over 30 blood values. “It was so interesting to get an insight into what is happening inside our bodies, to ensure we are doing what is right for our health from the inside out.”
Jonny said: “Our competitive nature is deep within us. Even when we took this blood test, we wanted to ‘out do’ the other one with our blood values! Along with Werlabs, I think it is extremely valuable to push those boundaries and enjoy and embrace our training, knowing we are doing as much as we can for our health and performance. For anyone about to undertake a physical challenge, or those who exercise regularly, this test will show if major organs work properly and that there are no deficiencies which could affect your performance.
Sweden-based Werlabs has now entered the UK market. Werlabs doctor Linnea Haggård said: “It will be very exciting to monitor the blood values of top athletes such as the Brownlees. Intense exercise affects most of the major organs in the body, which in turn can affect your performance. “
Werlabs collaborate with the NHS and use only accredited laboratories, and has received the European Commission’s Seal of Excellence.
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The Brownlee Brothers blood test, and further information is available here https://werlabs.co.uk/brownlees. The package, which includes testing of over 30 blood markers, is £139.00
The Brownlee Brothers blood test includes the most relevant markers that can both be affected by exercise and affect performance, and is aimed to offer people a broader understanding of their body, enabling them to take control of their health and physical performance.
Advertisement
Alistair Brownlee said: “When we saw the robust approach to health that Werlabs takes, we knew we wanted to get involved and create a blood test that would be of benefit to people whether or not they are athletes.
“To get through the mental and physical wear and tear of our training it is vital that we are in peak condition, both physically and mentally. Together with Werlabs we created this blood test, that looks at over 30 blood values. “It was so interesting to get an insight into what is happening inside our bodies, to ensure we are doing what is right for our health from the inside out.”
Jonny said: “Our competitive nature is deep within us. Even when we took this blood test, we wanted to ‘out do’ the other one with our blood values! Along with Werlabs, I think it is extremely valuable to push those boundaries and enjoy and embrace our training, knowing we are doing as much as we can for our health and performance. For anyone about to undertake a physical challenge, or those who exercise regularly, this test will show if major organs work properly and that there are no deficiencies which could affect your performance.
Sweden-based Werlabs has now entered the UK market. Werlabs doctor Linnea Haggård said: “It will be very exciting to monitor the blood values of top athletes such as the Brownlees. Intense exercise affects most of the major organs in the body, which in turn can affect your performance. “
Werlabs collaborate with the NHS and use only accredited laboratories, and has received the European Commission’s Seal of Excellence.
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The Brownlee Brothers blood test, and further information is available here https://werlabs.co.uk/brownlees. The package, which includes testing of over 30 blood markers, is £139.00
If you’re racing an Ironman later this summer, then the Dulux Trade London Revolution could provide a worthy gauge of your long-distance bike fitness.
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The event takes place on 12-13th May around London, and has a mix of distances and packages on offer, including:
• All inclusive weekender – (300km, 2 days riding, camping, massages, breakfast and dinner, festival pass)
• Essential weekender – (300km, 2 days riding, camping, festival pass)
• Just Ride – (300km, 2 days riding, festival pass)
• Oracle Ultra – (300km, 1 day, festival pass)
• South London Leg – Saturday 160km (no camping)
• North London Leg – Sunday 140km (no camping)
• Charity – (for CRUK and Gold Charity Partners)
The organisers have confirmed that participation in the 300km Oracle Ultra event has increased almost ten-fold in its second year.
Oracle Ultra riders set off very early from Windsor Racecourse on the Saturday morning and cycle 300km clockwise around London. They will cycle through the Chiltern Hills, Epping Forest, the City of London, out over the North Downs and back to where they began and the Windsor Racecourse festival camp.
There they’ll join riders taking part in the two-day 300km Dulux Trade London Revolution Weekender, who start their journey at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre in London, camp on Saturday night and complete the route on Sunday.
The route is varied, with testing climbs and sweeping descents, London landmarks, views across the Downs, leafy lanes and picturesque villages.
The event is fully supported. Cyclists receive training plans and there’s a sign-posted route, regular pit stops, delicious food and drink, chaperones and medical and mechanical support.
At the Windsor Racecourse festival camp friends and family can join riders to kick back and relax with the Kids Zone, bouncy castles, face painting, chill-out tents, live music, bars, food and drink and retail stalls with a fantastic range of exhibitors as well as live music.
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More information is available at www.london-revolution.com