Kiwis in Richest Race in World Cup History

15th June 2007 – For immediate release

Kiwis in Richest Race in World Cup History

Heartland America plays host this weekend (Monday New Zealand time) to the richest ever Triathlon in history with more than US$700,000 is up for grabs at round seven of the International Triathlon Union BG World Cup series in Des Moines, USA.

A number of Kiwis will be chasing their share of the prize money, including US$200,000 for first place in both the men’s and women’s races. It is not surprising then that both races have attracted star studded fields including multiple world cup winners, Olympic, world and continental champions.

Fresh from her stunning victory in Vancouver, New Zealand’s Sam Warriner will be amongst the favourites on the start line in Des Moines but is not getting carried away this early in the season.

“I am going in to Des Moines with no expectations as I don’t really know how my body will have recovered from Vancouver. I’ve done everything right this week though, as a professional athlete I owe it to my sponsors to turn up to every race in 100% shape. The prize money is nice if you can get a bit of it, but it’s the sponsors that make it all possible, without them I just couldn’t afford to travel the world chasing Olympic qualification”.

So while Warriner admits the huge money on offer would be great, the main motivation is competition against the best in the world.

“The main reason we (myself and my coach Murray Healey) decided to race Des Moines is because it’s the one World Cup where you can guarantee that all the top names will be and I need to be able to perform on the big day with the big names.”

Warriner will be joined by fellow Kiwis in current ITU number nine Debbie Tanner, Evelyn Williamson (79th) and young Rebecca Spence (241st).

Tanner arrives at Des Moines from a training camp at Boulder, Colorado.

“Training has gone well with some heavy mileage at altitude over the past three weeks to set me up for the season and bigger races later in the year. There is a little of the unknown for me coming straight down from altitude in my first race since Ishigaki but I am feeling good and looking forward to racing in such a great field.”

Aussie Emma Snowsill leads the 50 women as the pre-race favourite and the one for Tanner and Warriner to overcome. The 3-time world champion has not lost a world cup to anyone other than Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal since 2005 in Hungary, where a mechanical problem on the bike cost her any chance of victory.

In the men’s field New Zealand’s top three of Kris Gemmell, Bevan Docherty and Shane Reed will all be on the start line, joined by Terrenzo Bozzone, Sam Walker and Martin Van Barneveld.

Any number of men could win on the day with Docherty and Gemmell included in most pre-race predictions. Other dangers include current world number one ranked Javier Gomez of Spain, recent world cup winners Filip Ospaly of the Czech Republic and Simon Whitfield of Canada or running sensation Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia.

105th ranked and 7th best Kiwi Terrenzo Bozzone will be hoping for better luck than experienced in Vancouver last week, but like the others he too has eyes on a more distant prize.

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend with the best in the world competing for the biggest prize pool in Triathlon. I felt great in Vancouver last weekend so hope to repeat that, without the flat tyre of course. I have only been back training a couple months so it is still early days for me with my aim to be ready to compete at my best in September at World Champs and the first Selection race for the Olympics.”

In a busy weekend for New Zealand athletes, a strong group of men will compete in the latest round of the European Cup series in Schliersee, Germany. While the focus will this weekend be on Des Moines and the rich purse on offer, for James Elvery, Clark Ellice and company it will be a strong focus on a top ten result and vital ITU points in the race for the top six New Zealanders and with it a place in the World Championships and a start in the vital Beijing World Cup race which will double as a New Zealand Olympic games trial.

Kelly Bruce is the sole New Zealander competing in the elite women’s race in Germany as she too looks to make her way up the ITU rankings.

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ITU BG World Cup R7, Des Moines, Idaho USA

Elite Men
Name City ITU rank NZ rank
Kris Gemmell Palmerston North 3rd 1st
Bevan Docherty Auckland 4th 2nd
Shane Reed New Plymouth 12th 3rd
Terrenzo Bozzone North Shore 105th 7th
Sam Walker Auckland 107th 8th
Martin Van Barneveld Auckland 134th 9th

Elite Women
Samantha Warriner Whangarei 3rd 2nd
Debbie Tanner Auckland 9th 3rd
Evelyn Williamson Wellington 79th 5th
Rebecca Spence North Shore 241st 10th

ITU European Cup, Schliersee, Germany

Elite Men
Clark Ellice New Plymouth 61st 4th
James Elvery Auckland 74th 6th
Tony Dodds Wanaka 187th 14th
Hamish Johnson New Plymouth 254th 15th
Dylan McNeice Christchurch 272nd 16th
Ben Visser North Shore 335th 18th

Elite Women
Kelly Bruce North Shore 269th 12th

ENDS

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