World Cup Moves Back to Canada

22nd June 2007 – For immediate release

World Cup Moves Back to Canada

The North American leg of the BG International Triathlon Union World Cup series continues this weekend with a return to Canada for round eight of the 16 race 2007 series.

Edmonton, Alberta plays host to the world’s best this Monday (NZT), including another strong contingent of New Zealanders led by current world number two Bevan Docherty, fresh from his remarkable second place at the rich Des Moines race on Monday.

Docherty and the other athletes will not have the lure of a US$200,000 first prize to contend with this weekend but will still be racing for valuable ranking points and a total prize purse of US$100,000. They will also be defending the title on behalf of Hamish Carter who won here last year in his final World Cup victory before retirement.

Docherty is joined by world number four Kris Gemmell, Shane Reed (10th), Terrenzo Bozzone (96th) and Martin Van Barneveld (148th). The former Olympic Games silver medalist and World Champion has enjoyed a fruitful World Cup season, despite aiming to peak later in the year. Docherty has picked up a fourth and two second placings in his three races in 2007.

With each race that passes and each week that goes by the race for the top six ranked Kiwis becomes more intense. The top six athletes on Tri NZ Selection criteria will earn starts at the World Championships in Hamburg later this year but more importantly, the top six on ITU points will earn a start at the Beijing World Cup race in September, a race that doubles as an Olympic trial race for the New Zealanders. Clearly you cannot qualify for the Olympics if first you do not qualify for that race or the second selection race in Mooloolaba in March 2008.

Seventh ranked Kiwi Terenzo Bozzone improved his ranking by nine positions on ITU points after his 24th at Des Moines and has edged closer to James Elvery (75th), Ben Pulham (72nd) and Clark Ellice (62nd). Another strong result in Edmonton would put further pressure on those ahead of him in the rankings. A top 15 finish would almost certainly earn him sufficient points to move into the top six New Zealanders.

The women’s race will feature Debbie Tanner and Evelyn Williamson, both of whom are backing up after racing in Des Moines on Monday. Williamson will be looking for a drastic improvement in form after being well off the pace in horrendous conditions at Des Moines while Tanner will be all the sharper for her efforts in Iowa after spending the prior month in heavy training at altitude.

Tanner is just keen to get back racing after Des Moines, where conditions led to half the field withdrawing before the finish.

“I am looking forward to racing again this weekend in what should be more suitable conditions. Des Moines was a hard race; I don’t think anyone expected conditions to be quite as brutal as they were. This week has been all about recovery and staying healthy in order to put another good performance out there this weekend.”

It is a significant race in that it signals the end of ten years of World Cup racing in Edmonton as the curtain comes down on the venue. Consequently there is expected to be a strong Canadian contingent, led by former Olympic and multiple World Cup champion Simon Whitfield in the elite men’s race.

BG ITU Triathlon World Cup, R8, Edmonton, Canada

Elite Men
Name City ITU rank NZ rank
Bevan Docherty Auckland 2nd 1st
Kris Gemmell Palmerston North 4th 2nd
Shane Reed New Plymouth 10th 3rd
Terrenzo Bozzone North Shore 96th 7th
Martin Van Barneveld Auckland 148th 9th

Elite Women
Debbie Tanner Auckland 6th 3rd
Evelyn Williamson Wellington 80th 5th

Elite women start at 7.30am Monday 25th June NZT
Elite men start at 9.45am Monday 25th June NZT

ENDS

Please note the time difference. Edmonton is 18 hours behind NZT.

Full preview, live coverage and results can be found at www.triathlon.org

© Scoop Media