Trizone’s Weekend Preview – July 27, 2012
Racing around the world this weekend are a number of Aussies and Kiwis chasing Kona, Vegas and Hy-Vee points.
70.3 – In Canada at the Calgary 70.3 Chris Legh will be feeling the pressure after his great win at the recent Lake Stevens 70.3. Legh ran a 1:14 to beat home pre race favourite (and Mr Carfrae) Tim O’Donnell. Wanting to make sure they are the first Aussies home at Calgary will be Jason Shortis, Joey Lampe and Ollie Whistler complete with piano.
Shortis is heading towards Ironman New York on August 11. Lampe has been putting together a string of races recently but has had a break since Racine 70.3 two weeks ago where he came 4th after backing up from the Boulder 5150 the weekend before. Once again Lampe will be one of, if not the leader out of the water and on to the bike. New Zealand’s Shannon Stallard is also racing at Calgary. Stallard finished 5th behind Lampe at Racine.
Whistler is generally known as a strong biker but has recently been unusually off pace slightly. Hopefully he is back on song this weekend.
Also racing at Calgary but not one of ours is Tom Lowe (Chrissie Wellington’s man) who is looking for a return to form after having some bad luck this year race wise.
No Aussie or Kiwis in the women’s field. Rebekah Keat is down to race but will not be instead focusing on building her bike back up to the level it was at pre Ironman Cairns. Keat’s next race will be the inaugural Ironman New York. This will be an epic Ironman and Keat would have to be one of the pre race favourites.
5150 – Half way between Cleveland and Cincinnati is Columbus, Ohio. This is the venue for this weekend’s Giant Eagle 5150. Greg Bennett would have to be the favourite. Also racing are Aussies Michael Fox, Alex Reithmeier and Maxine Seear. Bennett and Fox have already qualified for Hy-Vee. Fox has two 6ths and one 4th so far this season in the 5150 series. Reithmeier was 1st age grouper at this year’s Busselton 70.3.
Kiwi Tom Francis is also racing and will be looking to improve on his 5th at the New Orleans 5150.
ITU Long Course World Champs – In Vitoria, Spain this weekend Chris McCormack will be flying the flag against a few very tough competitors. Eneko Llanos, James Cunama and Dirk Bockel will give Macca plently of work to do if he is to take the win. The distance will be better suited to Macca with the speed he has accumulated over the last year. He raced IM Carins in June but didn’t have the distance training in the bank to push for a podium but did finish 9th. Eneko Llanos won the recent half ironman in Vitoria.
Recent Cairns 70.3 winner Sarah Crowley is the lone Aussie in the women’s elite field. Crowley will be up against some tought competitors with Caroline Steffen and Jodie Swallow down to race.
There is a strong contingent of Australian and Kiwi age groupers racing. One who should perform well is Alex Price who is racing 30-34. Price finished 4th overall in the recent Vitoria half ironman and is very familiar with the course for this weekend’s race. Price has been in Vitoria for a few months now as the NSWIS triathlon team physio.
Cool Product – If you cycle to work then you have to check this very cool new bag out. It has a ‘centre’ bag with a suit/shirt bag wrapped around it. It comfortably sits on your back while cycling. One of the best accessories we have seen for a while.
