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After announcing their 2015 pro athlete roster, the Uplace-BMC Triathlon Team is now targeting age-groupers – would you like to wear the same kit as Bart Aernouts and Corinne Abraham, and have access to their expert advice?
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For €300, age-groupers will get the complete Uplace-BMC team kit, along with a few extras:
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“With the launch of the Uplace-BMC Age Group Team we want to intensify the connectivity to the team,” said team manager Bob de Wolf. “We want to share the experience and knowhow of our professional team with our fans and future members.”
To get all the details how to become an Uplace-BMC athlete head here.
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Will you be getting Uplace-BMC membership? Let us know in the comments below!
This morning it will be the crisp chill of the changing seasons that demands Shirin Gerami wraps a shawl around her head and shoulders. It wasn’t always thus.
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Gerami (pronounced with a hard G, although she happily softens it in western company), is the most enigmatic of interviewees, an effervescent smile and infectious giggles belying a stubborn interior. A determination to be a catalyst for change could be compromised by the humility of her responses – except actions speak far louder than words, especially when you have stood, arms aloft, national flag raised, as your country’s first-ever female triathlete.
Gentle ice-breakers are quickly brushed over. Born in Iran, Gerami’s been living in England for 11 years via a childhood split between the United States and Middle East, a secondary education in Lancing, near Brighton, and Durham for a degree in politics, philosophy and economics, before settling in London. Her father died of cancer when she was young, her brother is an entrepreneur trying to build an iced tea empire in the USA, but it’s that remarkable 2013 World Championships in London, and the one that mirrored it in Edmonton last autumn, that she really wants to discuss.
If she’s not one for dwelling on her background, however, Shirin does at least tell us about how she first got started in triathlon. “I remember my first 2km run at school,” she says. “I’d joined a friend thinking it would be nice and smooth, but it was just pain.”
With only vague memories of pre-school paddling with cousins in Tehran, trying out for the Lancing school swim squad at 15 proved equally challenging. “I told the coach I could barely swim and proved it by half-drowning,” she explains. “But I still wanted to join.”
First taste of tri
At Durham she stumbled across triathlon where a first club ride resulted in pushing a borrowed bike up every hill. But she stuck at it, and, to celebrate graduating, booked a spot at Ironman 70.3 UK at Wimbleball, one of the toughest half-iron distances on the circuit, with 5,600ft of ascent on the 56-mile bike course and a mean trail run to follow.
“I very nearly didn’t race, I was so scared,” Shirin explains, but the plan to quell nerves by booking into an Exmoor youth hostel and practising the bike course almost proved disastrous. “There’s a really sharp bend at the bottom of a descent, and I was telling myself: ‘You are going to go into the hedge.’ Of course, I went straight over the handlebars and hit my head on a post and lay there, sprawled on the floor. An old lady walking her dog took me to hospital. I was so annoyed with myself. The reason I came down was because I was so negative.”
There was no such drama come race day. “I did it much better than I’d ever dreamed,” she says. “That experience was invaluable for me to realise we underestimate ourselves so much, both mentally and physically. Before even trying the goal, it’s so likely we give up in fear of failure.”
Shirin’s humble recital suggests dicing dangerously with the cut-off times, but I later check the splits to find a more than commendable ninth in her age-group, in a shade over 6.5 hours.
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On moving to London to work in international relations, she joined triathlon clubs at Serpentine and then London Fields – where the possibility of representing Iran was first mooted.
Building on the success of the London Olympics, Hyde Park had been chosen by the International Triathlon Union to hold its World Series Grand Final, the climax to the season’s racing. As well as the elite, under-23, junior and paratriathlon races, the age-group world championships would also be staged and, with Britain renowned for sending a strong team, home soil meant the competition for places would be even fiercer.
“To take the edge off the Team GB competition, our club discussed other nations that members could potentially represent,” explains Shirin. “Someone turned to me and said: ‘Oh, Iranian woman, you can do it as well’.”
