Golden skies were an auspicious start for Gwen Jorgensen and the rest of Team USA at WTS Gold Coast today, and they made the most of it to take a clean sweep of the medals.
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>>> Gwen Jorgensen bags her first WTS Auckland win
Jorgensen wore the number two today after the number one spot was left unoccupied in a fitting tribute to the late Aussie triathlete and coach Jackie Fairweather, who passed away in 2014. The golden bike rack was also left open to remember Fairweather..
Ideal conditions did little to break up the women on the two lap swim but a quick transition saw a tight-knit lead group of eight form at the front of the flat and very technical 40-kilometre bike course.
The tough course caused some early casualty’s including Australian Natalie van Coevorden forced to withdraw. The front group included Lucy Hall (GBR), Flora Duffy (BER), Jorgensen, Zaferes, True, Rebecca Clarke (NZL), Pamella Oliveira (BRA) and Jessica Learmonth (GBR).
A large chase group, led interchangeably by Andrea Hewitt (NZL) and Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle and Emma Moffatt remained at a distance of about a one-minute deficit from the leaders entering into the second transition.
Jorgensen held her own in the swim remaining in touch and with the lead group heading back into into transition right behind Jessica Learmonth (GRB) who led out. Her swim and bike skills continue to improve which is not good news for her competitors.
Jorgensen played an active part in the front group with Duffy and True also driving the bunch that worked effectively together to ensure they stayed away throughout the entirety of the eight-lap technical course.
Her remarkable effort the first two disciplines set her up perfectly to then unleash her weapon on the run. She cruised across the finish line to earn the gold medal at 1:57:00. Despite having to serve a 15-second penalty for a transition infringement, Jorgensen still executed a standout run to keep her perfect 2015 season intact and win her third WTS race of the year.
I am so happy with my win at #WTSColdCoast today. What an amazing day for Team USA going 1-2-3 @sgroffy @KZaferes6 pic.twitter.com/ofSXeAJeTy
— gwen jorgensen (@gwenjorgensen) April 11, 2015
True took home the silver medal with a time of 1:58:18, giving her the first podium finish of the season after she placed ninth in Abu Dhabi and eighth in Auckland. The USA sweep was complete when Zaferes was able to grab third in a time of 1:58:36. The bronze medallist now has earned three for three on podium finishes in the WTS circuit for the year and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
“I don’t think you ever have a perfect race but I was certainly thrilled to come out of the water and be in the front pack right away,” said Jorgensen afterwards. “I mean one, two, three for Team USA, I don’t think you can get any better standing on the podium and looking over and seeing the other two girls and hearing the national anthem, we could not ask for anything more,” said Jorgensen.
Full women’s results.
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WTS series leaders Jonny Brownlee and Gwen Jorgensen won yet again in Gold Coast, Australia last Saturday (11 April), but that wasn’t to say either race was without drama….
Jonny put in one of his very best performances to date, narrowly missing a crash on the latter stages of the bike, while Gwen led a clean sweep in the women’s race for Team USA.
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>>> Jonny Brownlee runs ‘like a maniac’ for gold
Elite women
>>> Gwen Jorgenesen wins eighth consecutive WTS title
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What did you think of the races? Let us know in the comments below!
Triathlon stars of the future, get training – the Kids of Steel series will return for 2015 with ten events across the UK, culminating in a mini-triathlon at the London Aquatics Centre and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this July.
Up to 10,000 youngsters aged 8 to 13 are expected to take part in the series, organised by British Triathlon and sponsors Tata Steel:
May 19: The Pods leisure centre, Scunthorpe May 20: International Swimming Pool, Corby June 3: Workington Leisure Centre June 4: Eston Leisure Centre, Teesside June 9: Wishaw Sports Centre June 26: Alun Leisure Centre, Mold June 29: Westfield Sports Centre, Sheffield July 7: National Pool, Swansea July 9: International Sports Village, Newport July 14: London Aquatics Centre and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Josh Jones, 18, took part in a Kids of Steel triathlon event at the age of 12. A dedicated swimmer and runner from an early age, he jumped at the chance to give triathlon a go at a Kids of Steel event in Scunthorpe with his school – and last year became British Age-Group Triathlon Champion.
“Kids of Steel reinforced my love of sport and encouraged me to continue training hard”, said Josh. “Now I’m representing Great Britain at age-group level in the sport I love and I hope to become an even stronger athlete in the future.”
