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Viewing for Abu Dhabi WTS starts on BBC television at 9am on the red button for the mens and runs till 11.20am, while the women’s starts at 12pm and runs until 2.20pm.
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Abu Dhabi is the only Middle Eastern city to ever host a WTS event, and this year it will be over an Olympic distance rather than the sprint distance in 2015.
The men are set to compete first on Saturday, with six of the top 10 ranked men from 2015 on the start list.
Sitting at the top is the Abu Dhabi reigning champion Mario Mola (ESP), who triumphed last year. In his final push, he recorded the fastest 5km run split in the history of the WTS, a record he maintained until he beat it himself later that year.
His opponents include South Africa’s Richard Murray had a phenomenal 2015 season and ended it ranked 4th overall. Other names to watch out for is the Spaniard Fernando Alarza, Ryan Bailie (AUS), Crisanto Grajales (MEX) and Joao Pereira (POR).
Representing Britain will be Tom Bishop who is ranked 7th in the WTS stats and Adam Bowden, who is ranked 25th who will both be hoping to impress selectors and get the third place on the Olympic team. The Brownlees, who have already been selected for Rio, are unfortunately not competing in Abu Dhabi.
The women’s race will be equally fiercely contested, and although two-time World Champion and reigning Abu Dhabi victor Gwen Jorgensen (USA) won’t be there, her compatriots Sarah True and Katie Zaferes are top the women’s start list.
True was the second runner-up for the World Champion title last season, after finishing third in the overall Columbia Threadneedle Rankings, and gracing three WTS podiums in 2015 including taking top spot at Stockholm World Triathlon 2015.
Rachel Klamer (NED) and Flora Duffy (BER) are the only other two women to appear on the start list that finished in the top 10 of the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings last year.
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Reigning Olympic gold medallist Nicola Spirig (SUI) is also making her first season WTS appearance this weekend.
Other dangerous names on the start list to keep an eye on this season is Japan’s Ai Ueda, Australians Ashleigh Gentle and Erin Densham.
Representing Great Britain will be Helen Jenkins and Jodie Stimpson who will have their eye firmly on Rio and gaining that third place (Non Stanford and Vicky Holland met the automatic selection criteria for Rio).
As a tribute to the late, beloved Laurent Vidal, the No. 1 position in the men’s and women’s start list has been left open.
If you have a Triathlon Live pass you can also watch all of the action live at triathlonlive.tv or if you are not near a decent screen follow us on twitter @220Triathlon as we tweet all the action, and join the conversation with the hashtags #WTSAbuDhabi and #CTrank
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See some images from WTS Abu Dhabi 2015 mens here
Race reports: Abu Dhabi WTS 2015 women’s / Abu Dhabi WTS 2015 Men’s
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While the mood was jubilant at the 2016 World Triathlon Series opener in Abu Dhabi, thoughts first turned to late triathlete and coach Laurent Vidal, who sadly passed away at the end of 2015. Athletes honoured the Frenchman by wearing his initials on their tri-suits and placing a flower at the No.1 bike position in transition, which, along with the No.1 race number, had been left open as a mark of respect.
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With both Brownlees and reigning champion Javier Gomez choosing to sit the first event out, hopes were pinned on training partners Richard Murray (Commonwealth bronze medallist) and Mario Mola, runner-up in last year’s world series.
From Team GB, Tom Bishop and Adam Bowden were flying the flag, both keen to impress the Olympic selectors for that final pilot position alongside the Brownlee brothers.
In a break from the usual two-laps-of-750m format, the Abu Dhabi course saw athletes do an initial non-wetsuit 1km lap followed by a second lap of 500m. Unable to replicate his phenomenal swim from last year’s Worlds in Chicago, which eventually saw him take the race win over teammate Javier Gomez, Mola exited the water towards the back of the field. To compound his disappointing start to the season, he then incurred a 15sec penalty for ‘equipment outside of the box’ in transition.