It’s worth reiterating that Shirin would be breaking new ground. No woman had ever competed in triathlon for Iran, which is governed by strict Islamic law, and prior to the Beijing Games of 2008 the Iranian Olympic Committee issued a memorandum stating its objective was “not just to win medals, but to promote Islamic culture”. Conservative views might forbid women from competing under a male coach, with a male judge or in a mixed-sex environment, but Shirin’s initial enquiry was rebuffed because of her attire.
“They didn’t think it’d be possible whilst adhering to the dress code,” she says. “My view was: if it’s only the clothes, surely there’s a solution?” A heartfelt letter stating her ambitions was followed by a five-month process of trying to find ways of competing whilst covered.
Shirin needed permission from both the triathlon federation, who judge on sporting merit, and the government sports ministry, for compliance with respecting extraneous rules or regulations. A flurry of emails and detailed descriptions of the proposed apparel led to amendments, but the green light was still not forthcoming.
The sensitivity was illustrated by the cautionary tale of Iranian long-distance swimmer, Elham Asghari, who swam 20 kilometres in the Caspian Sea in eight hours in June, but whose achievement was not recognised by the sports authorities because, despite designing a special swimsuit that added six kilos, her female features were deemed visible as she emerged from the water.
“You have beliefs, and rules and conditions,” Shirin explains. “Some women might not have a problem with skin-tight clothes, others might take issue with being active in a mixed environment. Beliefs are very individual, but I needed the approval of the deputy minister, so it was a bit tricky. Even if you wear a burkini, which is big and jellyfish-like, when you come out of the water, the weight means it clings to your body.”
Political paperwork
Perhaps the problem could be addressed from a different angle and, with the ITU’s support, a small tent was proposed by the swim exit so Shirin could change into dry clothes without being seen. The plan seemed to curry favour, yet a fortnight before the Hyde Park race and with the necessary ‘political paperwork’ still not forthcoming, Shirin flew to Tehran and met both the ministry and federation face-to-face to try to force a solution.
“My clothes needed changing. They were either too short or too tight and I had to go to workshops to make them from scratch,” she explains. The ITU had written supporting her case so, I suggested, was this stonewalling perhaps a deliberate deterrent? She will not be drawn.
“Beliefs are very individual,” she says. “I’m not in a position to say it was a barrier [to stop me racing]. They might have been genuine reasons, but I also knew that it was a few days before the race, I was still in Iran, I’d been told the clothes were fine but I needed to wait for political approval – and I still don’t know what this means.”
By Saturday, the day before the age-group event, a letter of nomination had still not materialised and Shirin was ready to quit. “Every shred of logic told me it will not happen,” she says. “I’d cancelled an interview with the BBC because I didn’t want to get involved anymore, but then I thought: ‘If I’m going to think positively, I’ve a race tomorrow, and it’s been so long since I did any training, it might be an idea to go for a run. I then realised I’d left my running shoes in Iran, so dug out a mouldy pair in the attic and went for a little jog around Hampstead Heath.”
Late that evening, sat with ITU delegates by the Serpentine lake café, she received a confirmation phone call from an unknown employee of the sports ministry and finally permission to race was emailed through. By then, it was 2am in Tehran.
The inclement weather on Sunday morning meant Shirin was one of the few competitors in the standard-distance wave grateful for the swim being halved. She would start at 7am, but first there was one further problem to overcome – the changing tent was a few metres from the water’s edge, so she would still be visible emerging from the swim.
“At 5am I was knocking on neighbours’ doors asking for a poncho,” she reveals. “I’d never been so exhausted in my life. My first thought was what a shame it would be if, after all this, I’d overslept. It was beautiful to be there, so many supporters and huge ‘Go Iran’ shouts all over the course. After that I celebrated by sleeping.”
Roll forward 12 months and the triathlon finale had moved on to Edmonton. Change too in Tehran, where the government of the more moderate Shiite cleric Hassan Rouhani was now fully installed. The new president had already taken charge when Shirin raced in London – and Tweeted: “Shirin Gerami. 1st female triathlete to have competed in world championship wearing Iran’s colours #GenderEquality” – but the personnel of the sports ministry were still in place from the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad regime.
