ITU Tiszaujvaros Preview

The Olympic preview is done and dusted and therefore focus turns back to the ITU Triathlon World Cup series this weekend, for the first and only European stop on the cup tour this year – Tiszaujvaros.

It’s second longest running World Cup in ITU history, having been held in this Hungarian town every single year since 1997. In that time ITU legends have graced the top of the podium and last year Reinaldo Colucci (BRA) and Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR) broke through for their first ITU World Cup wins here. This year, with a field full of up and coming talent and full fields of 75 women and 75 men, that could be repeated.

About the race: Tiszaujvaros is just two hours from Budapest and thanks to its status as the second longest running ITU event, is known as the triathlon capital of Hungary. The World Cup has one of the best atmospheres of any on the ITU calendar and is a summer tradition in Tiszaujvaros, as the event has a festival like atmosphere. ITU legends like Emma Carney, Hamish Carter, Loretta Harrop and Javier Gomez have all topped the podium at the event affectionately known as “Tiszy”.

SCHEDULE:

Elite Women – Sunday, August 14 – 10:30 (UTC/GMT +2)

Elite Men – Sunday, August 14 – 13:30 (UTC/GMT +2)

WEBSITES:

www.triathlon.org

https://www.tvkmalitriatlon.hu/

START LISTS:

Click here for women’s start list

Click here for men’s start list

LIVE COVERAGE:

Live text coverage from Tiszaujvaros will be available on race day at triathlon.org or at @triathlonlive on Twitter.

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY:

$50,000 USD (equal for men & women)  

COURSE PROFILE:

Swim – Two-lap, 1.5km swim in the Tolnai Lake in Sajószöged. At the end of the first lap athletes has to come out on the pontoon and dive back for the second lap.

Bike – Seven-lap, 40km bike. The 4.9km loop includes 11 corners in each and every lap and is generally flat and technical.

Run – Four-lap, 10km run in the center of Tiszaújváros.

STORIES TO WATCH FOR:

Europe’s 2011 World Cup chance – It is the first and only ITU World Cup in Europe this year and therefore a great chance for European athletes to top the podium, as they have claimed plenty of medals in World Cup competition so far this year – just none of them gold. So far in 2011 Australian athletes have claimed three World Cup wins, New Zealand triathletes two, the USA two and Chile one. Reigning Tiszaujvaros champion Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR) is in a good bet to break that run and hand Europe a win, particularly because Tiszaujvaros has a history of repeat winners. No less than six athletes have won this event two years in a row. Other Europeans to watch are Edmonton medallists Mateja Simic (SLO) and Lisa Perterer (AUT), Ireland’s Aileen Morrison and Vendula Frintova (CZE). In the men’s race it’s Marek Jaskolka (POL) Joao Pereira (POR), Ivan Rana (ESP), Danylo Sapunov (UKR) and Reto Hug (SUI). Given the run of more experienced triathletes winning World Cup’s wins in 2011, including Hunter Kemper and Bevan Docherty, three-time Olympians Hug and Rana should consider themselves good chances.

First Youth Olympic Games talent coming through – Exactly one year later, the legacy of the first Youth Olympic Games isn’t hard to find, with three top competitors from that race competing in the elite categories in Hungary this week. Israel’s Fanny Beisaron, who was part of the gold medal winning Europe Team and Australia’s Ellie Salthouse, who won individual silver, will line up in the women’s race. In the men’s, Namibian teenager Abrahm Louw is making his World Cup debut. Louw has only made the jump to Olympic distance racing this year but has been impressive on debut, he won the Under23 African championship before going on to win silver at an ITU Asian Cup in Singapore. There will also be more young talent on show on Saturday, in the ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup.

London flashbacks – Plenty of the big contenders for this Sunday’s race also raced in London last weekend, so will be interesting who has tired legs and who uses that form to springboard onto the podium. Athletes on the start list here that are backing-up from London include Gwen Jorgensen (USA), Morrison and Frintova. In the men’s keep an eye on Bruno Pais (POR), Manuel Huerta (USA), Leonardo Chacon (CRC), Crisanto Grajales (MEX), Jaskolka, Pereira, Rana and Sapunov.

Past Tiszaujvaros ITU World Cup winners

WOMEN                                              MEN

2010     Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR)    Reinaldo Colucci (BRA)

2009     Kate McIlroy (NZL)    Dmitry Polyanksy (RUS)

2008     Andrea Whitcombe (GBR)    Javier Gomez (ESP)

2007     Samantha Warriner (NZL)   Javier Gomez (ESP)

2006     Joelle Franzmann (GER)    Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS)

2005     Annabel Luxford (AUS)    Dmitriy Gaag (KAZ)

2004     Anja Dittmer (GER)    Shane Reed (NZL)

2003     Anja Dittmer (GER)    Volodymyr Polikarpenko (UKR)

2002     Siri Lindley (USA)    Craig Walton (AUS)

2001     Siri Lindley (USA)    Martin Krnavek (CZE)

2000     Loretta Harrop (AUS)    Martin Krnavek (CZE)

1999     Loretta Harrop (AUS)    Hamish Carter (NZL)

1998     Loretta Harrop (AUS)    Hamish Carter (NZL)

1997     Emma Carney (AUS)    Craig Walton (AUS)