World Triathlon

Sunny Salford in the North-West of England will play host to stop ten of the 2006 BG Triathlon World Cup tour this Sunday.  The 2006 series’ pace quickens as the 2006 Triathlon World Championships draws nearer.  Top competition will showcase some of the best athletes in the sport like, Commonwealth Games Silver and bronze medallists, Samantha Warriner and Andrea Hewitt from New Zealand as well as three-time world champion Peter Robertson from Australia and his team mate and Commonwealth gold medallist Brad Kahlefeldt

Tricast™ Live! is newly improved with video updates from the race.  Ever wonder how fast these athletes do their transition or take off on the run?  People at home can tune into TriCast™ Live! and catch the video updates, audio, timing, photos and text updates from the Salford BG Triathlon World Cup, by visiting triathlon.org. 

Click here to view the new Tricast™ Live! Player. Race coverage begins at 12.00pm GMT.

Last year’s women’s winner Liz Blatchford (GBR) is back to try and make the most of the home-town crowds.  She will lead a strong British contingent of veteran Michelle Dillon, who won here in 2004, top-ranked and former 5,000 metre runner Andrea Whitcombe and British champion Helen Tucker.

The Brits will face stiff competition from a dynamic New Zealand team that includes not only multiple world cup winner Warriner and under23 world champion Hewitt, but also world cup winner Debbie Tanner.  Earlier this year at the Ishigaki world cup, it was Tanner and Dillon who squared off in a sprint finish, with Tanner winning at the line.  Look for Dillon to use the English cheers to give her that extra push this weekend.

Other notables are Joelle Franzmann (GER), who started the season strong with two silver medals, has not finished a race since.  The ever strong Ana Burgos (ESP), who finished third at the Madrid world cup earlier this year and the young Vendula Frintova (CZE), who with a win can catapult herself into the top ten of the world rankings.

The women’s race will start at 1:00pm GMT

A number of champions will race in the men’s field on Sunday afternoon including, past and present world, commonwealth, junior and under23 champions.  Aussies Peterson and Kahlefeldt will face a strong field including 2005 world silver medallist Reto Hug (SUI), Olympic bronze medallist Sven Reiderer (SUI) and top-ranked Andy Potts (USA).

Behind these men is a battle of youth with numerous world, regional and national junior and under23 champions.  Will Clarke from Britain just recently won the European under23 championships with team mate Olly Freeman, who was runner up.  Past junior champions Terenzo Bezzone (NZL) and Valetin Meshcheryakov (RUS) are also in Salford looking for their chance at a first world cup podium and to gain valuable points for a chance to go to the Olympics.

The men race will start at 3:30pm GMT

Click here to view full start lists and race details.

2006 BG Triathlon World Cup series – Elite Women
1. FERNANDES, Vanessa (POR) 200
2. DITTMER, Anja (GER) 153
3. GROVES, Lauren (CAN) 141
4. WHITCOMBE, Andrea (GBR) 119
5. WARRINER, Samantha (NZL) 111
6. BENNETT, Laura (USA) 109
7.  SNOWSILL, Emma (AUS) 100
7.  LUXFORD, Annabel (AUS) 100
9.  FRANZMANN, Joelle (GER) 88
10. TANNER, Debbie (NZL) 85

2006 BG Triathlon World Cup series – Elite Men
1. KEMPER, Hunter (USA) 163
2. GOMEZ, Javier (ESP) 148
3. RANA, Ivan (ESP) 132
4. GEMMELL, Kris (NZL) 120
5. POTTS, Andy (USA) 118
6. PAIS, Bruno (POR) 112
7. KAHLEFELDT, Brad (AUS) 111
8. ATKINSON, Courtney (AUS) 110
9. POLIKARPENKO, Volodymyr (UKR) 104
10. FRETTA, Mark (USA) 96

View the new Tricast™ Live! Player for live coverage for all the days action.