March 2021 – Page 19 – BLOGGERPARUNG

Mario Mola wins world title in dramatic race

Posted on March 14, 2021 by BLOGGERPARUNG

Coming into the final race of the season, the message was clear: if Jonny Brownlee was to win the world title he needed to win WTS Cozumel and keep Spaniard Mario Mola off the podium. With just 400m of the race to go, the plan was working as Jonny led the field and Mola was trailing in fifth.

Jonny’s second elite ITU world title beckoned, until a bonk saw him collapse with exhaustion. His brother Alistair would scoop him up and carry his younger sibling to the line, being passed by South Africa’s Henri Schoeman on the way. Jonny would finish second and be rushed straight to hospital as Mola came home in fifth to take the world title by just four points.

Despite soaring temperatures, the race had the Brownlees’ traditional stamp of authority all over it from the outset. The brothers were second and third out of the water behind Raphael Aurelien from France (with Mola around 20secs back), and they emerged from T1 sharing the lead on the bike course.

Both Brownlees were joined by seven other riders to form a lead group of nine, which included Aaron Royle (AUS), Greg Billington (USA), Henri Schoeman (RSA), Raphael Aurelien (FRA), João Pereira (POR), Alessandro Fabian (ITA) and Andrea Salvisberg (SUI), and throughout the eight laps the group worked well to extend their lead on the chase group from 21secs to 1min 30secs by the time they got to T2.

Should Jonny win Mola would need to podium to claim the title, and he set a blistering pace on the early stages of the 10km run; however both Brownlees had no intention of letting him catch them. The brothers and Schoeman formed a front group of three and stayed there, maintaining their one minute lead they obtained in the bike.

It was all but certain that the podium would be the same as Rio, but the question was in what order? It was the younger Brownlee who made the first move, with Schoeman and Alistair trailing behind. The title looked his for the taking.

However with 400 metres Brownlee started to wobble, staggering and appearing disorientated. In worrying scenes he staggered over to an official, before brother Alistair scooped him up and almost carried him to the line. Medics rushed over to help as he collapsed and joined Julie Moss, Paula Newby-Fraser and Sian Welch in triathlon’s greatest bonks montage.

In the meantime Schoeman had ran past the brothers to clam victory, his first WTS win, and Mario Mola finished in fifth to take the world title by just four points. Jonny was given second place in the race and series, while Fernando Alarza (ESP) took third place in the series

Alistair Brownlee said: “If it happened to anyone I’d help them across the line, it’s an awful position to be in. If he conked out a K [kilometre] from the finish line and there’s no medical support, it’s dangerous. I wish he’d get his pacing right and get to the finish line first. He could have won easily, he could have jogged that last 2km and won the race, but who am I to talk!?

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“You have to race the conditions. I’ve done what I wanted to do for the season so I wasn’t going to put it on the line today. I was quite comfortable, thinking I’m going to get second or third. I made sure I took lots of water on, made sure I kept myself cool and I was alright.”

Mario Mola commented: “First of all, that’s not the way I wanted to win the world championships. I thought, well, I’m going to be second again, but at least I will fight until the end. It’s racing, that’s triathlon and I’m very happy to win.”

The Spanish Triathlon Federation lodged a protest about Jonny receiving assistance; however the ITU jury ruled against him being disqualified in accordance to the rules, which state that athletes can receive help from other athletes, Technical Officials or Race Officials.

WTS Cozumel: all the drama and emotion in pictures

Posted on March 14, 2021 by BLOGGERPARUNG

The video of Alistair Brownlee helping his brother to the finishing line of WTS Cozumel has gone viral. The emotional scenes of Alistair supporting and half carrying his younger brother bring a tear to the eye. It was not only a bid to give him the best chance of winning the World Series and being awarded the title world champion, but also so he could get medical assistance he obviously needed.

WTS final in Cozumel: who will win men’s world title?

Alistair said: ““I have been in that position before, when it happened to me in London a few years ago, I remember being in second place and then coming around and someone telling me I was in tenth.

“I couldn’t remember all of those people passing me. So I swore that, literally if it happened to anyone I would help them across the line. It is an awful position to be in, if he clunks out 1k from the finish line there is no medical support, it is a dangerous position to be in. Obviously the World Series is a big race, but I just had to do what was right in that situation.”

And in typical Yorkshire, understated fashion Alistair, once he delivered Jonny safely to the line, called him an ‘idiot’ for not pacing properly.

“I wish the flippin’ idiot had paced it!”

