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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.”
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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
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The organisers of the Sebamed Brighton and Hove Triathlon have announced that the childrens’ races are set to return in 2018. First introduced into the 2017 event, the kids race is set to double in size this year.
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The open-water sea swim, closed-road bike course and flat Hove seafront run is set to test active children who already love triathlon, and the shorter distances are ready to allow beginners to experience the sport for the first time.
The childrens’ races will take place on Sunday 16 September alongside the adults, and on the Saturday a scootathlon is taking place for the younger triathletes (3-8 yrs), for which there are also various distances.
Children will race over the following distances:
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Triathlon races
Tristart (8yrs) – 50m swim / 1.4km bike / 500m run
Tristar 1 (9-10yrs) – 100m swim / 4km bike / 1.5km run
Tristar 2 (11-12yrs) – 200m swim / 4km bike / 1.5km run
Tristar 3 (13-14yrs) – 200m swim / 4km bike / 2.5km run
Scootathlons
3yrs – 100m scoot / 100m bike / 100m run
4yrs – 200m scoot / 200m bike / 200m run
5-8yrs – 300m scoot / 300m bike / 300m run
Sebamed Brighton and Hove Triathlon will take place for the third successive year on 15-16 September 2018. With the 2017 race seeing a 20% increase in competitors, 40% female entrants and 43% beginners, the event is set to continue expanding. The Children’s Triathlon will take place alongside the main event, with relay options and the UK’s first ‘Rainbow’ Wave in support of diversity and inclusion in sport.
Supporting triathlon in the local area are Brighton Tri Club who hold taster sessions in conjunction with GoTri in the summer, keep an eye on their website for more details closer to the time.
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To enter or for more information, visit www.brightonandhovetriathlon.com
1. Commonwealth Games, April 5 & 7
The first day of Games’ action sees the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny, looking to repeat their one-two finish from Glasgow 2014. In the women’s race, England’s Vicky Holland, Jess Learmonth, Sophie Coldwell, Wales’ Non Stanford, and Scotland’s Beth Potter will all be trying to take down Bermudan favourite Flora Duffy. Throw in the mixed relay and paratri’s debut and it’s a golden start to Gold Coast action.
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Commonwealth Games: how will the triathlon medals fall?
2. European Championship. Glasgow. August 9, 10 & 11
The Euros come to Strathclyde Park as part of a new multisport festival that includes swimming and golf and will be aired on the BBC. Learmonth, 29, will want to defend the title she won in Kitzbuhel last year, and should be suited to the testing course.
3. World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series. Nottingham. June 7
With the two-man, two-woman mixed relay receiving the greenlight for Tokyo 2020, qualifying begins on a Thursday evening on the banks of the River Trent. Expect the British quartet to be firmly in the mix.
4. World Triathlon Series. Leeds. June 9 & 10
South Yorkshire plays host to top level racing for the third straight year. The Brownlees finished one-two in 2016 and 2017 as crowds lined the city centre streets. A hill immediately out of T1 instantly break up the race and will also suit the strong swim-bike talents of Britain’s Learmonth, Coldwell and Lucy Hall.
5. Ironman 70.3 World Championships. South Africa. September 1 & 2
The middle distance world championship could become the Brownlee v Gomez duel that never was in Rio 2016 (Javier Gomez broke his elbow a month before the Olympics). A renewal of the rivalry for Ironman Hawaii clashes to come.
6. World Triathlon Series Grand Final, Gold Coast. September 12-16
Watch out for Jodie Stimpson. The 2014 Commonwealth champion was overlooked to defend her title and has motivation aplenty. On the men’s side, the Grand Final could become another classic Spain v GB match-up, with Jonny Brownlee and reigning world champion Mario Mola going head-to-head.
7. Super League Triathlon. Jersey (TBC)
Bankrolled by a Russian oligarch and with events such as the Eliminator, Super League is designed to shake-up the sport. It certainly shakes up the traditional swim, bike, run format, chopping and changing the order over a super short course.
8. Ironman World Championship. October 13
Now in its 40th year, live streaming from the Big Island will entertain you until the early hours. David McNamee ran to third last year, the best-ever placing by a British man, and compatriot Lucy Charles, just 24, was runner-up. Daniela Ryf will be gunning for a record-equalling fourth consecutive victory, and Gomez may well challenge Germany’s four-year stranglehold over the men’s crown.
