OLYMPIC HOPEFULS TARGET NOOSA GENTLE RETURNS TO DEFEND REVERED TITLE
Swimming Australia, October 27, 2015: NOOSA, Australia (October 27, 2015) – Noosa Triathlon’s honour roll features a who’s who of Australian triathlon royalty and 2015 will be no exception.
2014 champion Ashleigh Gentle is set to return and looking to defend her Noosa Triathlon crown.
ITU’s Under 23 World Champion Jake Birtwhistle enters the race as favourite following the withdrawal of defending champion Aaron Royle.
With ambitions for next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro Birtwhistle and Gentle will continue to stake their claim for a for a Rio Olympics berth.
A win in Noosa would provide the perfect cap to Birtwhistle’s year, a year that saw him claim the ITU Under-23 Triathlon World Championship Title in Chicago in September.
“I'll be there giving it 100% of whatever I bring to the start line. Whenever I'm lining up to race I'm there to do my best, with a podium definitely within reach,” said Birtwhistle.
“Noosa Tri is the most iconic triathlon in Australia with an honour roll including the best of the best, I'd love to add my name to that list,” Birtwhistle commented.
For the first time in the event’s history the swim leg of the Olympic Distance Triathlon will be staged off the stunning Noosa Main Beach.
“With such a beautiful beach there it makes sense to utilise it, I'm excited to race from Noosa Main Beach,” the young gun from Launceston added.
In-form Peter Kerr enters the race after a convincing victory in the London Triathlon in August 2015.
“I am pretty confident of a good result in Noosa, I believe I can be right in contention for a spot on the podium but will of course need to produce a good performance to challenge the other guys out there,” said Kerr.
“With the swim off Noosa Main Beach – you can’t help but love the new setting, super excited to race it,” he added.
Royle was the first Australian to punch his ticket to the Rio Olympics with a rousing sixth place finish at the 2016 Rio Test Event in August and was set on a three-peat Noosa Tri domination. Yesterday came the crushing news that he had suffered a severe tear in his left calf.
“I’m shattered. I was actually close to career best form and had my sights set on a third Noosa title to wrap up what has been an amazing year making the Olympic team and all,” said a disappointed Royle today.
The women’s race looks set to be a ding dong battle, with any number of athletes possessing the pedigree to take the top spot on the podium.
Gentle, a two-time Noosa Triathlon champion, is the notable favourite and defending champion in the women’s race, but will be up against another former champion the in-form Emma Moffatt, fresh off victory at last weekend’s Nepean Triathlon.
"Noosa Triathlon has been good to me over the four years I've competed and I am looking forward to racing hard once again to try and defend my title," said Gentle.
"The new element of the ocean swim has everybody excited, Noosa Main Beach is simply stunning and it makes sense to showcase its beauty within the triathlon.
“To win at Noosa means a great deal, it’s an iconic event that is cherished by many Australian triathletes, especially us Queenslanders,” added Gentle.
Moffatt who missed racing Noosa in 2014 due to injury is currently ranked in the top ten triathletes in the world.
“For me it's the last race of a long season racing internationally, so to have a race in our backyard and in such a beautiful location is very hard to resist! Plus there aren't many races that have the buzz that surrounds the Noosa Tri,” said Moffatt.
“I feel like I have made some good progress this year after not a great season last year! I'm really looking forward to seeing how I race as I do feel fit,” added Moffatt.
There are also some outstanding endurance triathletes in the field including Czech Republic star Radka Vodickova, a wire to wire winner at IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie, IRONMAN specialist Caroline Steffen and Great Britain’s Emma Pallant, fresh from victory at October’s Duathlon World Champion race in Adelaide.
Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival is a five-day hallmark event (28 October – 1 November) which includes a stacked line-up of events for all ages and abilities.
Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival is a five-day hallmark event (28 October – 1 November) which includes a stacked line-up of events for all ages and abilities. The schedule includes the Coates Hire Noosa Legends Triathlon, Subaru Noosa Australian Open Criterium and Noosa Asics Bolt which attract premium fields and sporting legends.
The 2015 Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting cultural and regional events across the State. For event information visit www.noosatri.com
Issued on behalf of Noosa Triathlon by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
Hanson Media Group | P O Box 299 | West Burleigh Qld 4219
Phone: +61 7 5522 5556 | Mobile 0407 385 160 | Fax: +61 7 5522 5557
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