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With two stage victories under his belt Murray started day three of Super League Triathlon as the clear favourite to be crowned the overall winner. As long as he finished seventh or better the victory, and prize purse, would be his, but first he had to survive the Eliminator.
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The Eliminator was a three stage race that saw athletes eliminated in each stage with race tactics playing as much a part as pure speed. Dual Olympic Champion Alistair Brownlee was a pre-race casualty withdrawing from Eliminator as a result of illness.
In Eliminator stage one athletes were vying for a top 15 finish position to progress through to stage two. In familiar fashion, Richard Varga was first out of the water before athletes made their first ascent up a wet Mango Tree Corner on the bike leg. Following the afternoon down pour the slippery roads required strong bike handling skills and Ireland’s Ben Shaw hit the deck on the first hairpin turn of the bike course and was forced withdrew from the race. He was the first to be out of the race but it was Cameron Dye who was the first athlete to feel the wrath of Super League Triathlon’s Eliminator format as he finished in 16th place following the stage one run leg and was joined on the sidelines for stage 2 by Josh Amberger, Dmitry Polyanskiy, long course supremo’s Brent McMahon and Terrenzo Bozzone, New Zealand’s Daniel Hoy and Icelandic wildcard Sirgudur Orn Ragnarsson.
Richard Murray raced smartly in stage one remaining well within the front pack but did not push the pace. Mid-run Murray was in in 14th place and visibly seen counting the 13 athletes in front of him at the run turn to ensure he was in the optimal position to finish inside the top 15 in stage 1 without expending any more than he had to.
Stage two saw athletes battling for a top 10 position to progress through to the final stage of Eliminator. In what had been a relatively quiet week, Rio bronze medallist Henri Schoeman came out to play early on the bike leg of stage two and pushed the pace, but it was Ryan Fisher who led out on the run and eyed off a stage 3 berth. A group of ten, including Murray, quickly formed at the front of the race before Norway’s Kristian Bluumenfelt led them across the line to claim his second stage win of the day.
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Following the completion of stage two Richard Murray was interviewed in the recovery zone following stage two and appeared confident of a title win claiming he would attack the bike course – “big gear, no fear”, he said and predicted at 2:50 pace on the stage 3 run.
With 14 of the world’s finest athletes sidelined for stage 3 they became enthusiastic spectators as their fellow warriors took to the pontoon for Stage 3 start in a race that would decide who would take home the Eliminator title and the winners cheque of $100,000. At the start of stage three Murray stood atop the overall series leader board on 40 points with Mola his closest rival on 31 points. A seventh place or above finish would guarantee Murray the title.
Stage three would crown the winner of Eliminator and following a tight swim Australia’s Ryan Fisher went out hard on the bike to set up a 16 second lead into T2 knowing that if he were to claim Eliminator he had to gap the stronger runners. Fisher held on until lap two of the run, however, the run came down to the three dominant runners of Super League Hamilton Island with Murray, Mario Mola and Australian superstar Jake Birtwhistle quickly bridging the gap to Fisher and subsequently setting an incredible pace at the front. It was Mola who made the first break among the lead pack, dropping Murray in the process, but it was Birtwhistle who looked cool and calm as he sat on the Spaniard’s heels before unleashing a devastating sprint to claim the win and the Eliminator title from Mola and Murray.
But it was Murray, with a third-place finish in Eliminator and victories in Triple Mix and Equalizer, who was the big winner on the day amassing a total of 56 out of 60 points across the three days of racing to take home $100,000 and the Leonid Boguslavsky Champions Trophy as the overall winner of Super League Hamilton Island.
The top three finishers of Eliminator also made up the overall podium finishers for Super League Hamilton Island with Mario Mola in second place (49 points) taking home the second place cheque for $50,000 and Birtwhistle capping off an incredible race week with third place overall (48 points) and receiving $30,000.
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The Challenge Family have announced a new event in Rome for 22-23 July 2017. The debut Challenge Roma 753 will host two days of competition, featuring a sprint and a atypical main race with distances approaching Challenge Half status.