Brotherly love right there, Alistair Brownlee! https://t.co/DRirXNxbG9 pic.twitter.com/k0IiAPTamh

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 19, 2016

From his hospital bed Jonny tweeted:

Not how I wanted to end the season, but gave it everything. Thanks @AliBrownleetri, your loyalty is incredible pic.twitter.com/6uG4QiIgfS

— Jonathan Brownlee (@jonny_brownlee) 19 September 2016

Looking strong: The Brownlees out on the run leg with the South African Henri Schoeman, who would go on to win the race.

I’ve got you ‘bro’: Alistair helps Jonny to the line

La fraternité

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Mola accuses Brownlee of obstruction in swim

Posted on March 14, 2021 by BLOGGERPARUNG

Mario Mola has said that he believes Alistair Brownlee impeded him in the swim leg of WTS Cozumel. The story was reported by The Independent in the UK, based on an interview that the new ITU WTS Champion gave on Monday September 19 with Spanish station Radio Cope.

Jonny Brownlee, Alistair’s younger brother, was Mola’s biggest threat for the title, and it was this race that would determine who would be crowned ITU World Champion. If Jonny Brownlee won, and Mola didn’t make the top three, Jonny would be World Champion, otherwise the title would be Mola’s.

WTS final in Cozumel: who will win men’s world title?

“I don’t know who removed my hat and goggles off me in the swimming leg but I’m almost sure it’s the older of the Brownlees,” Mola reportedly told the radio station.

“I’d like to think it wasn’t intentional, but in the case that it was, I think it was totally unnecessary.

“After the finish, Jonny Brownlee gave me his congratulations. With him I’ve always had a good relationship. Alistair, he didn’t give me any.”

Thanks @jonny_brownlee. You had a brilliant year, it’s been a pleasure to share competition with you. See u in 2017! https://t.co/Sh9BPrpFMi

— Mario Mola Díaz (@mariomola) September 20, 2016

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The swim at the start was very rough and the men were bunched together for the majority of the 1,500m swim. Alistair exited the swim in second place in a time of 16:52mins, just in front of Jonny, while Mola came out 22 seconds later in a time of 17:14mins.

However Mola has tweeted:

@220Triathlon, @AliBrownleetri and I discussed it post race, no video or prove about intentionality. To me only a forgotten race situation.

— Mario Mola Díaz (@mariomola) September 21, 2016

The finish line drama – with Alistair helping Jonny over the finishing line to secure second behind Henri Schoeman after Jonny almost collapsed with heat exhaustion 400m from the finish – has since become worldwide news.

WTS Cozumel: all the drama and emotion in pictures

220 has invited Mario Mola and Alistair Brownlee to comment

New international team tri competition launched

Posted on March 14, 2021 by BLOGGERPARUNG

In a new international competition teams of 12 professional long-distance triathletes (six men and six women) from the USA, Europe and the rest of the world (dubbed the ‘Internationals’) will compete against each other.

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There will be 12 separate race matches, with an athlete from each team in each, and the races will be staggered 10 minutes apart. Athletes will be awarded points on their performances in their respective race match and the team with the most overall points from the 12 races will be crowned the victors.

The Collins Cup–How It Works

It has been called The Collins Cup in honour of John and Judy Collins, who founded Ironman in Hawaii when they issued a challenge to see who the toughest athletes were: swimmers, bikers, or runners, in 1978.

John and Judy Collins said: “It is quite incredible really. It is hard for us to believe that our endurance event, which started in Hawaii in the 1970s, with only 15 participants, has now inspired a global spectacle with professional teams from the USA, Europe and the Internationals competing for a trophy named after us.

“We are humbled and want to thank the Professional Triathletes Organisation for honouring us in this way.

The race is modelled on golf’s Ryder Cup and will be run by The Professional Triathletes Organisation.

Rich Allen, Executive Director of the PTO, said: “We are very pleased to be able to announce The Collins Cup to celebrate the sport of triathlon and honour John and Judy Collins, who 40 years ago were instrumental in founding the sport we love so much.”

It is expected the inaugural Collins Cup will be held in June 2018.

Alistair Brownlee says critics “don’t understand” heat exhaustion after WTS Cozumel heroics

Posted on March 14, 2021 by BLOGGERPARUNG

After footage appeared to show Alistair Brownlee shouting at Richard Murray shortly after getting brother Jonny over the finish line at WTS Cozumel, he revealed to 220 Triathlon that he simply said: “I would have done the same for you” – rubbishing the theory that Alistair was simply prioritising his brother’s chances of winning the World Triathlon Series by getting him to the line quicker.

