As the build up to the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London intensifies ahead of next week, this weekend sees another busy weekend of international competition with British representation at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, the ITU Powerman World Championships and the ETU European Cross Triathlon Championships.
Leanda Cave is looking to defend the 70.3 world title she won in Las Vagas last year. The 35 year old Welshwoman, who is based in Boulder Colorado, is also the reigning Ironman World Champion. In February she announced that she had a non life threatening form of skin cancer, and she has struggled with injury this year.
However, she has achieved results this season that indicate a podium finish in Las Vegas this year is not out of the question. Britain’s Cat Morrison and Emma-Kate Lidbury could similarly challenge for the top spots. London 2012 Olympic silver medallist, Lisa Norden (SWE), also features in the line up.
In the men’s race in Vegas Tim Don, Will Clarke and Ritchie Nicholls have all stepped up the distance from ITU standard distance racing with successes this year. Nicholls is the European 70.3 Champion.
The ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships return to Zofingen on Sunday for the 25th time. Great Britain is without defending elite champion, Lucy Gossage, who is racing at Ironman Wales.
Oliver Mott and Matt Moorhouse are set for the men’s elite race and a squad of 23 British Age-Group athletes are preparing themselves for the challenging 10km run, 150km bike and 30km run.
Daniel Bailey is Britain’s youngest competitor, competing in the 20-24 Age-Group in which he finished 2nd in 2011. He’s also a former standard distance duathlon ETU European Champion. Geoffrey Russell is one of six in the oldest Age-Group at the event, the competitive 65-69 Age-Group.
At the ETU Cross Triathlon European Championships in Strobl am Wolfgangsee, Austria, competitors are preparing for a demanding 1km swim, 22km mountain bike and 6km run.
Rory Downie and James Anderson compete in the elite senior and junior events respectively. Downie, a Stirling University student, is the reigning U23 European champion and is relishing the mountainous course.
The British Age-Group team features seven men and two women in Age-Groups from 25 to 59. The elite and Age-Group races all take place tomorrow, Saturday 7 September.
Published 6 September 2013
