Chaffey survives crash to grab gold at Rio Test Event
Triathlon Australia, August 2, 2015: Australia’s Bill Chaffey has been chasing an Olympic dream for years and today took a step closer claiming one of his toughest wins at the 2016 Rio test over his two biggest rivals on the Olympic course at one of the world most famous tourist destinations, Copacabana Beach.
The four-time world champion survived a crash and two flat tyres on the bike leg to win his third ITU Paratriathlon in the PT1 category event overnight.
Chaffey knows the only way to achieve his ultimate sporting goal is to get tougher and that’s what he displayed overcoming amazing adversity, and his two greatest rivals Krige Schabort (USA) and Geert Schipper (NED) who claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively.
The 39-year-old wheelchair triathlete was behind after the swim and in trying to make up time crashed on the tough and technical Rio course. But the bike leg is his strength and he pulled back the deficit only to face two flat tyres, in the end winning by 16 seconds.
“It was a good race, the course is super flat and I’m used to it, it’s just like home on the Gold Coast.
“I was pretty unhappy with my swim, I swam off course toward the end but I knew I had a powerful bike and I knew I also had a powerful run but I crashed at one kilometre and had two flat tyres so I had to finish the run with two flats and a bit of bark off me too,” said Chaffey.
Although not a selection race it was an important one for Chaffey to get a look at the course and a good understanding of what he needs to train for.
“I wanted to get an idea of this course. I knew it was going to be flat and fast, but there are multiple turns. Having that knowledge and knowing what I need to train for is one of the benefits, and the competition is so strong.
“I loved it, I could hear people shouting ‘Go Aussie’,” Chaffey said of the crowds. “I think Copacabana Beach, with all of the tourists around anyways, and then you have more people coming to support the race and it’s really, really good.
Chaffey will now return to the Gold Coast to prepare for the ITU World Championships in Chicago in September.
He will undoubtedly go into next years Paralympic Games as the favourite when triathlon debuts on the program.
Australia’s 11-strong elite squad will be in action next, chasing Olympic spots.
Two-time Olympians, Erin Densham, Emma Moffatt and Courtney Atkinson and their London team mate Emma Jackson will headline the 11-strong Australian team over the gruelling Rio course.
The remaining seven – Ryan Bailie, Aaron Royle, Ryan Fisher, Jake Birtwhistle in the men and Charlotte McShane, Gillian Backhouse and Ashleigh Gentle in the women will be chasing places on their first Olympic teams.
The first Australian to either podium or finish in the top 10 in the men’s and women’s races with receive the automatic nomination to the Australian Olympic Committee.
ITU COVERAGE
There will be no live TV broadcast of the race, but www.TriathlonLIVE.tv Season Pass holders can watch an hour long highlights show of the event - available Thursday August 13.
Live coverage which will consist of live timing and social media updates will be available on www.triathlon.org/live . Our media player will feature the best of social media content and updates curated into one easy to follow section.
As usual fans can follow on Twitter for play by play updates at @triathlonlive. You can also follow the event via our Periscope account at @worldtriathlon where we will show interviews and live video snippets of the races. www.triathlon.org will be populated with race previews and reviews, as well as photo galleries of each race.
When to follow: (click on the link for your local times)
Triathlon – Sunday August 2nd
Elite women - 9:00amSunday
Elite men – 12:15pmSunday
The ITU Media Team has supplied some useful links to additional data which you can use to suit your individual needs.
Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
Hanson Media Group | P O Box 299 | West Burleigh Qld 4219
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