Triathlon's Mid Year Review
Well we are in July already and while the Tour de France captures the imagination of the world we thought it was time to take a look at triathlon and give our mid year report card. Who is the benchmark so far this season? and who has made the biggest impact on the sport? We kicked around the idea and came up with a few of the athletes who have made the season a great one so far. We took into consideration their record and that X factor.
ITU
Without a doubt the pinnacle of the ITU world this season is the Olympic Games. All the ITU races this year have been with this in the back of the athletes minds. Whether it is for selection or form each race this season has been red hot.
Emma Snowsill - Without a doubt the hottest favorite going into the Olympics. Sure Fernandes has had a fantastic season but 'Snowy' has all the tools to be overcome the speed of Fernandes. Emma picks her races intelligently and always makes sure she is in perfect form for them. She is meticulously prepared and well coached. Anything short of gold will be disappointing. Her win in the Life Time fitness race showed her coming to form at the right time. She has alos won in Mooloolaba, Ishigaki and Hy Vee.
Javier Gomez - A close second to Snowsill, Gomez has made a great start to the season. He has won more races than anyone male this season and goes into the Olympics as the standout World number one. Wins Mooloolaba, New Plymouth, Vancouver World Championship and Madrid and Austria the list goes on. Gomez is all dominant and quite possibly the hardest athlete in the world to beat right now. The only chink in the Gomez armour is the European Championship where he came in a lowly tenth for him.
Vanessa Fernandes - Fernandes has won a number of races this year including the European Championships and the ITU Madrid. It is also the way she wins her races too that puts her third on our list of ITU leaders at the half way point of the season. Fernandes simply runs away from her opposition. Her efforts in Vancouver weren't so hot, but neither was the weather.
70.3
The 70.3 series has had a massive impact on the world of triathlon. It has been the saviour of some careers and the rebirth of others. Every week the 70.3 circus rolls into town and produces another mini epic. The competition is always red hot and supersonic speed is the name of the day. The
Terrenzo Bozzone - This guy is the undisputed king of the 70.3 circuit. He has won all over the States and his win at Vineman cemented him as the guy to watch at Clearwater . So far this season he has won in Boise, New Zealand (Xterra) and Kansas. His win over the likes of Alexander, Legh and co at Vineman was proof that when it comes to the big hitters in 70.3 that Bozzone can throw down. He also set a new course record at Vineman. He nearly added Eagleman to his CV this season but did incur the wrath of the draft busters and served a four minute penalty.
Mirinda Carfrae - If you think running ten minutes into your opponents in just 21.1 km is impressive then you will agree with us that Mirinda is the fastest and therefore second best performed 70.3 athlete on the planet right now. With Terenzo's sheer volume of wins edging him into the number one slot it is the speed at which Carfrae runs. Seeing her at the season opener in Geelong and then continue her good form through the U.S season Carfrae is our pick for number two.
Leon Griffin - Leon used to be something of an athletic enigma. But this year he has turned his inconsistent form around to be one of the most consistent performers in his chosen 70.3 distance. After winning Geelong in February Griffin has won Buffalo Springs and been in the top four in Boise and Kansas. There might be athletes with better records but few have made as dramatic turnarounds as Leon.
Ironman
Ironman racing is still the King of the triathlon trade. The imagination captured by the athletes still holds much mystery for the average person in the public. The speed merchants of the sport, the professionals, are amongst the best athletes in the world. We have highlighted just three.
Chrissie Wellington - There is simply no better Ironman racer on the globe at this point in time. Four starts for four wins says that Chrissie is on top of the world and is proving near impossible to beat. She has yet to peak, one would've thought, as every race she learns a bit more about the Ironman caper. Wellington's last hit out at Ironman Germany where she clocked an 8.51 says that she is in a class of her own. Until she gets beaten she has to be number one. And it is not looking too likely she will be beaten anytime soon.
Chris McCormack - If Wellington is the benchmark in Ironman racing worldwide right now then Macca must be thereabouts too. His season is always shows planning and precision and this is reflected in some of his amazing times. His last hit out in Roth was not a memorable one for the current World Champion but his efforts in recording yet another sub eight hour Ironman distance event was outstanding. The fastest time of the year so far.
Petr Verbrousek - If nothing else this guy gets on our podium of winners for the sheer weight of numbers he racks up each season. Verbrousek is indestructible racing so many times throughout the season. His name brings up controversy as he is always being talked about where folks ask, just how many Ironman distance races can you do in one season?
So let us know how we fared by telling us how.