For more info head here.
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Has your child taken part in a Kids of Steel event? Let us know in the comments!
The World Triathlon Series may be heading to Yorkshire next year, as Leeds has just been nominated by British Triathlon as its preferred candidate to stage a round of the 2016 series.
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If successful it would give Leeds natives Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee the chance to compete in front of packed crowds and in an atmosphere similar to the unforgettable Tour de France Grand Départ in the city last summer.
A leg of the series has previously been held since 2009 in London’s Hyde Park (except 2012 when it was the Olympic venue), but Leeds has now been put forward by British Triathlon as the preferred city to take over hosting a British round for an initial three years.
Alistair and Jonny have advised on a potential race route in the city, which could see the Leeds-based brothers compete in front of a home crowd in one of the final races before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
“The ITU World Triathlon Series is about delivering world-class racing in iconic locations and Leeds will guarantee to do just that,” said Alistair Brownlee. “I am sure that spectators will line the route and the city centre will be full of fans cheering on the athletes as we cross the finish line.
“The Tour de France Grand Départ 2014 demonstrated how much the people of Leeds and Yorkshire love sport, and the opportunity for not just myself but also for athletes from around the world to race in front of crowds like that will create an unforgettable event. It will create a platform to inspire the local community to get involved in the sport and continue the proud triathlon tradition within Yorkshire.”
The event in Leeds would see Olympic-distance elite men’s and women’s triathlon races start with a 1500m swim in Roundhay Park, before making the transition onto a 40km bike route into the city centre where they would complete a number of circuits before finishing with a 10km run through the heart of Leeds in front of possible crowds in excess of 40,000 spectators lining the free-to-view route.
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The calendar of ITU World Triathlon Series events for 2016 is expected to be announced by the ITU next month – May 2015.
Now in its 28th year, the Tri De Spice is held in Port Louis on the island of Grenada. Triathletes can choose from a Sprint (750m/20k/5k) or Olympic (1500m/40k/10k) distance, with the swim taking place in the calm waters of the port itself. You can read Helen’s full race report in the next issue of 220 Triathlon, on sale 28th April, but here are some of the photos from the race:
The event also boasts an afternoon of kids’ races, with children as young as three lining up to take on a triathlon – although the very youngest do their swim in a shallow pool at the race venue!
Tempted to take part next year? Then check out the website here.
Returning to Ironman Frankfurt this July are two of the biggest names in long-distance triathlon both: reigning Kona king Sebastian Kienle (GER) and 70.3 world champ Daniela Ryf (SUI).
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>>> Want to know what it’s like to race Ironman Frankfurt? Watch this video
In the men’s race, Kienle will be racing against fellow German and 2008 Olympic gold medallist Jan Frodeno and 2013 Ironman world champion Frederik Van Lierde (BEL). “It’s going to be one tough, but exciting, day,” said Kienle. “Winning here in Frankfurt in front of my home crowd meant the world to me. If they want the title they’ll have to give me a good battle for it.”
>>> Jan Frodeno’s 10 top tips for stepping up to iron distance
Frodeno’s transition to long-distance triathlon has been impressive, overcoming a ripped wetsuit, bike tire punctures and cramping legs on his full-distance debut in Frankfurt last year to finish third in 8:20:32. Frodeno repeated that feat (despite technical problems again) at Kona 2014 placing third behind Kienle and American Ben Hoffmann.
Van Lierde is also looking to hit the heights of his 2013 season, when he won the biggest prize of all – Kona. He’s already off to a strong start after winning Ironman South Africa with a 14min lead over a strong field that included fellow Belgian Bart Aernouts.
In the women’s race, Daniela Ryf – a protégée of top coach Brett Sutton – lines up as favourite after some amazing performances last year, including winning her Ironman debut in Zurich, a second title at Ironman Copenhagen, the 70.3 European title and 70.3 Worlds. She also finished runner-up at Kona 2014.
She’ll be racing against fellow Swiss Caroline Steffen, two-time runner-up at Kona, and German athlete Julia Gajer, whose top results include victory at Ironman Arizona 2013 and sixth at Kona last year, where she finished just behind Steffen. “For German athletes, the Ironman European Championship is one of the most prestigious titles in the sport,” says Gajer.
Outside of the pro ranks, there will be more than 3,000 age-group athletes racing on 5 July in Frankfurt, which has hosted the Ironman European Championship since 2002. This year, the organisers will be offering live video coverage, a GPS tracking of the pros and enhanced age-group tracking on the event website.