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Shirin had left her job, which had been focused on making innovative charities sustainable in the Middle East, and was pursuing multisport full time.
“You don’t need to be working in international development to make a difference,” she explains. “Pursuing and sharing our passions make the most positive change. I looked at what sport had taught me about persistence and decided to make ‘this’ my main focus. I have no regrets.”
The year was spent researching materials and technologies that would help clip the transition time from an unwieldy eight minutes, but would also win approval. Before heading to Canada, another trip to Iran was required. “I really hadn’t thought the clothes would be an issue this time, and I was sad and disappointed that I got stressed. I was so stressed,” she adds. “It’s really hard to find something on the market that offers a degree of covering that some may want, whether it’s religious beliefs or self-confidence over body image.”
Shirin liaised with Cardiff-based company Thread, and with P2i, an innovative firm that provides waterproof coatings for a quick-drying effect, and having met and found a kindred spirit in four-time Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington, the two planned to develop their own clothing line for women who needed or wanted to cover. Business plans had to be put on ice as Shirin’s attention again turned to competing.
“Edmonton was different because of the 10.5-hour time difference,” she says. “Obtaining a visa had taken a long time, then I’d register and rack the bike in the day and stay awake all night to phone Iran. It was difficult. I’d hoped to be in Canada a week before racing to acclimatise, but I only arrived three days out and was heavily jet-lagged.”
There’s a strong sense of déjà vu in hearing that permission was only finally granted on race morning, and I ask again whether such painstaking effort should be required simply to represent her nation in a triathlon.
“No one forced me to do this,” is her response. “Knowing the culture in Iran and knowing lots of people who ‘cover’ in their lives, I totally love and respect their beliefs. I think no matter what you choose to wear or believe in it’s completely respectable and beautiful. And if, through my racing, women with these beliefs can also participate in sport, then this is exactly what I set out to do.”
Shirin had finished 76th out of 77 finishers in London, but improved to 52nd out of 63 and knocked five minutes off her time on a tougher course, with a full-length swim. “I spent a lot of time training,” she says. “I had improved, but I know I could have been much better. I was grateful I managed to race, but I wanted an additional dimension – I wanted to perform.”
What next for Gerami? She’s certain this triathlon adventure has further to run and has taken the brave decision to remain full time. The world championships take place in Chicago this year and Shirin wants to be involved but, given the dramas of the past two years, there’s understandable caution in her tone. “I have a lot of dreams, but need to plan how I’m going to support myself to continue training and keep improving my clothes,” she says.
“I’m still cycling round Regents Park, out to Box Hill in Surrey, and club training here and there, but need to find ways of putting in place proper structured support in order to compete. As an age-grouper, I think top 10 is a realistic goal. If I can put the foundations in place to develop myself physically, I wonder if I’d ever make it to elite. Bring on the challenge, I wouldn’t mind. I’d put the target as the Asian Games 2018.”
Shirin had initially been told she could compete at last year’s event in Incheon, South Korea, before Iran pulled the entire team, but she’s not downhearted. She’s become accustomed to taking setbacks in her stride. “I think you might have gathered I can be a bit stubborn,” she laughs. “I will go up that hill. I will do a triathlon. I will race in Hyde Park!”
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(Images: Romilly Lockyer)
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There’ll be plenty of British interest at this weekend’s Challenge Philippines, with Olympic medal-winning cyclist Emma Pooley and top age-grouper Parys Edwards among those shooting for the €5,000 prize for first place.
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Pooley placed third at last year’s middle distance race behind Aussie duo Melissa Hauschildt and Annabel Luxford, neither of whom are expected to race this year. Her main rivals this year will include local favourite Monica Torres and American athlete Kelly Williamson, who won Ironman Texas last year.
