Argon 18 making inroads in Spain
Signings of Clemente Alonso McKernan and Ivan Raña.
Argon 18 is pleased and proud to announce it has signed new partnership agreements with two of the top Spanish triathletes of their generation: Clemente Alonso McKernan and Ivan Raña. “It’s a great source of pride for Argon 18 to have both these great champions join us,” says Gervais Rioux, former champion cyclist and founder/president of the Quebec, Canada-based bike manufacturer, adding: “Our desire to see our bikes and our technology shine on the world stage takes on full significance with these two athletes coming on board. Argon 18 is happy to be counting on Alonso and Ivan, who will further strengthen our international presence, following our recent signings of Canadian Magali Tisseyre, New Zealander Terenzo Bozzone, and Australian Leon Griffin.”
Raña: aiming for new heights
In Ivan Raña, Argon 18 welcomes a new world champion to its ranks. This 33-year-old Spaniard’s trophy case holds an ITU world title and a European championship, both acquired in 2002. The story of his career also includes chapters written under the Olympic rings: he competed in three Summer Games for Spain, turning in 5th-place finishes in both Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008, and became a headliner on the world triathlon circuit. The Galician has also proven himself outside the discipline, picking up an Aquathlon World Championship in 2001, and enjoying a 2009 stint with Pro Continental cycling team Xacobeo-Galicia. Since returning to triathlon, he’s been chasing a new ambition: a win at the Ironman World Championships. And after his 8th place in Auckland in 2012, plus victories in the Lanzarote 70.3 and the Cozumel IM, he must be viewed as serious competition for Pete Jacobs in Kona this year. “In a tri, every detail matters, and choosing which bike to ride for 180 kilometres is crucial. I want to battle with the best, so I need the best bike, and that’s the E-118,” says Raña, who at age 14 was a podium finisher at the World Junior Triathlon Championships in Montreal. Now, in 2013, his career is once again linked to the Canadian metropolis, where Argon 18 is headquartered.
Alonso: doctor of triathlon
Clemente Alonso McKernan (age 34) has all the cards he needs to confirm the vast potential he’s shown in recent years. Originally a swimming specialist, Alonso found his true calling in triathlon, capturing three national championships as a junior followed by a European championship and a 3rd place at the Worlds, and winning a spot on Spain’s national World Cup team when he was just 19. A three-time Spanish champion as an Elite (2005, 2006, 2007), Alonso has completed studies in medicine, and since 2009 has been focussed on distance events. After winning the South Africa Ironman and placing 3rd in the Germany IM in 2012, he’s hungry for more victories in the 2013 season and keenly anticipating the chance to defend his title in and around Nelson Mandela Bay. “I’m really happy to be working with a brand that listens to athletes and equips them with the best machines,” says the Spaniard, who’ll be benefitting from E-118 technology.
Argon 18 across the world
Argon 18 bicycles are distributed in more than 35 countries and strike an Optimal Balance between comfort, light weight and rigidity. Founded in 1989 by ex-olympian cyclist Gervais Rioux, with headquarters in Montreal, Argon 18 has built a strong reputation in the cycling world.