South Africa’s Henri Schoeman led the field of 67 men into T1 after 18:09mins, forming a front group of 12 athletes, which also included GB’s Bishop. Murray had made the second chase group; Mola the third and final.
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Over the first lap of 13km, little changed but as the laps reduced in length – six of 4.5km – the packs started to consolidate. By the start of the final lap, Italy’s Alessandro Fabien made a break, pulling out a gap of 12secs by T2.
But by that second transition the likes of Mola and Murray, the race’s strongest runers, were in the main chasing group behind the Italian.
Bolting out of T2, Mola soon took up the helm of the race, conscious of the 15sec penalty that he still had to serve. Halfway through, and with a 12sec gap over Murray, Portugal’s Joao Silva and teammate Fernando Alarza, Mola pulled over to the penalty box. Restarting the race, he was back up with the leading trio within a minute… before passing them once more and taking the lead.
As Alarza dropped off and into fourth place, Mola continued to extend his lead, with Murray firmly ensconced in second and Silva in third.
While Murray gave good chase over the final 2.5km, Mola would cross the line in 1:46:39, Murray 15secs down in second, Silva third 29secs down. Bowden would cross the line in 11th, 1:11min behind and Bishop in the top 30.
Stay tuned for the women’s report and for live coverage follow us on Twitter @220Triathlon
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Read the race report for the 2016 WTS Abu Dhabi Women’s here
Even with reigning champ Gwen Jorgensen and Brit duo Non Stanford and Vicky Holland opting out of the series opener, it was a veritable roll-call of sporting greats in the UAE – all three London Olympics’ medallists Nicola Spirig, Lisa Norden and Erin Densham, 2015 WTS Series runner-up Sarah True, Commonwealth gold medallist Jodie Stimpson and two-time world champ Helen Jenkins.
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Leading from the horn to T1 was Spain’s Carolina Routier, stepping back on terra firma after 18:47mins. Also making that crucial front pack of 10 was True, Jenkins, Katie Zaferes (USA) and strong cyclist Flora Duffy (BER)
GB’s Stimpson and former D-Squad teammate and Olympic silver medallist Lisa Norden dug in deep in the chase pack to bridge the gap during the first half of the first 13km lap and form one large lead group of 25 athletes. Olympic gold medallist Spirig finished the first lap 35secs down at the helm of the chase group, doing the majority of the leg work to bridge the gap with few strong cyclists to help her.
Reminiscent of the Brownlees’ cycling style, and no doubt conscious that the Olympic selectors would be closely watching the two Brit girls’ performance, Jenkins could be seen ‘encouraging’ the lead pack to push the pace and share the work load.
The American pairing of True and Zaferes spent the majority of the 40km bike leg sitting in, saving their legs for the final 10k.
Onto the penultimate 4.5km lap, and Spirig had dragged that chase pack up to the lead group, setting the stage for the final 10km showdown.
But with metres to go before transition, a crash caught out both True and Spirig. But with True able to continue cycling, the London gold medallist was forced to abandon her bike and jog to her stand. Pulling on her trainers over a minute down on the lead runners, she started the 10k but would eventually drop out.
As France’s Emmie Charayron and Bermuda’s Flora Duffy made their way to the head of the race, Brit duo Stimpson and Jenkins raced side by side and were soon on their heels, the four racing together throughout the first of four laps.
Aussie Ashleigh Gentle caught the leaders to form a lead quintet at the end of lap one but Charayron soon dropped off, leaving the final four to trade places over the remainder of the run leg.
With True and teammate Zaferes both forced to pull the plug, it was Renee Tomlin who stepped up to the plate for Team USA, racing into fifth place throughout the 10k to the line.
On the final lap, Stimpson kicked, leading to the tape to take the first win of the series and her first WTS victory since Cape Town 2014. Gentle ran in for second, Jenkins third, setting the Brit girls up for the final qualification race in Gold Coast at the start of April.
