AUSTRALIAS ELITE TRIATHLETES READY FOR CLIMB OF THEIR LIVES IN KITZBUEHEL

Posted in Other News

Triathlon Australia, July 4, 2013: AUSTRALIA’S elite band of triathletes are preparing for ‘the climb of their lives’ over Saturday night’s toughest ever ITU World Series Triathlon course in the Austrian alpine ski town of Kitzbuehel.

WATCH MENS RACE ONLINE - CLICK HERE

WATCH LADIES RACE ONLINE - CLICK HERE

In a break from the Olympic distance tradition this new mountainous course will cover a 750m swim; 11.5km bike ride and a 2.5km run in what is said to be “one of most demanding and innovative triathlon courses ever set.”

While Hahnenkamm Mountain is famous for hosting what is considered the hardest downhill ski race in the world, triathletes will be challenged to climb its sister peak, the Kitzbühel Horn mountain.

Many cities lack the landscape for tough courses, but the Austrian Alps provide the opportune background to host a testing course that is largely uphill.

Described by Australian triathlete Dan Wilson as “just plain brutal” the course has been designed around the famous Horn and has attracted the cream of the world’s triathletes with Great Britain’s Brownlee brothers Alistair and Jonathan and Spain’s Javier Gomez together for the first time since they shared the podium at the London Olympics.

Queenslander Wilson and Wollongong-based Western Australian Ryan Bailie are the only Australian men in the 68-strong field for Race Five of the WTS who will tackle the Horn while the women’s race has attracted the who’s who of our elite women – Emma Moffatt, Felicity Abram, Ashleigh Gentle and Emma Jackson.

The women’s field of 41 has the majority of the top 15 in the world including the top three in Gwen Jorgensen (USA), Anne Haug (GER) and Jodie Stimpson (GBR).

The swim will see the fields dive into the Schwarzsee Lake for a one lap of 750m before the 11.5km bike which includes a steep climb of 867m up the Kitzbuehel Horn Mountain before they hit T2 and continue to run up the mountain 2.5km, with an ascent of 136 metres.

The quaint ski village is renowned for having some of the most difficult runs in all of Europe, including the world famous Streif Slope where World Cup skiers often hit speeds of over 130 km/hr at the annual Hahnenkamm downhill race.

Kitzbuehel has been part of the ITU World Triathlon Series since the start in 2009, but this is the first time the race will break from the traditional Olympic distance.

“I've ridden the course twice now, and I am convinced the race is going to explode once we hit the climb, the Horn is brutal,” said Wilson, who is having only his second ITU start of the season after finishing 19th in Yokohama.

“I did the Alpe d'Huez triathlon last year, but that doesn't compare to the Kitzbuehel Horn!

“My aim to get a good result here, and then back that up in two weeks time with another good race in Hamburg.

“I've been training in Brisbane since Yokohama, at my altitude tent at 'Mt Toowong' as I call it.

“We've utilised the altitude training prior to coming over here (to Aix Les Bain) last week, in preparation for the unique nature of this race.”

Australian team mate Bailie, a noted bike climber, said he has “turned himself into a mountain goat since (the last ITU race in) Madrid” and can’t wait to take on the Horn.

“I've been training in my base of Vitoria in the Basque Country in Spain which is a great place to prepare,” said Bailie.

“We have everything at our finger tips from rolling hills to some steep mountain passes -the place has it all. It’s fair to say I'm well prepared for what ever ‘Kitz’ throws at me. I think it's a course that suits me, being so light.

“It's great as there is nowhere to hide on the bike, it's going to be a real honest test!

“Like any race it's going to be tough; you know it is going to hurt maybe just that little more than the others, with the added part of a small hill to climb!

“It's the first time a race like this has happened so it is hard to know what to expect - all I know is I've turned myself into a mountain goat these last few weeks since Madrid.”

INJURED ABRAM TO TAKE HER PLACE IN WOMEN’S FIELD

Leeds-based Felicity Abram is Australia’s top ranked woman at No 5 but has revealed her preparations “have not been ideal” after sustaining a groin injury a fortnight ago which almost caused her to withdraw from the race.
“It was 50-50 whether I was going to come to Kitzbuehel as it's a very demanding course but I think the key is going to be ‘not to go too hard at the start’, said Abram, who was third in Auckland, ninth in San Diego and fifth in Madrid.
“I’ve got no expectations really , I'm confident in my climbing (ability) so to finish high up on the rankings would be great but with an injury I guess we will (have to wait and) see.
“It will be a hard race and Kitzbuehel is definitely a strength course . It's steep all the way with no easing off really.”
Gentle, who had battled a foot injury in the lead up to the ITU World Series has been on the Gold Coast under the direction of coach Craig Walton in the lead up to Kitzbuehel and only arrived into Europe this week.

But she knows what she is in for.

“There is a great steep section of a mountain on the Gold Coast which I became very acquainted with and I feel as though I'm climbing quite strong,” said Gentle.

“Kitzbuehel is not particularly my goal race for the season but you would be fooling yourself if you didn't do specific work for it.

“The Kitzbuehel Horn is such an unknown to me and I know its going to be really, really tough, especially with the added elements like altitude.

“Of course I would love to be up there and mixing it at the front but I am just going to try and do my best up that mountain and see how it goes.

“I think that (this course) is great, something so challenging and very different to your standard World Series Triathlon!”

· START TIMES: The men’s race will start at 9:05pm on Saturday night, followed by the women’s race at 12.25am.

· LIVE COVERAGE: Live video coverage be available on race day at triathlonlive.tv or at @triathlonlive on Twitter. Media are invited to watch the races live on triathlonlive.tv with a complimentary login: (Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for media login details).

· FOX SPORTS REPLAYS: Fox Sports 502 will replay the Kitzbuehel races on Sunday morning: Men from 9am and Women from 10.30am.

· START LISTS: Click here for women's start list ; Click here for men's start list

· TOTAL PRIZE MONEY: $182,000 USD (equal for men & women)

· CURRENT RANKINGS: Click here for current world rankings

· WEBSITE: http://kitzbuehel.triathlon.org/

PREVIOUS KITZBUEHEL WINNERS

ITU World Triathlon Series Winners

Elite Women Elite Men

2012

2011

2010

2009

Nicola Spirig (SUI)

Paula Findlay (CAN)

Emma Moffatt (AUS)

Alistair Brownlee (GBR)

Stuart Hayes (GBR)

Alistair Brownlee (GBR)

ITU World Cup Winners

Elite Women Elite Men

2008

2007

Nicola Spirig (SUI)

Andrea Hewitt (NZL)

Ivan Rana (ESP)

Simon Whitfield (CAN)

Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia…..

Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Managing Director

FOLLOW HMG NEWS & EVENTS ON TWITTER/LIVE UPDATES