Away we go! Adventures await w/ d3rick. @roadid @memorialhermann #ChallengePhilippines http://t.co/7mTFqV99MJ
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— Kelly H Williamson (@khwilliamson) February 16, 2015
The men’s race is likely to be dominated by two-time Ironman World Champion Chris ‘Macca’ McCormack, Italian former pro cyclist Domenico Passuello, Challenge Atlantic City winner Fredrik Croneborg of Sweden and inaugural Challenge Philippines second placer Michael Murphy of Australia.
This will be the second year that Challenge Philippines has run, and nearly 700 athletes are expected to take part in what is touted as one of the toughest half distance races in Asia. For more info head to www.challengephilippines.com.ph.
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Who do you think will win Challenge Philippines? Let us know in the comments!
For their first Elite Sprint Triathlon Championships, the ETU has picked an absolute beaut of a location – the ‘Belle Isle’ in the city of Châteauroux, central France.
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Located only two hours by train from the centre of Paris, the city of Châteauroux has been a venue over the years for French Championship events and is well-known and much loved by French athletes. The area is surrounded by forests and situated on the Indre River – with plentiful lakes and fitness trails.
The location for the race is known as ‘Belle Isle’. The beautiful lake, covering some eight hectares and surrounded by a further 12 hectares of protected green areas, has its own safe beach for the start and exit from the 750m lake swim.
The four-lap 20km bike course is technical and will test the athletes, say the organisers. Each lap passes through transition and so crowds who stay by the lake will get a chance to see the athletes as they chase over the blue carpet. The run course uses part of the bike course and will be a fast and furious 5km.
“I am very pleased to see that the French Triathlon Federation has agreed to host the 2016 Elite Sprint Triathlon Championships in Châteauroux,” said ETU President Renato Bertrandi. “The test event in July is the weekend after Geneva and I hope that many athletes will take the opportunity to make the short journey to support Châteauroux.”
For more info on all the ETU’s triathlon championships head to etu.triathlon.org.
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Have you raced in Châteauroux before? Let us know in the comments below!
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When Rita Jeptoo successfully defended her Boston and Chicago titles last year, she secured a $500,000 jackpot as the top-ranked female marathon runner in the world.
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The 33-year-old was heralded for reaping the rewards for hard work over a long career, until an A sample from a drugs test taken a fortnight before Chicago proved positive. An inspiring story of athletic achievement was dwarfed by one of doping.
With every convicted offender, the spectacle of elite competition diminishes. Until Jeptoo’s positive test, African athletics had been comparatively untainted. Now rumours abound and belief is shaken.
Triathlon boasts just a handful of high-profile drug busts: Nina Kraft’s hastily aborted Kona win in 2004; the farcical Lisa Hütthaler, who doped then tried bribery in 2009; Virginia Berasategui’s tearful mea culpa in 2013; and Brigitte McMahon, triathlon’s first Olympic female champion, testing positive for erythropoietin five years later. Despite improved science, elite testing pools and biological passports, is triathlon really that much cleaner, or is it ‘there by the grace of god’?
The premise ‘innocent until proven guilty’ means that dirty athletes race until they’re caught, but by then medals are often awarded and national anthems sung. So what if we flipped our thinking so only those who ‘proved’ they were clean could start? It sounds far-fetched, medieval, an affront to human rights, but is it the logical end-game for the fledgling Clean Protocol (www.cleanprotocol.org), started by the not-for-profit World Clean Sports Organisation?
The complex certification process sees the athletes sit a series of psychometric and cognitive tests and involves analysing ocular motor deception or, crudely, subconscious eye twitches, akin to a lie detector – although it’s not an analogy founder Teague Czislowski is fond of.
He admits the test is not foolproof. To date it’s thought to be about 85% accurate, so has a far higher chance of returning a ‘false positive’ than recognised clinical environments (World Anti-Doping Agency claims its errors are one in 10,000). But what if governments, governing bodies and WADA embraced its potential?