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Are you racing Ironman Frankfurt this July? Let us know in the comments below!
Help for Heroes recently ran their third training weekend for the upcoming Arch to Arc challenge, with around 30 wounded, injured and sick service person heading to Yorkshire for a weekend that was ‘by no means for the fainthearted’.
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>>> Help for Heroes trains hopefuls for Arch to Arc Challenge
Around 30 participants had to complete over a mile in the pool, followed by a 15mile bike ride and 4×4 training on the running track. Following lunch there was a question and answer session about the challenge, and then back to the pool to complete a few more miles. Sunday did not see any change in tempo, another early 5.30am pool session followed by a cycle lesson and spinning session.
Help for Heroes is putting together a team to take on the challenge of running 87 miles from Marble Arch in London to the Dover coast, then swimming across the Channel, finishing with a 181 mile bike from Calaid to the Arc de Triomph in Paris. It has never been attempted by a disabled team before – something the charity is planning to rectify this September.
One participant in the latest training weekend was former soldier Caroline Buckle, who fell ill with depression in 2008 while on operations in Iraq on her second tour. “Help for Heroes have given me so much help and support. There was a time you would be lucky to hear a peep out of me. This challenge has helped me make new friends, helped my confidence no end and generally start to find my old self.
“Still a long way to go, but the lifelong support my husband and I receive help us both to understand me more and grow in confidence. Sport gets all of my good endorphins running and means my medication works better to keep me balanced, it also has helped me get back into sport and find a new way to run and laugh.”
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The next training weekend will be held at the end of April off the coast of Plymouth. For more info head to www.helpforheroes.org.uk.
If iron-distance racing in Norway appeals, new event Coastman may be worth a look – the organisers describe it as an ‘epic’ triathlon along the coast of western Norway, near Bergen.
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>>> Ironman: how many hours of training a week do you need?
The Coastman will take place on 9 August in some of the country’s most scenic landscape in Oygarden, and promised a beautiful sheltered swim along the islands, followed by a fast and exciting 180km bike ride crossing six bridges.
The bike slope has been used for the national time trial championships both in 2008 and 2012, and will be used for the 2017 world team trial championships. The race finishes with a flat, quick four-lap marathon.
Like racing with your buddies? The Jenson Button Trust Triathlon has created a Team Challenge for this year’s event on Sunday 12 July, with two rounds of races to be held over the course of the day.
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Teams of three people (all male, all female or mixed) can enter the challenge for £250. The first team member will swim 200m before handing over to their teammate who will cycle 10km, then the third member will complete a 2.5km run. Each team will get to race twice – once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
Team members will all receive a medal and a goody bag as well as one signed race T-shirt per team from Jenson Button. The F1 ace will also be presenting the prizes at the end of the day in the event village, where food, drink and live music are also planned throughout the day.
>>> Gallery: Jenson Button Trust Triathlon 2014
This year’s race will be held in Derby, moving from its previous home in Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire to accommodate more people, and there will be a £7,000 prize purse on offer, with £1,000 on the table for both the male and female overall winners.
The organisers have also teamed up with Pentahotel Derby to offer discounted room rates for race weekend of £52 for the night of Friday 10th July, and £62 for the night of Saturday 11th July – enter ‘Jenson Button Triathlon’ when reserving here.
For more information and to register for this year’s event, head to www.jensonbuttontri.com.
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With Ironman 70.3 Pays d’Aix just over two weeks away, British athletes will make up an impressive third of the 18 female pros on the start line, including 2013 winner Susie Cheetham and 2014 Ironman Lanzarote winner Lucy Gossage.
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>>> Lucy Gossage cruises to victory at Ironman Lanzarote
The other four Brits are Alice Hector, Eimear Mullan, Georgie Rutherford and Amy Forshaw. Their main rivals include Denmark’s Camilla Pedersen, who won the 2014 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Champs in China – a remarkable comeback nearly a year to the day since a serious bike accident that left her in a coma.
In the men’s race there are 53 pros competing, including just two Brits – Scotland’s three-time Ironman 70.3 winner Fraser Cartmell, and fellow Wimbleball winner Ritchie Nicholls. Up against him are French athlete Romain Guillaume, who placed 10th at Kona last year, and Joe Gambles (AUS), who placed third at the 70.3 Worlds in 2013.
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