Speaking at the Brownlee Triathlon in Leeds, an event the brothers have been involved in since its inception four years ago, Alistair was critical of those saying Jonny would have been tended to quicker had he left him with a steward:

“Anyone who’s saying it was potentially dangerous doesn’t understand the medical implications of heat exhaustion, frankly they’re wrong.

“People who are suffering with heat exhaustion need medical attention as quickly as possible, and no one in the crowd or any of the stewards could have got him to the finish line as quickly as I could, where the medics were. I’ll be honest when I saw the blue carpet it crossed my mind that I was going to get Jonny over the line too and he’d be in with a shout for the world title, but the priority was getting him medical help.”

Although the stand-alone footage of Alistair hauling Jonny to the finish has taken on a life of its own in the mainstream media, both brothers admitted that although the exposure for triathlon was positive, on a personal level it wasn’t what they wanted to be known for, with Alistair calling it “embarrassing” numerous times:

“It’s a bit embarrassing really, you put all this work in only to get more famous for being the brother that helped the other one over the line! If Jonny had have got the world title that would have been a successful season between us, job done. While we were in Mexico we were away from all the media, and it’s been a bit of a strange week since.

“The two big plusses that have come out of all this is the exposure triathlon has got, reaching an audience it usually wouldn’t and if it’s inspired people to take up the sport there’s no harm in that at all; and being able to talk about the danger of heat exhaustion and how seriously that needs to be taken is a big positive.”

Jonny said work began immediately after he left intensive care to establish what happened:

“For me I lost the World Championships, which was disappointing and obviously you want to correct what went wrong. I was on the phone to the British Triathlon doctor the next day, and I’ll be getting some heat testing done over the next couple of months to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

Jonny said that world champion Mario Mola’s comments about Alistair possibly knocking off his goggles early in the swim were likely misinterpreted in the days after the race, although Alistair said the Spaniard did initially suggest foul play but apologised “five minutes afterwards following a frank discussion”.

Alistair said: “I just said what happens in the swim happens, 200m in there’s no way I’m going to have time to think about knocking someone’s goggles off, that’s ridiculous. We spoke after the race and cleared this up, Mario apologised and we’ve been in touch through email since as well.

“At the line I said to Richard (Murray) that I would have done the same for him, I got heat exhaustion (in a World Series race) six years ago and it’s not a good position to be in, you need to get medical help straight away.”

For more information on the Brownlee Tri, head to www.brownleetri.com

For 220’s full interview with Alistair and Jonny look out for issue 332 of 220 Triathlon, on sale 10th November

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Paralympic tri squad aim to build on Rio success

Posted on March 14, 2021 by BLOGGERPARUNG

Three weeks to the day since Vicky Holland crossed the line to take bronze, and with it GB’s first-ever women’s Olympic tri medal, the same blue carpet bore witness to yet more history making – Andy Lewis taking gold in the men’s PT2 category. As important and fantastic an achievement as this was, what made this more significant was that it occurred during triathlon’s Paralympic debut. The first time paratri has featured in any Paralympic Games.

Paratriathlon: the ultimate guide

Watching Lewis’ race unfold alongside the many and varied personal battles playing out along the Copacabana Beach, it seemed so normal, it just worked, of course the paratriathlon was at the Paralympics, why wouldn’t it have been? It belongs there, it’s an outstanding spectator sport – it thrills, it enthralls, it excites.

And when your home team delivers medals it does all the above and more. 220 had the pleasure of spending two days in Loughborough last year, watching as the team went about its business of moulding a Paralympic-worthy team in their world-class training Hub.

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In pictures: GB paratriathletes in training

Even if they hadn’t produced the four medals in Rio, the GB squad achieved their goal just by sending the biggest tri team of any nation to Brazil; each and every member of the 13-strong squad (including two guides Nicole Walters and Hazel Smith) and the vast coaching team perfectly at home on the biggest sporting stage of them all.

So how does it feel to have surpassed even their high expectations? We caught up with head coach Jonathan Riall after the competitions.

“Well, it was unbelievable. [When Andy won] I was emotional beyond what I thought I might be actually. It’s been a long time in the making, a lot of hard work has gone in. A huge team has worked incredibly hard and to see Andy pull that off was just spectacular.

“You can just see the state some of the guys are in crossing the finish line,” Riall continued, “they’ve given it everything. And that’s all we can ask for. It’s just nice to know that they can finish their race and look like they’ve had the best race they’ve ever had.”

British Triathlon’s performance director Brendan Purcell knows how to produce a world-beating team, but while in Rio to help with the Paralympic team on a logistic level the show was very much being run by Riall.