At the Ironman World Championships in October, Clean Protocol certified a handful of professionals, including Britain’s Dan Halksworth, Harry Wiltshire and Jodie Swallow. Others were understandably reticent, but Andrew Johns, two-time British Olympian and Clean Protocol’s athlete liaison, believes attitudes have shifted such that, if the programme was repeated now, at least 50% of professionals would participate.
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Those rumblings sound promising, but Clean Protocol may not last the course. It’s reliant on private funding, which is not sustainable long term, and Czislowski is disillusioned by the status quo. “Unfortunately I’ve found those in charge of anti-doping programmes the most unhelpful,” he says. “They barely engage with us or, when they do, recite their mantra of support for the current system.”
Last year, former WADA president Dick Pound wrote a damning report outlining how anti-doping programmes are failing, blaming a lack of will among sports organisations, governments and athletes. Czislowski agrees. “Kona gave us the ability to look through a small window into the potential future of clean sport. Few others share the vision,” he says. “I’m hopeful the way to make sport cleaner is to improve behavioural change mechanisms. However, we are too early and lack resources. I give triathlon a 20% chance of becoming cleaner. Most athletes want it clean but do not speak out and the race organisers have no will. Clean Protocol is not perfect. It is just a start.”
It’s easy to write off Clean Protocol as unworkable, both practically and financially, but solutions to great problems often require visionaries. If the utopia is a gateway to clean sport, maybe it’s worth a try.
(Illustration: Daniel Seex)
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From humble beginnings that could be charitably described as ‘experimental’, the East Grinstead Triathlon will be celebrating its thirtieth instalment this May. EGTC member David Pawsey describes its long and colourful history…
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With the explosion in triathlon in the last decade it could be hard for some competitors to imagine a time when the sport was just finding its feet. The latest British Triathlon figures show that in 2013 there were 993 events held around the UK.
From huge 10,000+ competitor events like the London Triathlon to small, local club events with less than 100 entrants over a range of distances, triathletes are spoilt for choice nowadays. In the main, regardless of size, these races are extremely well organised with efficient transition areas and bike racking.
But it wasn’t always quite like this. Back in 1986 a group of sporting enthusiasts in East Grinstead, West Sussex decided to put on a triathlon. Little did they know the challenges they would face and the impact the race would have for years to come.
The class of ‘86
According to Martin Darlison, now head coach of East Grinstead Triathlon Club, the race was originally the brainchild of Dirk van der Starre, who was manager of the King’s Leisure Centre (which has served as EGTC HQ for the past 30 years) at the time.
Dirk served as the race director while local swim teacher Eve Savage was responsible for the pool-based swim. Experienced road racer Bill Wates took responsibility for the bike section while Martin himself arranged the run.
“There was no standardisation of distances in triathlon at the time, so we thought we would go with some round figures; a mile (1.6km) swim in the Kings Centre pool (64 lengths) seemed like a good idea, an oft-used 40km bike circuit around some brutal local countryside would keep everyone happy, and finish with a 10km run as two laps around a residential part of East Grinstead.
“Little did we know that this would later become (almost exactly) the standard distance triathlon we know today,” Martin says.
Challenges
However there were still several challenges to come. To start with the enthusiasts needed to form a club in order to register British Triathlon Association to get the race sanctioned. However, East Grinstead Triathlon Club was slightly short of members.
“As the minimum membership was seven we had to make up a name for the seventh person as there were too few of us to form a club,” Martin admits.
Despite a slightly unorthodox start to the event, the race managed to attract 80 entrants from sports clubs and some of the other very few triathlon clubs in the south east of England. The race itself could be described as near unrecognisable by today’s standards.
Martin recalls: “We did not know how to arrange the transition area as none of us had done a triathlon before, so we set up chairs in the main sports hall and competitors leaned their bikes on the chairs. “As only a few competitors had tri-suits, nudity was all too prevalent as competitors changed clothes between swim, bike and run.”
Race novices
Event management has greatly improved since then, particularly for the well oiled machine that is the modern East Grinstead Triathlon, and so has racing equipment.
