ISSUE #1 Friday August 5, 2011 Tri-Times McCormack to lead Aussie triathletes through streets of London For all the latest Triathlon News visit: www.triathlon.org.au CURRENT ITU RANKINGS Triathlon legend Chris McCormack may well take The course starts with a one-lap 1.5km swim in The With London on this weekend here are a line from Ralph McTell’s famous 70s song the Serpentine in Hyde Park, before a seven-lap 40km bike the current Australian rankings in the ITU “Streets of London” when he leads a buoyant that circles Buckingham Palace and a four-lap, 10km Dextro Energy World Championship Series: Australian contingent into the Olympic city for this run that finishes in Hyde Park - a perfect preview as the weekend’s much-awaited Dextro Energy ITU World world’s best get that priceless chance to conquer the MEN: Brad Kahlefeldt 9th (1386) Championship Series race. Olympic course. Brendan Sexton 15th (881) Courtney Atkinson 37th (359) Every nation has placed its own selection criteria on this At 38, the former Olympic distance world champion and Jamie Huggett 59th (156) Ironman king, is on the short course comeback trail and is benchmark event and Australia is no different: win the Dan Wilson 63rd (90). slowly but surely finding his speed feet in the helter-skelter race and finish top three on the World Championship world of Olympic triathlon. pointscore and you’re assured of automatic selection. WOMEN: Emma Moffatt 4th (2061) He lined up but didn’t finish in Kitzbuehel in June and then Triathlon Australia’s High Performance team were Erin Densham 12th (965) fought hard to get within striking distance with a strong determined to create a “winning culture” in this squad Emma Jackson 15th (873) bike leg in Hamburg last month but and despite suffering in the lead up to next year and despite a sluggish start Emma Snowsill 17th (853) a penalty ran on strongly to finish an encouraging 26th. to the World Championship season that winning feeling Felicity Abram 27th (517) has emerged, particularly on the back of the spectacular Annabel Luxford 53rd (197). winning performances by Kahlefeldt and the three Emmas – Moffatt, Jackson and Snowsill - all on song for a trifecta in Hamburg in round four of the WCS. And maybe McCormack holds the key to success in those famous streets this weekend. Australia’s National Head Coach Shaun Stephens has been impressed with McCormack’s dedication and leadership in the Australian camp. “There is no doubt Macca has gained a lot of confidence from his efforts in Hamburg and has continued to surprise everyone in camp with his athleticism after such a long time out of Olympic distance racing,” said Stephens. “He has had a set-back with a tight hamstring but has recovered well and he is looking forward to improving upon his result in Hamburg. WELCOME McCormack was quick to lift Brad Kahlefeldt into the Welcome to the first edition of Tri Times, air after his training partner in the Australian camp in Aix a newsletter dedicated to the life and Les Bains in France, chalked up his maiden Hamburg times of our elite triathletes and it is victory and he will be there with him and Victorian rising timely that we publish on the eve of star Brendan Sexton and youngsters Aaron Royle and what will be a huge weekend for our James Seear when they attack the flat and fast streets of aspiring Olympians as they converge on London on Sunday (10pm AEST) for the men’s race. London for this benchmark event for 2011. Maybe with these lyrics buzzing in their iPods: “So how We will continue to follow the fortunes of all can you tell me you’re lonely….and say for you that the of our triathletes for what will be an intriguing sun don’t shine?....Let me take you by the hand and year across all disciplines. We ask everyone lead you through the streets of London ….I’ll show you in the Triathlon world to contribute to your something to make you change your mind,” wrote McTell newsletter, so if you have a story, a photo, a in a song that has been covered by everyone from the YouTube video or a snippet of news please Beatles to Sinead O’Connor. don’t hesitate to drop us a line. And those prolific words could well come true for Ian Hanson (Editor) Australia’s prospective Olympians when the world’s finest [email protected]. triathletes gather in the streets of London searching for places in next year’s London Games. P1 Tri-Times ISSUE #1 Friday August 5, 2011 “He is a terrific competitor and has been great for lifting “Emma Jackson has continued to train very well and has the team morale.” not allowed her outstanding result in Hamburg to distract her from continuing a terrific season. PROFILE Stephens said Kahlefeldt had continued to train well post Hamburg as he prepares to take on Britain’s in-form “Felicity Abram has just completed her best block of Brownlee brothers in front of what will be an enormous solid training all year since Hamburg (where she was 