Abu Dhabi Triathlon preview - Women
We previewed the mens race and trying to pick the winner on that one was not an exact science. The women's is equally as difficult. With Chrissie Wellington and Belinda Granger both absent the field has opened up. Granger and Wellington would have been a formidable duo on the road in Abu Dhabi but their absence from the race might be a blessing for the organisers as it throws the field wide open.
The first name for us that leaps off the page is Tereza Macel. Macel is considered one the finest swim/bikers in the women's ranks. She was expected to dominate the race in Kona and lead until at least the turnaround but this did not eventuate. Still she raced well and has shown that the heat is something that does not concern her. A new resolve to ride hard this year will be tested.
Julie Dibens is the most versatile athlete in the field if not the world. She has been on the ITU circuit, won Xterra World titles and taken out 70.3 races. Definitely a contender. The step up in distance will be a first but you would have to think with how well she has prepared for other races this one will be no different.
The other name we will be watching is Samantha McGlone. In 2007 McGlone was second in Kona but since then she has had patchy form due to injuries. She came back to win Ironman Arizona last season, a sure sign she is hitting the form we would expect of her.
But it does not end there. Throw in Rebekah Keat, Yvonne Van Vlerken, Leanda Cave, last years third at Kona Virginia Berasategui and Caroline Steffen and you have a field that is balanced on a knife edge.
So with that in mind our fearless predictions for the women are;
- Tereza Macel
- Julie Dibens
- Rebekah Keat