On display back in ’86 were steel frame bikes, toe clips and leather straps with leather ‘hairnet’ crash hats and no proper crash helmets. Race day nutrition consisted of water, bananas, dried fruit and walnut cake.
Such was the general lack of racing experience one competitor did not even realise he could take off his goggles after finishing the swim section, due to the general lack of racing experience.
“His goggles were pretty steamed up by the finish as he was so warm. It was mid June,” says Martin. “The real fun of the first East Grinsted Triathlon was that almost all competitors were novices and we all shared a terrific experience together and were all hooked by the end of the day.
“We had become part of a very small group in a particularly minority sport. A lot of us went out for a meal together that evening, and we formed a strong bond that has held us as close friends, still 30 years on.”
Podium finish
These days membership of East Grinstead Triathlon club is well in excess of 120 and constantly growing. Therefore it is no surprise that it is an extremely well organised and marshalled event – only a small number of members are allowed to enter the event each year.
However that was not the case in 1986, with founder member Roger Sheridan who worked alongside Dirk at the Kings Centre winning the event, and Martin himself taking third place.
The following year the race attracted double the number of competitors, and the race and club have gone from strength to strength ever since.
“We never believed that what we staged 30 years ago would last so long,” says Martin. “Triathlon has grown massively over those three decades and has moved from a ‘random fad’ to mainstream recognition of an honest and challenging test of endurance, where the top triathletes are respected as amongst the best in the world of sport.”
Class of 2015
To celebrate the 30th birthday of the East Grinstead Triathlon, which takes place on 10th May 2015, there will be a special wave for those that took part in the inaugural race. While the club is still in touch with some competitors from the Class of ‘86 there are a number which are yet to be tracked down.
So if you took place in that first event then please contact the race director at [email protected]. The club would really love to see you there on the day, even if are you are currently resting or tapering and don’t wish to take part! For more info head to www.egtri.com.
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Did you race one of the first East Grinstead Triathlons? Let us know in the comments!
If you like sea swims and rolling hills on the bike then this one’s for you – the Eirias Triathlon will return to north Wales on 26 September, with a top field expected once again.
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Both race begin with a sea swim at Porth Eirias, with the middle distance+ race involving a 1,900m swim (two laps), 106km cycle and 20km run. The standard distance+ race takes place on the same course and includes a 1,500m swim, 53km cycle and 10km run.
Last year’s race saw Welsh Commonwealth Games athlete Carol Bridge take the overall title in the middle distance+ race, beating the male winner Christof Knoeri by over 3mins with a time of 5:23:48.
The King of the Mountains special stage will be repeated again this year with the aim of finding the best climber in each race: the KoM climb will be included at the beginning of each lap, details here.
Registration to The Eirias Triathlon is open now with individual entry fees of £90 for the middle distance and £65 for the standard distance race. Team relay entries are available for £125 or £75 respectively.
Entries close on 16th September 2015 or when sold out – register here.
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Will you be racing this year’s Eirias Triathlon? Let us know in the comments below!
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Just one week to go until this year’s 220 Triathlon Show! The always-popular 220 Theatre will return with a series of seminars from world-class experts such as record-breaking long distance swimmer Adam Walker and Ironman coach Joe Beer.
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Talks start at 13:00 Friday and run all weekend. For the best experience, you can reserve you seat for £2.
Mark Kleanthous has completed over 460 triathlons and he opens the show with his top tips on how avoid digestive and mental disaster on your long distance triathlon. Next up is Adam Walker to guide you through his Oceans 7 challenge. Joe Beer keeps the afternoon on track as he summarises twelve years of triathlon shows to discover what we’ve actually learned during a Q&A session.
Endurance adventurer and 220 Show first time presenter, Luke Tyburski, will be persuading you to up your game to take on long-distance and Ironman events. If you want to know what it’s like to compete in the Sahara and Nepal, he’s got you covered.
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Saturday starts at 10:15 with Joe Beer on bike optimisation. With several Ironman challenges under his feet, Joe’s advice is not to be missed. 220 Triathlon’s contributing chef, Kate Percy, steps up next with a demonstration on how to make your own energy balls and recovery drinks.