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The inaugural Challenge Roma 753 event will take place on July 22 and 23, 2017. The Saturday will feature a sprint trial. The main race is on the Sunday, with the distances (approved by the Federazione Italiana Triathlon) themed around the date of the foundation of Rome in 753 BC.
The swim course will take place in the artificial lake of Laghetto dell’Eur in the Municipio district in the south of the city and will consist of 1,753m. The 75,310m (75km) bike course will head towards ancient Ostia along a ‘smooth and easy’ route for the first 30 km before going back to the city centre. Finally, the race ends with a 17,530m (17.5km) run. The event takes over and adapts the previous Roma 753 event.
The race marks the first time that Challenge, whose Roth event we recently named as the greatest triathlon in the world, have proposed a format with these distances. The usual Challenge Half events boast a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run
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More information about the inaugural Challenge Roma 753 is available at www.challenge-roma.com. Registration opens on 1 April 2017.
The Professional Triathletes Organisation today announced the appointment of Dave Scott, 6 x IRONMAN World Champion, and Karen Smyers, Olympic Distance World Champion and IRONMAN World Champion, as USA Team Captains for The Collins Cup.
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The Collins Cup is a first of its kind global competition in which teams of professional triathletes from the USA, Europe and the rest of the World (the “Internationals”) will compete to determine which region dominates the sport of triathlon.
Modelled after golf’s Ryder Cup, The Collins Cup will be a long-distance team competition among USA, Europe and the Internationals. Each team will consist of 12 professional triathletes, six men and six women. (Click here to see The Collins Cup – How It Works.)
Dave Scott commented, “It is an honour to be selected as one of the USA Team captains for the inaugural Collins Cup and Karen and I look forward to helping guide the USA Team. We’ll ensure our team is well prepared for the battle.”
As part of the USA Team, Scott and Smyers will be working with Brett Favre, former Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame quarterback. Smyers commented, “As triathlon is normally an individual sport, Dave and I thought it would be helpful to get some guidance on team dynamics and as a truly legendary leader in his sport, it will be a privilege to have Brett as a resource.”
Over the next 12 months, Scott and Smyers will be looking to add additional support members to the USA Team as well as be in contact with the athletes and their coaches as the places on the USA Team begin to solidify.
Scott commented, “Look, it is very simple: The USA created this sport and the first Collins Cup will be in US waters and on US soil. We will make sure that the USA Team is fully prepared. We know that some people think that Europe may be the strongest team, but as many have learned in the past, you underestimate the power of the stars and stripes at your peril.”
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For more information, head to thecollinscup.com
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It was the first official 113km Ironman race in the world and has established itself as one of the toughest middle-distance events on Planet Earth. But its organisers have today confirmed that June’s Ironman 70.3 UK in Exmoor will be the final running of the iconic event.
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After starting life in 2001 in North Wales as Half Ironman UK, Ironman UK 70.3 moved to its current home of Wimbleball Lake in the heart of Exmoor National Park in 2006. Since that day, the event has seen over 20,000 athletes tackle the challenging course famed for its chilly 1.9km lake swim, hilly 90km bike and rolling 21.1km mixed-terrain run route.
On the final event this summer, Kevin Stewart, Ironman EMEA Regional Director, added: “Ironman 70.3 UK Exmoor has been an integral part of the development of Ironman over the last decade. Athletes have loved its unique setting, but its remote location has brought about recent logistical challenges. We have, therefore, made the decision to make 2017 the last year to stage and celebrate this historic Ironman 70.3 UK event. We encourage and welcome everyone who wants to be part of its history to join us in Wimbleball on 25th June.”
The UK’s other Ironman 70.3 races are Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire (18th June), the new Ironman 70.3 Edinburgh on 2nd July and Ironman 70.3 Weymouth on 17th September. There’s also Ironman 70.3 Dublin on 20th August.
