Challenge Roth, Rev 3 Portland, Ironman Switzerland and more – it’s a Big Weekend of Triathlon.

As if the excitement of le Tour was not enough, Australian and New Zealand triathlon fans are likely to experience some late nights this weekend as they follow a big weekend of Triathlon around the globe. The biggest of these would have to be Challenge’s blue ribbon event, Challenge Roth being held on Sunday. Trying to best the ‘unbeatable’ Chrissie Wellington getting a hat trick at this event will be Rebekah Keat, fresh off her win at Challenge Cairns, and the ‘unstoppable’ Belinda Granger. Trying to keep the Aussies off the podium will be Scotland’s Catriona Morrison and Heather Gollnick from the US.

Kiwi Jamie Whyte will also be racing at Roth. He will be looking to make up for the flat tyre and stop/go penalty he and a few others received in Aarhus, Denmark last weekend in a half ironman. He ended up 15th overall after seeing the race out and coming home in the run without busting himself.

Kate Bevialaqua sent us through a great race report on her win in Ironman Korea last weekend bright and early on Monday morning. Thanks Kate!

In the men’s race Belinda’s husband Justin will be backing up from Korea, and Kiwi Keegan Williams (4th at IM New Zealand) will be looking to measure his progress against pre race favourites Andreas Raelert and Sebastian Kienle.

Challenge Roth bills it’s self as the world’s largest iron distance triathlon with 5,250 athletes taking on the legendary  Roth course. For those wanting to enter the race next year  general entry will open on July 18 at 10.00am CET with a sell-out expected within minutes.

Down the road from Roth, WTC is putting on Ironman Switzerland in the scenic surrounds of Zurich. This race has attracted a mainly local pro field, though a number of Australian age groupers will no doubt fly the flag.

Across the Atlantic  Rev 3 is holding a 70.3 race at  Portland that will see Australia’s Richie Cunningham and ‘Big Sexy’ Chris McDonald have a serious crack at the podium, along with Kate Major in the woman’s race.

Meanwhile WTC has 70.3 races at  Muncie on Saturday and Rhode Island on Sunday which will see Aussie athletes chasing those Kona Pro Ranking points. Tim Berkel is racing Rhode Island and looks a good shout at bringing home the bacon. Luke Mckenzie, Jason Shortis, Josh Rix and Madeleine Oldfield are racing Muncie 70.3. Possibly Kiwi Bryan Rhodes and Christie Sym will be racing there also.

Tim Reed will be racing Boulder Peak 5150 along with Joe Gambles, Possibly Paul Matthews and Stephen Hackett. This is the last qualifier for Hy-Vee ($250,000 for each of the first places).Reed’s last hit out at this distance was in Philadelphia where an ordinary swim put Tim behind the eightball for the rest of the race. He did manage to run himself in to 8th overall. He was up against Andy Potts, Matt Reed and Greg Bennett. Paul Matthews won over this distance in the Washington DC 5150 three weeks ago. Tim Reed was second on that occasion. Stephen Hackett was 10th in Philadelphia a big improvement on the race prior in Washington.

Zurich 5150 is also on with Kiwi Anna Cleaver racing there. Anna has had two 2nd places in the last few weeks in Europe. She took it to Cat Morrison in Spain but Cat caught and passed her on the run to take the race. Australians Chris McCormack and Ollie Whistler will be racing in Zurich. It will be great to see how Macca’s last few weeks of training in Aix Les Bains, France with the Australian team have helped him to get back in to the shorter distance racing. He has been doing a serious amount of swimming and track work to get the speed back. Macca has been training with Brad Kahlefeldt, Jamie Huggett and Cameron Good amongst others from the Australian team. Sub 3min interval sessions are part of the mix now. Ollie has also been there working on his speed and building those quads up even more. He is really looking forward to a hit out over the Olympic distance.

Brad Kahlefeldt is racing in the Triathlon de Paris this weekend in front of the Effiel Tower. Along with Kahlefeldt will be Wollongong’s Shane Barrie. Shane will be doinng his third race of the French Grand Prix series for French club TCG79 Parthenay. Others from the Vittoria NSWIS and VIS training camp will also be racing in Paris. Brendan Sexton, Joshua Maeder, Erin Densham and Mel Sexton.

The ITU goes to Edmonton, Canada with a host of Aussies and Kiwi’s racing there. Aaron Royle, Charlotte McShane and Peter Kerrs (might as well keep you in between them Charlotte), James Seear, Cameron Good, Drew Box, Ashleigh Gentle and Ellie Salthouse are the Aussie contingent with only Bevan Dochert and Dylan McNeice down to race for New Zealand.

Lisa Marangon, Sophia Amor-Smith, Michael Fox, Peter Schokman, Anthony McSweeney, Brayden Tucker from Australia and Rebecca Kingsford, Aaron Barclay, Ben Logan, Sam Osbourne and Edward Rawles from New Zealand are all down to race in San Fransico in the ITU Triathlon Pan American Cup.

Australians Mitch Robins, Ryan Bailie, Jesse Featonby, Nick Kastelein, Tim George are racing in the Holten ITU Triathlon Premium European Cup in the Netherlands. Penny Hayes from New Zealand is the only other local down to race there. It will be great seeing Mitch racing again. He won the Mooloolaba ITU this year after a last minuute surge took him past Ryan Fischer, Peter Kerr and Pete Schokman.

Thanks to everyone for your input especially Tim Reed, Shane Barrie and Anna Cleaver. Unfortunately once again we had to give you the PC version from Tim.