Adam Walker returns for those who missed his Oceans 7 talk the first time round and Swim Smooth founder, Paul Newsome helps you make the most of your swim training with interval training based on critical swim speed (CSS). Paul has coached over 5,000 swimmers, so whatever your skill level, he’ll be able to help.
Mark Kleanthous returns, ready to snap you from your mid-afternoon lethargy, with his seminar on how to conquer Ironman challenges. It’s aimed at first time competitors and veterans alike so there’ll definitely be something for you.
Triathlon trainer, Steve Trew, rounds off the day with his take on mental attitude. He’s been a coach at the last six Olympics and Commonwealth games so if you want to know how the professionals think, Steve’s your man.
You’ll have one last chance on Sunday to catch Paul Newsome, Joe Beer and Adam Walker before the show ends when 220 columnist, Martyn Brunt, wraps up the weekend with an entertaining quiz on triathlon trivia and what really happens during races.
If you can’t make your mind up or are concerned about conflicting events, the theatre schedule is HERE, ready to assist you plan your day.
Need a top seat for your favourite speaker? Book your seat HERE.
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Don’t miss out on great savings, quote code 2W16 when ordering to get two adult tickets for only £16 (usual on-the-door ticket price £12. £2.25 transaction fee applies. Offer ends 24th February 2015). For more info, and to buy your ticket, head HERE.
Perfectly warm and still conditions greeted athletes at Challenge Wanaka last weekend, with New Zealand athletes Dylan McNeice and Gina Crawford picking up their third and sixth victories respectively in the beautiful Southern Alps.
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The men’s race was much closer than 2014 however, with local athlete Dougal Allen pushing hard all the way. McNeice completed the 3.8km swim in a new course record 45:33mins, but Allen rode a sensational bike leg of 4:30:50, smashing Richard Ussher’s 2010 record by almost 12mins to claw back a lot of the ground he lost in the swim. It wasn’t enough however to catch McNeice, who won in 8:37:14.
“It was a lot harder than last year,” said McNeice afterwards. “Dougal rode so well and I honestly thought he was going to catch me. He pushed me and I ran that first lap [on the run] too hard. I really felt it in the last 15km but I think that got me the title so it was worth the risk.”
Silver for Siddall
In the women’s race, Crawford was totally dominant despite facing a record number of pro athletes. Exiting the swim in 50:55mins among a group of pro men, she maintained a lead of between five and seven minutes during the 180km bike leg and completed the marathon run 11:55mins ahead of Laura Siddall (GBR) and 20:25mins ahead of Michelle Bremer (NZL).
Siddall made her mark in only her second long distance triathlon after turning pro last year. Wanaka’s German pro, Simone Maier has been a consistent performer in recent years and finished today’s race just off the podium in fourth.
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“It’s always a tough race here but the crowds are fantastic,” said Crawford afterwards. “I find it difficult leading, I really love chasing when it’s easier to keep focused and motivated. When you’re out front you don’t know what’s happening behind you.”
For complete results head here.
(Images: Getty)
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Not content with moving location up to Derby to fit more people in, the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon will be offering a £7,000 prize purse this year, with a grand each on the table for the male and female winner.
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The remaining £9,000 will be shared out down to 10th place, split evenly between the male and female athletes. This makes it one of the biggest prizes in UK sprint triathlon, and again gives athletes the chance to race against 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson.
The prize money will be distributed to male and female athletes as follows:
1: £1,000
2: £800
3: £600
4: £400
5: £200
6: £175
7: £150
8: £100
9: £75
10: Sponsor Prize TBA
The race will be held at Markeaton Park in Derby on Sunday 12 July, with the preliminary heat involving a 200m lake swim in Markeaton Park, followed by an 11km cycle around the surrounding roads, then back to Markeaton for the 2.5km run.
The top performers will then go on to the final, 400m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run, with the runners up entering the wooden spoon race.
Entries are still open at www.jensonbuttontri.com.
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