220 PROMOTION!
We’ve teamed-up with the Ironman 70.3 UK Exmoor organisers to offer a ‘220 Promotion’ offering 20 places at the rate of £220.
Head to the race website here and use code 220IMUK703 to secure this short-lived offer.
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This will be an age-group only event, as athletes compete for one of 35 qualifying slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championship. In addition, there will also be the opportunity for tri clubs to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 EMEA Tri Club Championship.
The race weekend will commence on Saturday 25th June at 3pm with an Ironkids fun run for children aged 3-14 followed by a 5km Irongirl run. To find out more and register online, visit here.
IRONMAN 70.3 UK Winners
2016 Andy Greenleaf, Stephanie Knott
2015 Brennan Townshend, Natalie Seymour
2014 (last Pro race) Will Clarke, Eimear Mullan
2013 Ritchie Nicholls, Eimear Mullan
2012 Philip Graves, Eimear Mullan
2011 Mikel Elgezabal, Emma-Kate Lidbury
2010 Fraser Cartmell, Bella Bayliss
2009 Philip Graves, Catriona Morrison
2008 Fraser Cartmell, Bella Comerford
2007 Fraser Cartmell, Julie Dibens
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2006 Chris McCormack, Catriona Morrison
Garmin have announced the release of another exciting multisport watch, the Forerunner 935.
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Included are new performance monitoring tools and ‘Elevate’ wrist-based heart rate technology. In addition to 24/7 heart rate monitoring, the Forerunner 935 includes new training features, allowing users to fine-tune exercise and recovery to be a better athlete. Easily paired with the new Running Dynamics Pod2, Forerunner 935 users will now be able to see all six running dynamics without the need for a chest strap. What’s more the watch only weighs a tiny 49 grams.
Triathlon watches: 10 of the best
10 of the best running watches
New training features – with technology provided by First beat – make it easier for Forerunner 935 users to monitor performance and better prepare for a race or training cycle. Training status automatically analyses previous exercise and fitness levels to provide insight into how the athlete’s body is responding – letting them know if they are training productively, peaking or overreaching. Training load gives users an overview of their weekly activity and helps them determine if they are training in the right zone and whether their sessions are too easy or hard. Additionally, the new training effect metric tracks and reviews the aerobic and anaerobic benefit of a training session, letting athletes know how their training is improving their ability to push the limits. With these training features available at their fingertips, athletes can make adjustments and improvements to their training to become better, faster and more efficient come race day.
A completely new feature on the 935 is the Running Dynamics Pod, that gives you even more run metrics
The new Running Dynamics Pod clips to the waistband, allowing athletes to see all six running dynamics – including cadence, ground contact time, stride length and more – on a compatible device3 without the need for a chest strap. The Forerunner 935 also features advanced dynamics to help with cycling and swim training. While on a bike (and when paired with Vector power meter), it will track dynamics including power zones, time seated and standing, platform center offset and power phase. In the water5, the Forerunner 935 will track distance, stroke, pace, personal records and more.
Athletes can easily transition between sports with the press of a button utilising the auto or manual multisport feature. Additional built-in activities include hiking, trail running, skiing, paddle sports, golf and more. The Forerunner 935 is also compatible with the full line of Variacycling awareness accessories and Vectorpedal-based power meter system. Users can also track body composition data – such as weight, BMI, body fat and more.
Available on the Forerunner 935, Strava Live Segments allow users to view real-time results on a run or ride, leaderboard rankings and how their current effort compares to their PR. A new TrainingPeaks app allows users to download free workouts directly to their watch, then view the workout in real time, complete with intensity targets and interval durations. Newer apps even include an Uber ETA function and accurate weather forecasting.
Andrew Silver, Garmin EMEA Product Manager, said: “As a top-of-the-line GPS smartwatch, the Forerunner 935 is super lightweight and comfortable to wear around the wrist, and provides users with insight into how their body is responding to fitness, as well as offers data for every activity. It allows users to automatically upload to Garmin Connect, and is customisable with free apps, data fields and more from the Connect IQ store.”
