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Asian city of Weihai ready to welcome world’s best triathletes for the first ITU World Cup event

 

One of the most famous and beautiful coastal Chinese cities; Weihai is now ready to welcome some of the world’s elite triathletes. They will all compete for the first time at the ITU 2017 Weihai World Cup competition.

 

Weihai, located right on the coast of China’s north-east Shandong province, features some truly breathtaking views with lush forests and picturesque sea-side areas and islands.

 

Finally, after many years welcoming Long Distance ITU events, the city of Weihai will have the chance to debut in the World Cup format with its own Olympic-distance race.


Triathletes will have to swim for 1.5 kilometers before facing six total 6,7-km laps while cycling. Finally, the race will end with a 10- kilometer run.

 

 

Keeping up with…

 

It is expected a total of 34 men triathletes to compete and claim the first ever World Cup victory.  Uxio Abuin Ares from Spain who won two World Cups last year in Japan and Korea is part of this group just like Spanish Antonio Serrat Seoane. After an impressive performance, he was able to take fifth place in the U23 World Championships around two weeks ago.

 

Fans should also prepare themselves to see Jolanda Annen, among others. The Swiss triathlete is considered to be one of the biggest rising stars today. She finished in the 10th place in the Word Championships this season right after getting her first ever top-five finish in the WTS Edmontong event and her first ever victory at Cagliari at the World Cup competition.

 

Visit trifind.com for more information about the ITU world championships

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Tour de Yorkshire 2018: Unveil the 8 hosting locations for next season’s tour now

 

Tour de Yorkshire’s fourth edition has now listed the 8 hosting locations for next season’s tour. They are as follows:

 

1- Scarborough (North Yorkshire)

2- Barnsley (South Yorkshire)

3- Beverley (East Yorkshire)

4- Ilkley (Bradford)

5- Doncaster (South Yorkshire)

6- Leeds (West Yorkshire)

7- Richmond (North Yorkshire)

8- Halifax (Calderdale)

 

tour_de_yorkshire

 

These are the locations published by the Welcome To Yorkshire and Amaury Sport Organization organizers revealed to host the now-expanded four-day men’s cycling race which is planned to take place between 3 and 6 of May.

 

On the other hand, the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire is also doubling in size going from a one-day race to a two-day race. It will take place in 3 and 4 May next year.

 

Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, Sir Gary Verity, said: “The Tour de Yorkshire is a true success story and in just three years it has grown to become one of the best attended and most dramatic races on the cycling calendar.”

 

“Of course, with the men’s race being extended to four days and the women’s race now being held over two, it means we can visit more parts of the county and I know our eight starts and finish locations will put on a real show.”

 

tour_de_yorkshire_2017

 

A successful season

 


This year, the third edition of Tour de Yorkshire took place in April. It clearly showcased an increased interest among fans, sponsors and cyclists returning once again stronger than ever while doubled in size.

 

A record of 2.2 million spectators lined the route able to generate more than 64 million pounds for the economy of Yorkshire showing once again the success of this year’s Tour de Yorkshire.

 

The tour had also a live streaming in around 180 countries attracting up to 9.8 million global viewers.

 

Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France at the A.S.O, during an official interview, declared: “The Tour de Yorkshire has gone from strength to strength over the last three years and we are delighted to be working in partnership with such a great team at Welcome to Yorkshire.

 

“The way people get behind the race in Yorkshire is incredible. We are looking forward to another fantastic edition in 2018.”

 

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Chantal Blaak just got women’s World Championship road race victory

Blaak road championships

 

Chantal Blaak wins women’s World Championships Road race as Gardfoot and Dideriksen took silver and bronze respectively.

 

Blaak soloed to today’s race victory in the elite women’s World Championships road race that is currently taking place in Bergen. First place comes right after Blaak’s Dutch team had an outstanding numerical advantage count in the victory.

 

Unfortunately, today’s race saw no British winner despite the efforts made. Tomorrow, is men’s turn to perform with Peter Sagan being the main part of the group of cyclists that are closest to victory, trying to get three rainbow jerseys in a row.

 


During her post-race interview, Blaak admitted that she went hard on Salmon Hill because she knew a very strong group would definitely come across.

 

“It was so hard with three Dutch riders at the end. Britain really bonded as a team this week. We can be really proud, we really raced it today.”

 

On the other side, Lizzie Deignan admitted to be very happy for Blaak and not disappointed at all since her efforts made her part of every move trying hard to lead the race. “My team kept me going. If they weren’t there I might have pulled out,”- she said.