“I see myself as a bit of a backstop. They know I’ve got their back. It’s easy for me to say I’ve done my job [with the Olympic team] but this is just as important for me.

“From a British perspective, awesome, four medals. But from a paratriathlon perspective, the best racing I’ve ever seen. It felt like everyone stepped up. I thought the men’s PT4 racing was outstanding. Look at these athletes, they’re just as good as the elites, if not better. They’re performance athletes, they might not be quite as quick but there’s a reason behind that. But that was outstanding, a sensational race. I loved every minute of that.

“If you’re someone who likes sport and that hasn’t got you excited then you’re dead inside. Cause that was exceptional.”

If only the multisporting world had had chance to see the action unfold. Not even the crowds lining the Copacabana course could view the full race as there was no live feed at the venue, just splits flashing up at the finish line. We can but hope that the Tokyo organisers deemed it worthy enough for a live broadcast come 2020.

But back to the action that was witnessed by the fortuitous followers in Rio. Beaming with pride once again after the women’s events brought GB’s final medal tally to four, courtesy of Lauren Steadman’s and Alison Patrick’s silvers and Melissa Reid’s bronze, Riall summed up the squad’s achievements:

“The guys just gave absolutely everything out there and in such tough conditions. The sport over the last two years has just progressed so so much, you can see the results, they’re going flat out at the end. The guys have raced hard and they’ve raced their best and the results are fare. They should be really really proud of themselves.

“I think for me personally, it’s seven years of a journey that started from zero. So to be going home with four athletes who are Paralympic medallists, it has quite a nice ring to it. And it sets a foundation for where the programme will continue to go. We’ve done so much work to be the best prepared and I think we were. And hopefully this will inspire a few more athletes to get involved.”

If you’re interested in giving paratri, or any Paralympic sport, a go, head to http://www.uksport.gov.uk/our-work/talent-id

And for a full report and exclusive images from all six of the Paralymic paratri events, be sure to pick up the November issue of 220, on sale 11 October.

Britain’s pioneering approach to elite paratriathlon training

Cat Morrison launches kids’ clothing brand

Posted on March 14, 2021 by BLOGGERPARUNG

Multiple triathlon and duathlon world champ Catriona Morrison has launched a new sportswear company for young people.

everactiv has been established by former pro multisporter Cat Morrison and business partner Linda Barclay with a commitment to support grassroots clubs through the donation of a percentage of its profits.

Through designing and delivering fun and funky clothing, which is both high quality and affordable, the duo hope to ‘break down many of the barriers that stand between young people feeling great and looking good when they’re active’.

Triathlon training for kids

everactiv’s first range is for girls aged from 7-14yrs, with the brand’s vision to inspire, motivate and enable young people to get active. Central to this vision is the ‘Club everactiv’ initiative, which will see the company donate a percentage of its profits from each sale to grassroots sports clubs or schools.

Organisations will register with everactiv and customers purchasing from the everactiv online shop will be able to select which organisation they’d like to receive a percentage of the profits from that sale. As funds accumulate, organisations will have the option of redeeming them for clothing or receiving the monetary donation to support junior sports development.

EVERLOVED INITIATIVE

everactiv’s commitment to making sportswear more accessible does not end there. Their ‘everloved’ programme will see once-loved but outgrown sportswear redistributed to young people who may not otherwise have access to sports clothing. This initiative will be launched in 2017.

Morrison, whose multiple careers wins include countless world and European duathlon titles as well as a famous victory at Ironman Lanzarote in 2010 after being sat on the sidelines for 40mins, retired from tri in early 2015.

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A wide range of tips and inspirational articles can also be found on the everactiv website at www.everactiv.com.

Female triathlon participation on the rise

Posted on March 14, 2021 by BLOGGERPARUNG

Following a summer of success for the sport, British Triathlon has just announced that women’s participation in triathlon is now higher than ever before.

This news coincides with Women’s Sport Week (3-9 October), a Sport England campaign aiming to increase the profile of women’s sport across the UK.

British Triathlon Women’s Participation Lead, Jenny Vincent, said: “We’re proud to be supporting Women’s Sport Week 2016 and celebrating the diverse range of females we have involved in the sport.

“We are experiencing a growing interest in triathlon following our women’s success at the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games, along with an increase in participation opportunities. We hope to see these numbers continue to grow over the coming year as we provide more specific chances for women to give tri a try.”

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It’s clear to see just how much participation has increased from the fact that 30% of qualified triathlon coaches are women, compared to a national sporting average of 17%.