The Forerunner 935 features up to 24 hours of battery life in GPS mode, up to 60 hours in ‘UltraTrac’ battery saver mode without optical HR and up to two weeks in watch mode. It is available in black for £469.99. A tri-bundle option – which includes a black watch face with force yellow strap, HRM-Tri, HRM-Swim, Quick Release Kit and additional strap in black – is available for £589.99.
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Look out for our upcoming issues, as 220 will be looking to test the watch very soon!
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Find our training advice and gear reviews online useful? Then take a look at the refreshed 220 Triathlon magazine, which features even bigger performance and gear sections. Available in print or as a digital edition, it is dedicated towards helping you reach your goals, whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned Ironman.
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The first new-look issue (number 337) is is packed with more content than ever before, including a special feature on open-water swimming written by some of GB’s best athletes, as well as a guide to avoiding injury and bigger bike test and race coverage features. The new training section has swim, bike and run sessions as well as an eight-week ‘couch to super sprint’ training plan targeted at beginners. The issue also welcomes tri legend six-time Ironman champ Dave Scott as lead coaching expert.
In the gear section more pages have also been added to meet demand. All products are independently reviewed by the magazine’s expert team and this issue includes tri-suits, open-water goggles and clipless pedals, as well as a guide to converting your road bike into a triathlon race machine.
Helen Webster, Editor of 220 Triathlon, said: “We’ve been helping triathletes smash their goals for 28 years – and much like our readers, we’re all about performance. We wanted to make sure we continued to give triathletes the very best advice in the sport and that they would find everything they needed each issue to help them perform at their very best.”
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The redesigned 220 Triathlon is on sale now and costs £4.99. You can also subscribe here
The President’s campaign to ‘Make Kona Great Again’ has been met with derision from the political sphere, with insiders puzzled as to how the POTUS will cope with the demands of training for a 2.4 mile sea swim, 112 mile cycle and 26.2 mile marathon run with no previous experience of racing endurance events, while simultaneously governing the United States.
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Morgan Biers, supposedly a close personal friend of Mr. Trump, commented: “They say that transition is triathlon’s fourth discipline… but for my pal Donald being in charge of the world’s largest economic superpower surely has to count as a fifth. If anyone can do it though, *blushes*… the President can!”
As entry to the World Championships is by qualification only, it is currently unclear how the President managed to secure his entry. Rumours that Mr. Trump actually travelled to one of Ironman’s new 70.3 races in China to qualify were dismissed as “fake news” by the President himself, via a caps-locked Twitter post.
According to an insider President Trump is confident of clinching another surprise victory in the 70-74 age category on the Big Island, although he has secretly expressed concerns about hitting the wall.
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Triathlonologist Timmy Tri said: “Pulling off one of the biggest shocks in modern political history counts for nothing when you’re 18 miles into a sweltering hot marathon at one of the world’s toughest endurance events. The President needs to ensure he stays on top of his nutrition and hydration, keeping a nice steady pace throughout… if he does hit that wall he’s definitely going to be paying for it.”
Double Olympic and two-time ITU Triathlon World Series champion, Alistair Brownlee, is to make his long-awaited middle-distance triathlon debut at this year’s Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria. Taking place on 22 April 2017 the 70.3-mile race will provide Alistair’s first opportunity since claiming double Olympic glory to compete in a middle-distance triathlon
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The announcement that the current Olympic triathlon champion will join the line-up comes after the Yorkshireman first hinted at the end of last year that he will gear his training towards other goals outside of the Olympics.
“We are thrilled that Alistair Brownlee has decided to choose a Challenge Family race to debut his long-distance triathlon career,” said Zibi Szlufcik, Challenge Family CEO. “Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria is a testing and diverse course with steep mountains that climb above a rugged coastline.The bike course in particular is unique, varied and technical, which will suit Alistair.”