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9. Ironman Bahrain 70.3. November/December (TBC)
Having dominated Ironman Dubai 70.3 in February, should Alistair Brownlee clinch the Ironman 70.3 world title, he’ll return to the UAE with a shot of the $1million ‘Triple Crown’ offered by ruling prince, Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa. By far the biggest payday in triathlon.
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Team England have named triathlete Alistair Brownlee as their flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
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Leeds born and bred, Brownlee comes into the 2018 Commonwealth Games (see race times below) as defending champion in both the individual and mixed relay races. At Rio in 2016 he become the first person ever to win back to back Olympic triathlon titles, having first won gold at London 2012.
Team England selected their flagbearer after a vote of all sport team leaders. In casting their vote, each team leader was encouraged to consult their athletes on who they would like to nominate.
Team England flagbearer Alistair Brownlee said: “It’s a massive honour to carry the flag for England at the Commonwealth Games. I can’t imagine what it’ll feel like walking into the stadium with the cross of St George, alongside all the other Commonwealth nations. It’s certainly going to be up there as one of the moments in my career that I’ll always remember.”
Team England Chef de Mission Sarah Winckless said: “Alistair is one of the iconic figures of English sport, his achievements in triathlon are unrivalled. I’m sure that this experience will match all that he has achieved in his career and this’ll be a real moments to savour for Alistair and his family.”
Triathlon team leader Ian Pyper said: “Alistair is a fantastic role model for triathletes and sports people all across England. I’m delighted for him and for the whole triathlon team. Not many people get to carry their team’s flag into the stadium and this is just reward for all of Alistair’s hard work.”
The Commonwealth Games triathlon races start on Thursday morning UK time. The women’s individual final starts at 0:31 and the men’s individual final follows at 4:01.
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The paratriathlon events commence at 0:31 on Saturday morning UK time before the Mixed Relay Triathlon begins at 4:01.
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The Challenge Roth organisers have announced that the 35th anniversary of the classic race will boast a world-class field on 1 July, headed by 2014 Ironman world champ, Sebastian Kienle, and Britain’s new long-distance superstar, Lucy Charles.
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Kienle, 33, last raced in Roth (which we voted as our greatest triathlon in the world here) in 2010 and 2011. Both times he went sub-eight hours (2010: 7:59:06; 2011: 7:57:06), but on both occasions it wasn’t enough to secure the win. In 2010, he was runner up to Rasmus Henning and a year later to Andreas Raelert, who set the new world record. After several years away, Kienle returns to Roth and to the “mother of all long-distance races” with one thing driving him: “I haven’t yet won in Roth and so I am here to fight for that win.”
Jan Raphael, Andreas Dreitz and 2009 Roth champion, Michael Göhner, form a strong trio in the German camp. Brit Joe Skipper is another contender for the title, with Norfolk’s finest finishing behind the record-breaking Jan Frodeno in a time of 7:56:23 at Roth in 2016.
Also there with the expected 200,000+ spectators is Australian Cameron Wurf, a former Olympic rower and professional cyclist, made his mark in Hawaii last year when he out-biked Kienle and broke the course record held by Norman Stadler by more than 5mins.
Former Roth champ James Cunnama, Luke Bell and Jesse Thomas are further proven athletes on the Bavarian startline on Sunday 1st July (a week earlier than Roth’s usual date due to a clash with Ironman Frankfurt).
Strong women on the start line
The major news for Brit tri fans is the addition of Lucy Charles to the women’s pro field. Swim powerhouse Charles, 24, won Ironman Lanzarote in 2017 and was the breakout star at the Ironman World Championships in October after she led from the gun until just before T2, where eventual winner Daniela Ryf passed her.
Another British athlete, Laura Siddall, is back on the Roth start line. Siddall became the first ever Briton to win Ironman New Zealand in March. She also took victory at Ironman Australia in 2017 and two months later finished second at Challenge Roth in a personal best time of 8:51:38.
Joining Charles in Germany will be Kaisa Sali (Ironman Arizona in November 2017) and three-time Roth winner Yvonne van Vlerken. The veteran Dutch star broke the world record at Roth in 2008 but had to settle for third place in both 2016 and 2017.
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www.challenge-roth.de
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Introducing the first podium of the #gc2018triathlon:
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South African Henri Schoeman cruised to Commonwealth Games gold on the Gold Coast, with home hope Jacob Birtwhistle running through for silver and Scotland’s Marc Austin holding on for bronze.
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Congrats to @H_Schoeman for the
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