Elites ready to rumble as Aussies chase podiums in Chicago

 

 

Triathlon Australia, September 17, 2015: Australia’s elite triathletes will put it all on the line in Chicago this weekend when the world comes together for the ITU World Triathlon Series grand final.

 

Ten elite athletes – including four Olympians – will step up to the plate in Chicago, hoping to finish the season on a high and to keep their 2016 Olympic aspirations alive.

 

Competition in triathlon gets under way here tomorrow with the Under 23 and Junior Men and the Age Group Sprint races.

 

Friday will see the Elite Women as well as the Elite Paratriathletes in action alongside the Under 23 and Junior women with racing culminating on Saturday with the Elite Men and Age Group Standard Distance.

 

Here, Australia’s Performance Director Bernard Savage runs his eyes over the WTS season after a year that has seen some major gains for the Australian Triathlon team.

 

“It has been a very encouraging season, particularly in the men, it’s been a good turn round from last year and it’s good to see some consistency, and not just with one athlete but with a number,” Savage said.

 

“Obviously Aaron Royle has capped off the year qualifying with an automatic nomination for the Olympic team with a sixth at the Test Event in Rio, which is an outstanding performance.

 

“He backed that up with a podium in Stockholm and a fifth in Edmonton. So he’s got really good form and really good confidence at the moment.

“Aaron is in a good place. He’ll turn up here fit and healthy and ready to roll and we’ll be expecting him to be there or thereabouts again and acquit himself very well again.

“Ryan Bailie has been very consistent all season and he’s had three top tens and two of those have been top five finishes.

“I don’t think Ryan is very far away from a break through performance and how excellent that would be if he could have that here and put himself on the podium.

“If Courtney Atkinson races to his potential then he will acquit himself well too.

“Young Ryan Fisher has also had a consistent season. There is no reason why he can’t deliver here, it will be the sort of course that if he swims well which he has been doing and rides smartly then he will put himself in the frame.

“In the women it has been a bit of an up and down year for us; we had a good start to the year with some good performances on the Gold Coast.

“Emma Moffatt was good and then we had two podiums in Yokohama with Ashleigh Gentle and Moffatt second and third.

“But since then it has not been the kind of standard we would expect from our women.

“I think they were particularly disappointing in Rio (Test Event) but out of that has come Gillian Backhouse (who was 13^th) and she continues to improve and continues to grow as an athlete and continues to grow in confidence and belief that she belongs at this level which is fantastic.

“She’s committed to doing what she needs to do; she’s methodical; she’s professional and she approaches racing with a refreshing enjoyment of going into races with that clear mindset and it is serving her well.

“It all culminated in a podium in Edmonton and she’s only going to keep going from strength to strength.

“This is the kind of course that will suit her; she will swim well; she’ll ride well and put herself in the front group and she could potentially challenge some girls the way she’s riding at the moment in that front group.

“Her run is continuing to improve so she will put herself in the frame for what for her will be a really good finish.

“It would be nice for her to podium here but if she could squeeze herself into the top 10 or top 15 it will be an excellent performance from where Gillian’s at given that it’s only her first ever full year at the WTS level.

“Erin Densham has had an up and down year again; over the last three years, it seems that the ups and downs and the size and frequency of those ups and down and those variations were moderating with some solid performances; a couple of top 20s, 6^th in Stockholm which was outstanding and then a disappointing race in Edmonton.

“If Erin can arrive here with the same mindset and the same frame of mind that she had before Stockholm she will put herself in the race.

“Erin and Emma Jackson are both aware that they need to deliver some consistency if they want to keep themselves in the picture for those Olympic spots.

“The Under23s will see Jake Birtwhistle, Declan Wilson and Matt Baker and they are real shows; Declan was on the podium two years ago and if he brings his A game and if he delivers he will be there abouts.

“Natalie Van Coevorden, after a stint in hospital with some health issues which we are now on top of could be a real chance for us. She could be a long term project for us.

“In the juniors Matt Hauser, Luke Willian and Christian Wilson are exciting young men and I’m looking forward to seeing them swim and ride smart and then hang on in the run.

“It is great for Matt who broke his collarbone last year; Christian who we have managed through his Chrons Disease and Luke who on his day can certainly deliver the goods.”

ITU World Triathlon Series GRAND FINAL LIVE From Chicago, USA

ELITE WOMEN: Saturday 19^th SEPT - 8:00am-10:30am (AEST)

WATCH LIVE TV - FOX SPORTS 1 (Ch501)

Or LIVE STREAM – https://triathlonlive.tv/live/

 ELITE MEN: Sunday 20^th SEPT - 8:00am-10:30am (AEST)

WATCH LIVE TV - FOX SPORTS 4 (Ch505)

Or LIVE STREAM – https://triathlonlive.tv/live/

FOR ALL OTHER RACES (Paratriathlon, U23, Junior, Age Group will be LIVE streamed)

LIVE STREAM - http://www.triathlon.org/live

 U23 MEN: Thursday 17^th SEPT - 10pm (AEST)

Age Group Sprint Distance: Friday 18^th SEPT - From 1am (AEST)

JUNIOR MEN: Friday 18^th SEPT – 7:30am (AEST)

ELITE PARATRIATHLON: Friday 18^th SEPT – 10pm (AEST)

U23 WOMEN: Saturday 19^th SEPT – 2:30am (AEST)

JUNIOR WOMEN: Saturday 19^th SEPT – 5:30am (AEST)

Age Group Standard Distance: Sunday 20^th SEPT – From 1am (AEST)

 DAY BY DAY TIME TABLE

Sept 16 – Wednesday
10:00	Aquathlon World Championships (1am AEST)
18:00	Opening Ceremony (9am AEST)
Sept 17 – Thursday
07:00	U23 Men World Championship (10pm AEST)
10:00	Age Group Sprint World Championship (1am AEST)
16:30	Junior Men World Championship (7:30am AEST)
Sept 18 – Friday
07:00	Elite Paratriathlon World Championship (10pm AEST)
11:30	U23 Women World Championship (2:30am AEST)
14:30	Junior Women World Championship (5:30am AEST)
17:00	Elite Women World Championship (8am AEST)
Sept 19 – Saturday
10:10	Age Group Standard World Championship (1:10am AEST)
17:00	Elite Men World Championship (8am AEST)
19:00	Closing Ceremonies (10am AEST)

Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia

Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
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