 

 

Today’s race classification

 

Chantal Blaak (Netherlands / Netherlands) 4:06:30″

 

Katrin Garfoot (Australia) +28″

 

Amalie Dideriksen (Denmark)

 

Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands)

 

Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland)

 

Christine Majerus (Luxembourg)

 

Susanne Andersen (Norway)

 

Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands)

 

Emilia Fahlin (Sweden)

 

Elena Cecchini (Italy

 

 

Visit Trifind.com for more about International distance triathlons

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Chris Froome on brink to pack an historic victory of Vuelta a Espana

 

One of the biggest bike events of 2017, Vuelta a Espana, will soon crown his new British king. Chris Froome will officially become the first ever British rider to win one of the biggest bike racing events of the year.

 

He will also be the first man in history to ever win Spain’s biggest bike event of 2017 straight after winning the world’s other grand Tour; Tour de France.


The 32-year old cyclist challenged his nearest rival, Italian Vincenzo Nibali and broke into tears after crossing the finish line of the yesterday’s stage. He admitted this grand tour to have been the most challenging and difficult he has ever ridden.

 

The best team

 

So far, team Sky’s riders were the strongest and made the best team of the Spain’s tour. The same thing they did at Le Tour a couple of months ago. However, their extraordinary and consecutive performances have raised some serious questions. Team Sky had an outstanding Anti-Doping investigation history that involved the usage of painkillers and the famous jiffy bag part of the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine tour.

 

Sadly, they lost many of their fans following their last year’s exposure by a few Russian hackers that suggested Bradley Wiggins’ use of Therapeutic Use Exemptions.

 

However, these unfortunate events should never fade away Froome and the team Sky’s other amazing riders’ performances, work and talent.


“I think he deserves not only to win Sports Personality of the Year, but he deserves a knighthood,” former Vuelta a Espana winner, Sean Kelly told Eurosport.

 

“I think Froome, at the moment, is getting very close to being at the top of the rankings all-time. Alongside the likes of Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain, the guys who won five Tour de France titles as well as Giros and Vueltas.”

 

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Triathlon Mixed Relay Cup: Nottingham, Leed team takes the victory in the inaugural event

tom bishop

 

It was the Leeds team the one that beat 16 other international and domestic quarters and finally won the today’s inaugural British Triathlon Mixed Relay Cup race that was held in Nottingham.

 

Tom Bishop was the one to anchor the Leeds one team, as they fully completed their four-people relay over a super sprint distance in only 1 hour, 18 minutes and 58 seconds. Loughborough 1 took the second place as Canada third.

 

Part of Leeds 1 was also Georgia Taylor-Brown, Aaron Royle and Jess Learmonth. This mixed relay format is expected to have its Olympic debut in the 2020’s Games.

 

 

How it unfolded

In total, there were 17 teams that entered the competition that had two women and two men, making a team of four.  Women were the first to complete a super-sprint triathlon that included a 300 m swim, 7.5 km bike ride and 1.5 km run right before activating their team-mate to take over.

 

When asked by BBC, about today’s event, double Olympic triathlon champion Alastair Brownlee, who is currently resting following hip surgery, stated: “The initial analogy in the idea for the Mixed Relay Cup was of the FA Cup – your local team could go through the rounds to have the chance to compete against the best. Hopefully it will go up to three or four events a year.”


On the other hand, Bishop, a crucial member of the Great Britain’s squad who competes on the ITU World Series circuit, when asked by BBC Sport, said:

“I thought I can’t leave it down to a sprint finish. I’m not known for that. It was still not 100% sure after the bike but I made sure.

 

“From the start of my leg I was nervous but by the end I was just so proud to compete for Leeds.”

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Ironman champion, Dean Mercer, dies after cardiac arrest and car crash

dean mercer

Former Ironman Dean Mercer has just died after suffering a terrible cardiac arrest and then crashing with his car on Gold Coast, today in the morning.

 
He crashed his car into the fence at Mermaid Waters at about 7 in the morning and despite the paramedics tried to save him through CPR, it was too late for the triathlete to be saved.

 
According to an official statement Mercer’s family gave, the cause of his death was considered to be a sudden cardiac arrest.

 
“It is with great sadness and grief that we advise that our beloved Dean — loving husband of Reen and devoted father to their four boys Brayden, 13, Rory, 11, Lachlan, 9, and Joshua, 6, passed away earlier today,” the statement said.

 


“Dean had been returning home from his regular earlier morning training session with a Masters group at Kurrawa Surf Club, where he is the director of surf sports and nippers coach”

 

 

A long, fruitful career as Ironman

 

 

Among many victories and successful performances, Mercer won two national championships and five New South Wales championships. He also won the World Oceanman series.

 
He started to compete in Ironman events in 1987 when he was only 15 years old, and his last competition took place in 2010 in Coolangatta Gold when he was 40.