Triathlon heads to the Greek Islands

The BG Triathlon World Cup series heads to the ancient Greek Island of Rhodes this weekend for the 13th round of the 2007 season.

New Zealand representation is small in numbers with just three elite athletes set to line up on the start pontoon.

World number five Kris Gemmell leads the Kiwi charge along with Blair Jordan (184th) while Nicky Samuels (28th) is the sole Kiwi in the women’s field.

Racing gets underway at 8pm Sunday night New Zealand time with the elite women’s race while the elite men start at 11.30pm. Race coverage is live on the ITU website.

In the women’s race Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal will be trying to equal triathlon history. A win will tie Fernandes with Australian Emma Carney’s record for the most world cup wins of any ITU athlete at 19. Earlier this year Fernandes just missed beating Carney’s standing record for most world cup wins in a row and now has the chance to again put her in triathlon’s history books.

In the men’s field, with the absence of world number one Javier Gomez of Spain and Kiwi number one Bevan Docherty, the marked men for Gemmell will be Australia’s Brad Kahlefeldt and Courtney Atkinson. Both who have had recent podium performances at two stacked events.

There is also a strong European representation. Rasmus Henning of Denmark and Filip Ospaly of Czech Republic both have top world cup victories under their belts in 2007 and will be on the start list come Sunday. Tack on the likes of former world champion, Ivan Raña of Spain and Under23 world and European champion Will Clarke of Great Britain and the racing should be intense for Palmerston North based Gemmell.


2007 BG World Triathlon Cup, R13 Rhodes 

Women 8pm Sunday 7th October NZT

Name City ITU rank

Nicky Samuels Whangarei 28



Men 11.30pm Sunday 7th October NZT

Kris Gemmell Palmerston Nth 5

Blair Jordan Auckland 184