16th Felicity Sheedy-Ryan home town advantage, but ever present) and will be stronger and fitter for London while Ashleigh Gentle is coming off a terrific year thus far “Brad is looking forward to a strong hit-out on the Olympic with a win in Edmonton WC. course. He is in terrific condition and is really keen to test himself against the in-form Brownlee boys,” said “This will be her first WCS race. If she is in striking Stephens, who is equally satisfied the Australian girls are distance after the swim/bike, anything is possible but her ready to lift the bar again. real focus is learning from the experience as it is a big step up. “Annabel Luxford continues to get stronger and fitter through the year and she should have a strong presence in the swim and bike.” SHEEDY-RYAN IN Age: 26 Height: 158.5cm BACK-TO BACK- Sport: Triathlon ( ITU Olympic Distance ) Born: Perth, WA EUROPEAN CUP Coach: Grant Landers (swim : Mel Tantrum) Nicknames: Flick , Flicka, Bean, Machete Training Base: Perth, WA. France in the Winter WINS Favourite Discipline: Run Western Australian Felicity Sheedy-Ryan has been in Years in Triathlon: 9 outstanding form on the European Cup circuit. Favourite Foods: Sushi, Gelato, Mangoes and Smoothies! Stephens is satisfied that his troops are all on track for The 26-year-old has notched back-to-back wins in both Hobbies: Definitely the beach! Snorkelling, what could be some of the most exciting racing of the the Geneva ITU Triathlon European Cup and the 2011 dancing, a funny dvd, and singing in the shower. season, with so much at stake. Banyoles ITU Triathlon Premium European Cup events on Music: Wide taste -Old school 80’s and 90’s successive weekends. Alternative, New Australian Bands...So much! “Everyone has trained really well and they are all ready to race. The Hamburg race certainly lifted the team spirits In Banyoles Sheedy-Ryan won comfortably from Russia’s Favourite Races: Probably Busselton WA, and gave everyone a lot of confidence with the process Irina Abysova and Czech Republic’s Radka Vodickova, and Athlone European Cup in Ireland. they are following to peak at the right time of year,” said who was second in Geneva. Goals: To represent Australia at the 2012 Stephens. London Olympics, and podium in the Dextro The Spanish races saw outstanding Australian junior, World Championship Series. “With Olympic selection on the line for many countries 19-year-old Natalie Van Coevorden finish an encourag- Top 3 Races: 3rd World Duathlon there will be many races within races. We are asking all ing fourth – just 10 seconds away from the podium. Championships, Scotland 2010; 3rd of athletes to put their best foot forward this weekend in Tiszaujvaros Triathlon World Cup, Hungary terms of performances and I’m sure they are ready to lift. Van Coevorden, along with Tamsyn Moana-Veale and 2009; 1st Athlone European Cup, Ireland 2009 Ashleigh Bailie (pictured below) will represent Australia “It is our aim to put the pressure on and we are all looking in the ITU World Championships in Beijing (September forward to seeing how some of this year’s winners handle 10,11). RESULTS 2011 the pressures of an Olympic qualification race. “The Australian girls in particular raised the level of the “It was surprising to hear someone like Radka Vodick- • 2nd Busselton 70.3 Half IM Busselton, run in Hamburg and it will be fascinating to see who can ova say to me when I finished that her coach said I was Western Australia respond to that challenge. one to watch out for and so many people being shocked • 41st Dextro World Championship Series about my age,” said Van Coevorden. Sydney, Australia “Only twice in the last 12 months have the females • 8th Oceania Champs, Wellington, run within four minutes of the male run times - Emma “This race was a great learning curve again with lots of New Zealand Snowsill in Budapest last year and the three Emma’s in positives and negatives to come with it and with all of Hamburg three weeks ago. them to take into my future races. • 3rd Aus, National Sprint Championship Geelong, Australia “Paula Findlay is the proven athlete so far this year, but it “It helped me to see my competition, especially stepping • 1st Geneva ITU Triathlon European Cup will be interesting to see how she handles the pressure.” up to under 23s soon and opportunities that I have with • 1st Banyoles ITU Triathlon Premium training, age and nutrition to build strength and experi- European Cup Apart from the Emma trifecta, Victorian Olympian Erin ence.” , who along with VIS training partner Densham Brendan RESULTS 2010 Sexton won the Canary Wharf Sprint last month, has In the men’s race, won by reigning world champion Javier produced consistent top 10 finishes in Kitzbuehel (eighth) Gomez (ESP), Australia’s Peter Kerr was a promising • 3rd World Duathlon Championships and Hamburg (seventh) and has been set for Saturday’s seventh with Jessie Featonby 17th.