To support the campaign, British Triathlon is hosting a number of Women’s Triathlon Training days alongside ‘Getting Women into Triathlon’ workshops to encourage more females to give it a try.

This is also a great time to recognise the female athletes who are at the top of their game. British Triathlon’s elite females have won four Olympic and Paralympic medals between them, plus a host of ITU World and ETU European titles.

Rio Paralympic Silver Medallist, Lauren Steadman, said: “It’s fantastic news to hear so many more women are taking up triathlon. I believe there are around 1200 events every year in Great Britain, so there is plenty of opportunity to set a goal for next spring and have a go.

“Triathlon offers a huge sense of achievement, whether that’s competing at the highest level, or crossing the finishing line at your local race.”

Double Commonwealth Champion, Jodie Stimpson, said: “Women’s participation in sport has grown so much since I started and it’s amazing to be a part of a successful GB women’s team on the ITU circuit.

“Seeing so many women having a go at triathlon is amazing and I say to anyone that asks about triathlon: just have a go and you will be addicted!”

Elite triathlete and world sprint triathlon champion, Alice Hector, recalls just how much the clothing and equipment has changed throughout the development of women’s triathlon.

“I remember my debut in 2002, racing in the most unflattering crop top and high-cut bottoms (not dissimilar to the men actually!) then riding around on a man-sized bicycle and wearing big cycling jerseys/T shirts in training. There wasn’t a lot of choice for the female athlete.

“Now, the women’s triathlon market is thoroughly catered for and I love finding flattering race and training clothing. Swimming costumes and leggings in particular have got really funky and I find bright colours make me happy. And if you feel good, that’s a confidence booster before you’ve even stepped out the door.”

Alistair Brownlee’s TUE files made public by Fancy Bears hacking group

Posted on March 14, 2021 by BLOGGERPARUNG

Alistair Brownlee has become the latest athlete to have theraupeutic use exemption files made public, with the records showing the double Olympic gold medallist received a TUE for acetazolamide, which helps to combat altitude sickness. Brownlee claims the TUE was taken out-of-competition during a trekking trip up Mount Kilimanjaro in 2013.

Much debate has been sparked after TUE files started to be leaked last month by the Russian Fancy Bears hacking group, with Bradley Wiggins being arguably the most high profile case so far. While some have called for more transparency, British Cycling, and now British Triathlon, strongly deny that TUEs are in any way linked to performance enhancement.

British Triathlon said: “Alistair Brownlee was granted his only TUE for treatment of altitude sickness whilst climbing Kilimanjaro in October 2013. This was an out of competition trek after the triathlon season had finished.

“Let’s be very clear; athletes who have a TUE on their record have followed the rules based on a specific medical requirement. We can say with absolute confidence that our athletes have nothing to hide.

“This attack on the integrity of athletes is shocking. We strongly condemn actions of this nature and continue to be in close contact with UKAD and WADA in regards to this matter.”

Brownlee senior himself made light of the incident on his Twitter account after first explaining plainly that he has had one TUE in his career “to treat altitude sickness while climbing Kilimanjaro” – making reference to the famous moment at WTS Cozumel when he carried brother Jonny over the line, Alistair said: “Slightly embarrassing that someone as fit as me suffered from alititude sickness, but thankfully Jonny was there to carry me.”

Widely regarded sports sports and exercise consultant Dr. Leon Creaney told 220 Triathlon last week: “The recent revelations by Fancy Bears are, in my opinion, an attempt to create a story, where no real story exists; it’s sour grapes because of the Russian systematic cheating that has been exposed.

“To get a TUE you have to be objectively diagnosed, usually by two separate specialists, to prove that you have the condition. This will usually involve clinical opinion, and the results of various tests. “The kind of medications that sports people get TUEs are not particularly performance enhancing anyway, so it’s all legitimate as far as I’m concerned.”

What do you think about the TUE exemption records? Let us know in the comments, or email [email protected] for the chance to have your views aired in our next issue

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Month: March 2021

Flora Duffy crowned World Champion

Mario Mola wins world title in dramatic race

WTS Cozumel: all the drama and emotion in pictures

Mola accuses Brownlee of obstruction in swim

New international team tri competition launched

Alistair Brownlee says critics “don’t understand” heat exhaustion after WTS Cozumel heroics

Paralympic tri squad aim to build on Rio success

Cat Morrison launches kids’ clothing brand

Female triathlon participation on the rise

Alistair Brownlee’s TUE files made public by Fancy Bears hacking group