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Read the race report from the 2016 WTS Abu Dhabi Men’s here
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The Thermal Helix is lined with a mid-weight zirconium jersey, chosen because it dries quickly, minimises weight and is flexible.
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The suit was tried by professional triathlete Sara McLarty at last year’s Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon where the swim is held in the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay.
Sara said: “The Thermal Helix made a huge difference in the temperature of my core and extremities while swimming in water below 55 degrees [12 degrees Celsius]. Just like the other Helix models, it maintained it’s flexibility, comfortable fit, and buoyancy in all the right places.”
“We analysed what the dive and surf industries do for cold-water adventures and we pushed our manufacturing team to establish new ways to glue, stitch and tape,” said Mike Orton, blueseventy’s Brand and Product Manager
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The Thermal Helix is available now at select blueseventy retailers and blueseventy.co.uk.
Look out for a review in an upcoming issue of 220 Triathlon magazine
Read a review of blueseventy’s Helix wetsuit here
Find more reviews of the latest swim gear here
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Skipper had a good all round performance with a 0:53:11 swim, 4:25:10 bike section and 2:45:50 run, which saw him advance from 7th after the bike to take the 2nd place, ahead of the fading Millward who finished in 3rd with a time of 8:10:56.
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Skipper finished 1:39 behind the winner Cameron Brown, who has now won the event 12 times and, at the age of 43, has extended his own world record as the oldest winner of any Ironman race.
“That was the toughest. And aside from that first win here, this would have to go down as the best,” says Brown. “I’m a couple of months shy of my 44th birthday so to win this for a 12 time, and set a new course record is incredibly special. The conditions were perfect. I had my best swim and my best bike times ever. I was pushed so hard by Callum (Millward) and I am really suffering but this means so much to me.”
Despite rating her chances of competing in Ironman New Zealand as minimal due to injuries when she boarded the plane a month ago Lucy Gossage put in a sterling performance to finish 2nd behind the winner in a time of 9:05:07
“I had a very decent swim for me [0:55:44],” she says. “I rode better than ever and didn’t let a puncture 20 miles into the race play with my head too much (in fact maybe it made my day – never before has the phrase ‘the only pace is suicide pace’ seem more apt). I was angry from that point on, having ridden myself up from 11th to 6th and then ended up back in 12th and my riding reflected this! Apparently I ended up with the bike course record [4:51:38] despite the puncture”
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“Meredith is a bit of a hero of mine and I’m more than happy to come second behind such a gracious legend,” she says. “I went into the race not really certain whether or not I would finish and certainly didn’t expect to end up on the podium.”A run in 3:12:10 meant she finished nine minutes behind Meredith Kessler who completed the course in 8:56:07, which beat her own course record by nearly 10 minutes.
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The new race, sponsored by Subaru, will see athletes tackle a 1.9km (1.2-mile) swim, 90km (56-mile) bike and 21.1km (26.2-mile) run on the same terrain as Subaru Ironman Canada. The race will start with a single-loop swim in the pristine waters of Alta Lake, before starting a one-loop bike course that travels south to the Callaghan Valley, north through Whistler to Rutherford Creek, before returning to the heart of Whistler.
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Runners will then proceed along the Valley Trail around Lost Lake and along Green Lake before a short loop through Whistler Village and finishing down Blackcomb Way.
Ironman 70.3 Canada offers 30 slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee
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Iron-distance races: the 11 toughest?
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The new range is a result of seven years of reviews, elite athlete feedback and 1000’s of customer demo sessions, which has been combined with the development of cutting edge materials and construction technology.
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“Newly re-launched products include the Vanquish wetsuit which Zone3 are pitching as their fastest and most comfortable ever wetsuit. The Vanquish has a new extended upper body panel which stretches from the back, over the shoulders, down the arms and chest.
While the new Lava long distance collection includes the popular top and shorts as well as a new short sleeve Aero Tri Suit and an innovative 3/4 sleeve Speed Top.