Alistair said: “I’m delighted to be racing my first middle distance triathlon race at Gloria Challenge Gran Canaria on 22 April. I’ve made no secret that I am going to spend the next couple of years racing some different distances and I’m really looking forward to the process of preparing for some longer distance races and of course, competing at them. I can’t think of a better place for my first one.”
The celebrated Olympian’s participation will provide excitement both for fellow competitors and spectators lining the course. The 28-year-old, who last year famously became the first ever triathlete to retain an Olympic title, will use Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria as his first foray into long-distance triathlon racing and will compete in other long-distance triathlon events.
Race director of Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria, Jordi González, said: “Last year was a dream come true for me when, after 25 years of being involved in the sport, I was asked to organise the international triathlon event with Challenge Family in Gran Canaria, where I was born. Now with Alistair Brownlee among those who are confirmed to race this year’s Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria, the dream has evolved and it’s an honour to welcome the legendary triathlete to Mogán.”
At a distance of more than double that of an Olympic triathlon, Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria is the first Challenge race in the European season. Exceptionally beautiful with dramatic terrain, bathed in a subtropical climate, Mogán in Gran Canaria should provide great conditions for Alistair’s first major middle-distance triathlon.
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For more information on the race, the course, the full start list, and what to look out for during the event, please visit: www.challengegrancanaria.com
Alistair Brownlee’s key triathlon training sessions
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Kiwi Andrea Hewitt has made it two wins out of two starts with a WTS win in Australia following her victory in Abu Dhabi. It might have taken her six years to get back on top of a ITU World Triathlon Series podium but the New Zealander’s start to the 2017 season could not have gone any better.
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While her first victory of the year came from an epic sprint to the finish on the blue carpet in Abu Dhabi just over a month ago, her second victory came through outrunning her competition from the second transition, on the first sprint distance course of the season.
“I knew my running was good and that is why I went out at that pace, but you never know how the race is going to go and today I just ran 5km at my pace and it was good enough to be out in front, so I am really happy,” Hewitt said of her day’s performance.
The win also came after the Kiwi had just celebrated her 35th birthday the week prior to race day, making her one of the oldest women on the start list.
“Last week was my birthday, but age is just a number isn’t it? It just all comes down to the training, today my swim and bike wasn’t up there but then I had the legs on the run so that is just how triathlon goes,” Hewitt said.
Taking the silver medal was Australia’s own Ashleigh Gentle, who with the podium also met Triathlon Australia’s qualification criteria for a team spot for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Games will also be hosted in the Gold Coast at the same venue, and the first official medal awarded at those Games will be at the women’s triathlon event.
Finishing with the bronze was Japan’s Juri Ide, who made a comeback to the WTS podium for the first time since 2014.
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Britain’s Jodie Stimpson came 16th, but is fourth on the overall WTS rankings
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2016 ITU world champ, Spaniard Mario Mola, has retained his Gold Coast crown after a sprint finish that saw off rivals Fernando Alarza, Javier Gomez Noya, and Richard Murray.
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The sprint distance race came down to the final 5km run, with Mola locked in a battle with fellow Spanish athletes Alarza and Gomez, and South African Murray. But in the final few hundred metres Mola pulled away from Murray to take his second consecutive Gold Coast win, in a time of 52 minutes and 35 seconds.
“It was a very tough race as usual, but with the sprint, Richard, Fernando and Javi they were all on fire. I had to give 100 percent today to get this win,” Mola said.
“Every race is a new opportunity and a different opportunity to give our best and to try our best. In Abu Dhabi I did not think I was less fit, or more fit than I was today but in this racing these guys are very good. If you don’t have your best day you can go from first to eighth to 20th, that is racing. So to get a good result I am happy to have a good performance.”
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Murray finished second and Fernando Alarza third. Gomez’s fourth was enough to see him remain the series leader, while Australia’s Jacob Birtwhistle finished fifth, which saw him meet Triathlon Australia’s qualification criteria for a Commonwealth Games spot.
There were no Brits racing.
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