New Zealand triathletes busy in Asia and Europe
New Zealand will have representation at two major international ITU triathlon events this weekend with a large contingent of primarily male athletes competing in the Asian Cup race at Subic Bay in the Phillipines today.
They will be followed by the latest ITU World Cup race in Lisbon Portugal in the early hours of Sunday morning New Zealand time, with Terrenzo Bozzone the sole New Zealand representative in the elite races.
Bozzone is continuing his comeback from injury and surgery earlier this year to repair damage to a knee caused by a crash on his bike in late 2006. The 22 year old North Shore athlete faces a tough task in his comeback race with a top quality field assembled.
Despite (or perhaps because of) the absence of world number 2 and 3 ranked Kiwis Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell, a large number of the sport’s top runners are present and have their sights set on the reasonably flat and fast course. Top-ranked Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia will once again do battle with young Javier Gomez of Spain over the 1,500 metre swim, 40 kilometre bike and 10 kilometre run course. The last time these two met it was Kahlefeldt who was able to come from behind and nip the Spaniard at the line.
Sydney Olympic gold medalist, Simon Whitfield is looking to reach top form on his quest to represent Canada in a third Olympic Games. Whitfield does not race many world cups but is always a threat when he does show up.
As expected, a strong European contingent have gathered in Lisbon including local Bruno Pais of Portugal, former world champion Ivan Raña of Spain, Olympic bronze medalist Sven Riederer of Switzerland, Jan Frodeno of Germany and Filip Ospaly of the Czech Republic. Rasmus Henning of Denmark will also be back after a lengthy absence due to a nagging foot injury.
In the absence of all of New Zealand’s elite women, Portuguese sensation Vanessa Fernandes is expected to dominate on home soil. After claiming her 14th World Cup win in Ishigaki a few weeks ago, Fernandes is now just five world cup wins away from the all-time record for world cup wins, 19, set by Aussie Emma Carney.
She will have stiff competition, however, as current Under23 world champion Erin Densham of Australia will take the second starting position. Just over a month ago Densham was able to pull away from Fernandes in the final run stages of the Mooloolaba BG Triathlon World Cup to best the young Portuguese.
Densham will have help from team mate and former world number one ranked Annabel Luxford, who is battling back after almost a year’s hiatus due to injury..
A larger contingent of New Zealanders will chase ITU points at the lesser ranked but increasingly popular Asian Cup series in the Phillipines today. The Subic Bay race is followed next weekend by the next round at Yicheng in China on May 12th. Asian Cup races carry prizemoney of $25,000 USD.
New Zealand entry list for Asian Cup at Subic Bay, 5th May
Male
Will Green Auckland
Dylan McNeice Christchurch
Ben Pulham Auckland
Nathan Richmond Auckland
Liam Scopes Auckland
Martin Van Barneveld Wellington
Female
Kelly Bruce Auckland
ITU World Cup R3 Lisbon, 6th May
Male
Terrenzo Bozzone Auckland
For results and live race coverage of the World Cup race in Lisbon, go to www.triathlon.org
The women’s elite race will get underway at 9pm NZT on Sunday while the men’s elite race will commence at 1am Monday NZT and finish at approximately 3am.
They will be followed by the latest ITU World Cup race in Lisbon Portugal in the early hours of Sunday morning New Zealand time, with Terrenzo Bozzone the sole New Zealand representative in the elite races.
Bozzone is continuing his comeback from injury and surgery earlier this year to repair damage to a knee caused by a crash on his bike in late 2006. The 22 year old North Shore athlete faces a tough task in his comeback race with a top quality field assembled.
Despite (or perhaps because of) the absence of world number 2 and 3 ranked Kiwis Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell, a large number of the sport’s top runners are present and have their sights set on the reasonably flat and fast course. Top-ranked Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia will once again do battle with young Javier Gomez of Spain over the 1,500 metre swim, 40 kilometre bike and 10 kilometre run course. The last time these two met it was Kahlefeldt who was able to come from behind and nip the Spaniard at the line.
Sydney Olympic gold medalist, Simon Whitfield is looking to reach top form on his quest to represent Canada in a third Olympic Games. Whitfield does not race many world cups but is always a threat when he does show up.
As expected, a strong European contingent have gathered in Lisbon including local Bruno Pais of Portugal, former world champion Ivan Raña of Spain, Olympic bronze medalist Sven Riederer of Switzerland, Jan Frodeno of Germany and Filip Ospaly of the Czech Republic. Rasmus Henning of Denmark will also be back after a lengthy absence due to a nagging foot injury.
In the absence of all of New Zealand’s elite women, Portuguese sensation Vanessa Fernandes is expected to dominate on home soil. After claiming her 14th World Cup win in Ishigaki a few weeks ago, Fernandes is now just five world cup wins away from the all-time record for world cup wins, 19, set by Aussie Emma Carney.
She will have stiff competition, however, as current Under23 world champion Erin Densham of Australia will take the second starting position. Just over a month ago Densham was able to pull away from Fernandes in the final run stages of the Mooloolaba BG Triathlon World Cup to best the young Portuguese.
Densham will have help from team mate and former world number one ranked Annabel Luxford, who is battling back after almost a year’s hiatus due to injury..
A larger contingent of New Zealanders will chase ITU points at the lesser ranked but increasingly popular Asian Cup series in the Phillipines today. The Subic Bay race is followed next weekend by the next round at Yicheng in China on May 12th. Asian Cup races carry prizemoney of $25,000 USD.
New Zealand entry list for Asian Cup at Subic Bay, 5th May
Male
Will Green Auckland
Dylan McNeice Christchurch
Ben Pulham Auckland
Nathan Richmond Auckland
Liam Scopes Auckland
Martin Van Barneveld Wellington
Female
Kelly Bruce Auckland
ITU World Cup R3 Lisbon, 6th May
Male
Terrenzo Bozzone Auckland
For results and live race coverage of the World Cup race in Lisbon, go to www.triathlon.org
The women’s elite race will get underway at 9pm NZT on Sunday while the men’s elite race will commence at 1am Monday NZT and finish at approximately 3am.