“I have never been more excited about going into a new season than I am at the moment,” said owner and founder, James Lock.
“The new collection is looking and performing better than ever and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved. Looking back at the first Zone3 products we launched in 2008 and comparing them to where we are today is an unbelievable feeling.”
For more information visit www.RaceZone3.com
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For more reviews of the latest tri gear, head to the gear section of our website
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The Ironman has moved to new venue Waterhead on the shores of Windermere, from Wasdale, and triathletes will be swimming in Windermere, cycling over all the Lakeland passes, and running a tough marathon to the top of Scafell Pike and back.
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The film was made by Ambleside-based Steve Ashworth of Movie-It, the adventure specialists.
Event director Mark Blackburn said: “We are really proud to be staging this race here this summer in the heart of the Lakes and using our amazing local terrain. The film captures everything that’s best about adventure in the Lakes.”
The organisers are planning a weekend of entertainment, including live music, for spectators and supporters.
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What do you think? Should we have included it in Iron-distances: the 7 toughest?
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Do you think it is going to be tougher in it’s new location?
World’s toughest tri’ moves to Windermere for 2016
A week after winning WTS Abu Dhabi Brit Jodie Stimpson has won the ITU Triathlon World Cup in Mooloolaba, Australia.
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After a strong 750m sea swim, Stimpson got into a lead group of ten women on the bike, and made a move early in the 5km run to set up the victory.
“It’s great to back to back in Mooloolaba, it’s like a home race, I’ve spent a lot of time here since 2009,” said Jodie. It’s a nice feeling to be back here. I got second last time I was here to Annie Haug, so it’s nice to get the win.”
“I swam absolutely shocking in Abu Dhabi and it wasn’t a reflection of how my swimming has gone. To be honest I was probably a little bit behind but I managed to catch a brilliant wave coming in, I got dunked a little bit, but I just caught a cracking wave and it made me come up a little bit…goggles were half off, but it was great fun.”
Olympic bronze medallist Aussie Emma Moffatt was second and USA’s Kirsten Kasper was third.
It was the weekend for Abu Dhabi victors as Mario Mola also won the men’s race, adding to his Abu Dhabi victory from last weekend.
Stimpson will now stay in Australia in preparation for her next race, the ITU World Triathlon Series on Australia’s Gold Coast on 9 April, where the British selectors will be looking to make their final choice for Rio.
Results, 2016 Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup:
Elite women:
1. Jodie Stimpson, GBR, 58:31
2. Emma Moffatt, AUS, 58:48
3. Kirsten Kasper, USA, 58:56
Elite men:
1. Mario Mola, ESP, 52:55
2. Vicente Hernandez, ESP, 53:00
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3. Joao Pereira, POR, 53:12
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Following its debut at Rio later this year, Paratriathlon is to be included in the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast for the first time ever.
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There will just be one class for men and women, the PT1, which is for wheelchair users. Athletes use a recumbent handcycle on the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run segment.
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Paratriathlon: the ultimate guide
Britain’s pioneering approach to elite paratriathlon training
Having paratriathlon included on the programme for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games is great news,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “I can’t imagine a better place for paratriathlon to be tested on the Commonwealth Games programme than Gold Coast, which hosts many ITU events & is a mecca for the sport of triathlon. Paratriathletes will no doubt enjoy fantastic support in the coastal city.”
The Gold Coast has served as a consistent host of ITU events, hosting the first ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final back in 2009. It returned to the Series line up last year, and will host a World Triathlon Series race until 2018, when it will again organise the Grand Final.
“The Gold Coast will be a hub for triathlon and paratriathlon activity at both the elite and age group level in 2018 with both the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final and the Commonwealth Games hosted there,” said Casado.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games has the largest-ever para-sport programme, comprising up to 300 para-athletes and 38 medal events across 7 sports.
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Related: GB paratri team grab gold, silver and two bronze at Worlds